Genetics Hereditary Conditions/Diseases Nutrition Exercise A reputable breeder attempts to produce the healthiest puppies possible. They spend countless hours scrutinizing pedigrees, speaking with veterinarians and other breeders, and participating in and supporting research. Reputable breeders test their breeding stock for inherited diseases and do not breed affected dogs. But still… puppies are produced with congenital (born with) or hereditary (genetically inherited) conditions/diseases. Some inherited diseases are prominent in Rottweilers, others are a rare occurrence. If your dog, regardless of breed, is diagnosed with a congenital or hereditary condition, please call your breeder and inform them. Breeders cannot produce healthy puppies if they are unaware of the diseases/conditions occurring in their lines. So why, if responsible breeders are doing all they can to prevent congenital and inherited diseases, are those diseases still being diagnosed in dogs? There are a number of reasons, and usually it comes down to genetics.  The examples below are very simplistic, but that's intentional so it can be easily understood. Genetics - An example: Inherited coat color - For simplicity sake we will say one gene from each parent controls coat color.  Each puppy has two genes for coat color, one provided from each parent. For our example the sire and dam both have solid black coats (B?)x(B?) and the breeding produces black puppies (B) and red (r) puppies (r).  How could this be when both parents are black, a dominant color in dogs?  Because both parents carry a red coat color gene recessively, it's hidden in the genes.  If even only one red puppy is produced, both sire and dam are genetically a BR. We know this because a black coat color is dominant in dogs. A red puppy can only genetically be an rr because if it was genetically a Br or a BB it would have a black coat. A red puppy inherited an r gene from each parent. and now we know that the sire and dam are genetically Br. Expected results based on 4 puppies: BB=black, Br=Black, (carrying hidden recessive red coat color gene), rr=Red X BB Br rr BB BB, BB, BB, BB BB, Br, BB, Br Br, Br, Br, Br Br BB, BB, rB, rB BB, Br, rB, rr Br, Br, rr, rr rr rB, rB, rB, Rb rB, rr, rr, rr rr, rr, rr, rr Using that basic example for overbites, which is a simple recessive: Two dogs with proper scissor bites (S?)x(S?) are bred and produce 4 puppies. One of the four has an overbite. That implies that both sire and dam are carrying the recessive gene for overbites (Ss); the ratio for a simple recessive gene is 1:2:1. In other words, out of 4 puppies, one will have a scissors bite and will not carry the recessive gene for overbites (SS); two will have a scissor bite but will be carriers of the recessive gene (Ss); and, one puppy will be affected with an overbite (ss).   Unfortunately most inherited conditions, including coat color, are not simple recessives - they are complex - meaning that there is more than one gene involved in producing the condition (such as Hip and Elbow Dysplasia). This makes it especially difficult to eradicate or control.. Many diseases/conditions are not yet proven to be inherited and their cause remains unknown.  An example would be unexplained hair loss in Pomeranians, referred to as Black Skin Disease or Severe Hair Loss Syndrome. Many conditions/diseases are not congenital or inheritable. The difficulty is the dogs hidden genes. Below are some links to the most prominent diseases and conditions for Rottweilers.

 

MOST IMPORTANT Aortic Stenosis; Elbow Dysplasia, Hip Dysplasia

INCREASED INCIDENCE IN THIS BREED Cataracts, Cervical Vertebral Instability, Deafness, Demodicosis, Entropion, Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy, Hypoadrenocorticism, Lymphedema, Neuroaxonal Dystrophy, Panosteitis, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Retinal Dysplasia, von Willebrand's Disease, X-linked Muscular Dystrophy

MAY BE INHERITED Corneal Dystrophy, Familial Glomerulopathy, Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus, Hemivertebra, Leukodystrophy, Microphthalmia, Vitiligo

Nutrition:

The history of dog food began with the production of the first commercial dog food product, a dog biscuit, in England in 1860. The 1900s saw a boom in production and dog biscuits became available in all kinds of packages, names and varieties. Owners chose brands according to the price and not according to the ingredients used.

