Last Updated on August 4, 2021 by
Because of the classic short coat, the long-haired German Rottweiler is a peculiarity. But they do exist and are beautiful Rottweilers in their own right!
Rottweilers have a look that is so classic that kennel clubs fight hard to keep the breed pure and ensure that the dogs of the breed being born are at top health. This sometimes turns up with a rather uniform look for the breed, but every so often a unique style comes up – like a long-haired one.
Want to learn more about this unique-looking furry Rottweiler? Read on to find out more.
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The Typical German Rottweiler Coat
Rottweilers have a very distinct look and appearance. It’s easy to visually spot them when you’re out in the dog park. To have an understanding of what the norm is, and what the American Kennel Club accepts in its shows, here is some information on the typical German Rottweiler coat colors and hair types.
Rottweiler Coat Colors
The classic Rottweiler sports a short-haired coat in striking black accompanied with rust markings. Sometimes you may see variations of colors in the markings, such as others in the brown family, namely mahogany and tan. The rich and lustrous black has become a key signifier of this loyal and noble breed.
Be warned: there may be breeders that try to convince you they have rare colors of Rottweilers. These are not recognized by kennel clubs. These are likely to be mixed breeds that inherited the coat of their other non-Rottweiler breed parent. If your heart is set on a purebred Rottweiler, you should watch out for breeders or sellers who make this claim. If it is not a problem with you, a mix might be ideal for your wants and needs.
Rottweiler Coat Type
Rottweilers have a smooth, short-haired double-coat. The coat has two different layers: First, closer to the skin, is an undercoat that is composed of shorter hairs. Second, an overcoat grows over this first layer of hair and acts as a guard coat for the rest of the body. This kind of coat makes dogs look even fluffier because of how dense all those layers are! Unfortunately for lazy dog owners, this also means a lot more maintenance work.
The coat of a Rottweiler overall is very dense. Just running your hand down their strong body should make this obvious. They are already a very muscular breed, but the hair adds quite a bit to their heft and size.
While short coats may sound more manageable than long ones, do not be fooled. They still shed and can leave lots of hair around. But since you are interested in reading about long-haired Rottweilers, you are probably already aware and ready to accept the challenge…
What Is A Long-Haired German Rottweiler?
First off: yes, long-haired German Rottweilers exist. You will find photos of them online by their proud owners.
The description of the typical German Rottweiler coat above is true for the long-haired version of the dog. The only real difference is the length of the hairs, caused by a particular gene. They will still sport that beautiful black color.
Their hair can sometimes come with a curl, and you will notice their undercoat running from under their neck. Extra tufts of hair run along their legs. The fur can take on a coarse texture, different from the smooth short coat of a typical Rottweiler.
Is the Long-Haired German Rottweiler A Mixed Breed?
Many people who are not aware of the existence of a long-haired German Rottweiler would assume they are looking at a mix. After all, the tough dog that often takes on jobs like police work and search and rescue missions isn’t a ball of fluff – right?
The fact is that these long-haired versions are purebred! For breeders, it is not that uncommon to find a long-haired rottweiler puppy. In fact, there may be one or two of them in each litter being bred. Unfortunately, they do not fit the strict breeding standards that kennel clubs enforce on the breed, and thus they are discouraged.
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Unfortunately, due to this restriction, you are not likely to see long-haired Rottweilers take the stage at dog shows. They are feared to be the result of unethical breeding methods and thus thought of as a menace to purebreds. It’s true that breeders would sometimes encourage dwarfism and aggression in dogs in order to sell them for aesthetic and utilitarian purposes. The innocent long-hair Rotties just get caught in the crossfire.
In reality, the long-haired German Rottweiler poses no threats to the breed as a whole. They are perfectly healthy dogs. Like regular Rottweilers, they are vigilant watchdogs who will go above and beyond what they can do to make their owners very happy!
Dogs That Look Like A Long-Haired German Rottweiler
That said, long-haired German Rottweilers are rare, because of the restrictions imposed for breeding them. If your heart is set on a long-haired German Rottweiler due to the looks, here are some other breeds you could look at.
Hovawart
The Rottweiler and the Hovawart hail from German origins, but that isn’t their only similarity. Their visual resemblance might be a good turning point for Rottweiler fans. They have a similar color combination, albeit the Hovawart having gold markings, as well as a longer coat. Just like the strong and muscular Rottweiler, Hovawarts also take on search and rescue jobs and have a great reputation as a family dog.
They have a height range of 23-28 inches and weigh from 65-90 lbs. They have a longer life expectancy than Rottweilers at 10-14 years.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a big, beautiful, and affectionate breed. They come in a variety of coat colors: black, red, and white. Despite being very strong and capable of many kinds of work, they are affectionate dogs that love to play.
They have a height range of 25-28 inches for males and 23-27 inches for females and weigh from 115-140 lbs for males and 85-110 lbs for females. They have a similar life expectancy range to Rottweilers at 8-11 years.
Are you interested in a long-haired German Rottweiler, or have you had the pleasure of owning one? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!
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