After the World War many new products became available.  Canned horsemeat was introduced as dog food in the U.S. Slowly, people started rudimentary research into this area and began to discover that dogs and cats loved certain kinds of food. This had to be coupled with the owner’s convenience to feed the pet and slowly dry meat-meal dog foods began to be commercially available, particularly in the 1950s.  Today, most people generally feed commercial dog food because of it's convenience (rather than it's professed nutritional value), but this is changing.

We must not forget that today's dog food manufacturing companies expect to make a profit - it's big business.  Competition in dog food is vigorous and it's very difficult today for dog owners to see through the slogans, discern the facts, and know what foods are actually best for their dog.  The recent dog food recall provides some insight into the manufacturing of commercial dog foods.  We have been enlightened to the fact that ingredients are purchased by the shipload from wherever they can be obtained the cheapest.  These "low priced" ingredients are advertised as being "top quality", when in fact they are unfit for human consumption.  Through catchy slogans and commercials the dog food manufacturing companies have been successful in convincing dog owners that they have the best interests of your dog at heart.  In actual fact, dog food manufacturers are responsible only to their shareholders.  Canada has no regulatory requirements in regards to dog foods other than the package must have a label - that's it!!!  Recommended reading:  "Food Pets Die For" by Ann N Martin, a Canadian author.

For thousands of years canines and their predecessors survived without manufactured dog food and supplements.  In my opinion, their life expectancy or longevity, and overall health, was actually more robust than it is today.  Variety is the key!  We, as consumers, are smart enough to feed our children - we certainly are smart enough to feed our dogs!  We do not feed children dehydrated biscuits day in and day out; and yet that is exactly what people have been led to believe is best for their dogs!  We, the general public, have been duped into believing that only dog food companies can determine what our dogs nutritional requirements are and that they "care" about our dogs well-being.  Actually they just want you to buy their product! 

So can you feed commercially prepared food?  Of course, do your research and buy kibble made from human-grade ingredients, naturally preserved.  Offer a variety of real food and don't feed kibble exclusively.  For example, one meal can be kibble based mixed with some canned food (either a good quality canned dog food or inexpensive canned fish like tuna or salmon), next meal some raw turkey necks (do not feed your dog cooked bones!!), next a home-cooked meal, etc.  You just need to learn the proper proportions - protein, carbohydrates, fat.  It isn't rocket science!  There are many good books and internet articles available on nutrition and home cooked food.  My recommendation is for every potential dog owner to do their research, become educated, purchase books with recipes for balanced meals for their dogs and be prepared to put in a little more time in the kitchen and less time at the vets!  Your dogs overall health depends on it.

Exercise!

Does your dog chew, dig, bark excessively, tear up the house plants, or act like a crazed dog in obedience class???  Most bad behaviours, including aggression and dominant behaviours, are caused from lack of exercise.  Your dog is totally bored!  Rottis need an outlet for their energy and if you don't supply that outlet he will find his own!  Rottweilers are a working breed, they need a job, they need to be physically active.  A tired Rottweiler is a happy content Rottweiler.  If you cannot put in a couple hours per day with your Rottweiler and at least 30-45 minutes each day of doggie exercise, then don't purchase or adopt a Rottweiler.  Consider a pet that requires less time and energy! 

Puppies require less exercise than adults, but it is surprising how active a puppy can be!  A small fenced area (NOT AN OFF LEASH DOG PARK!) is the best place to play with your puppy.  He can run after balls, frisbees, sticks, play soccer with larger balls or play with a canine friend.  Outside yard activities include swimming (weather permitting, puppies can swim at a very early age), going for short walks/hikes, and visiting everyone and being exposed to everything you can think of.  Puppy play should not include tug-of-war games or wrestling.

Exercise is not being in the yard alone, even if your yard is acreage. Exercise is not a casual walk.  Exercise must be vigorous enough to tire your dog and should be varied and mentally stimulating. 

• Owning a Rottweiler is a lifetime of companionship, love and understanding.