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Rottweiler

Rottweiler
Photo: Dr. Manfred Herrmann Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub (ADRK) e.V. http://www.ADRK.de / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

183 Rottweilers in the atlas. Every number on this page has a source.

Population-genetic snapshot of Rottweilers in the Sniff Atlas, source-graded Mendelian carrier frequencies from Donner 2023, and nutrition guidance tied to the genetic findings above.

Also known as Rott, Rottie, and Standard Rottweiler.

See in the atlas → From CanVAS
The plain version

Rottweilers come from a gene pool that’s a bit limited, meaning they are somewhat inbred compared to other breeds. They’re a sturdy, medium-large dog, usually weighing around 106 pounds, and typically live about 9 years. Their closest relatives include breeds like the Leonberger and Saint Bernard. So far, no specific genetic health issues have been flagged for this breed, but it’s always a good idea to talk to your vet or consider genetic testing to keep your dog healthy.

What the atlas says about Rottweiler

In the atlas, the Rottweiler clusters consistently as Rottweiler (100% of the 183 dogs here). At the trait loci, KRT71 runs lower than average (35% here vs 91%); IGF1 runs higher than the atlas average (96% here vs 55%).

Ranks 24 of 107 on the bottleneck severity scale, well into the upper quartile of population contraction.

Median lifespan is 9.3 years, about 1.9 years shorter than a typical dog of 48.25 kg, one of the larger gaps in the atlas.

Genetic dimensions · CanVAS atlas

What the genome says about Rottweiler

Computed from the 18,477 research dogs in the Atlas.

Dogs in the Atlas
183Founders
82 from Hayward2016, 59 from Hedan, 17 from Chen
Genetic diversity
0.28Tight
Mean heterozygosity across the breed. Ranks 24th most genetically tight of 107 ranked breeds.
What does genetic diversity mean?

How varied a breed's gene pool is — the share of gene spots where a typical dog of the breed carries two different versions rather than two identical ones.

How to read it: Higher = more diverse. Among well-sampled breeds it ranges roughly 0.22 (least diverse) to 0.33 (most diverse).

Diversity is a strength, not a verdict on any individual dog. Lower diversity means it's worth paying attention to recessive-risk testing — not that a dog is doomed.

Cluster structure
Splits into two genetic sub-populations
Intra-breed RMS distance: 22.15 · likely working/show-line, regional, or kennel lineage split.
What does within-breed variation mean?

How much individual dogs within the breed differ from each other genetically.

How to read it: Higher = more internal variety among individuals of the breed.

Sensitive to how many dogs of the breed we've sampled.

Related breeds
Gave rise to
In the Working group
Explore the full lineage map →
VBO foundation stock (breeding records) · AKC breed group
Relatedness is documented lineage + kennel family. Genetic-ancestry distance measures diversity, not kinship, so it isn't used here.
How long they live
10.6years (life expectancy)
95% CI 10.4–10.7 · VetCompass, McMillan 2024, n=6,275. source
What does typical lifespan mean?

The median age dogs of the breed tend to reach.

How to read it: Higher = longer-lived. Compare to longevity-for-size to see whether it's just a size effect.

Drawn from population lifespan records; individual dogs vary widely with care, genetics, and luck.

Trait genetics
Allele frequencies at named morphology loci

Frequency of the alternate allele in this breed at each locus's representative SNP.

Body size
IGF196%
HMGA231%
SMAD289%
LCORL92%
STC255%
ADAMTS1772%
Leg length
FGF4·CFA1894%
FGF4·CFA1266%
Coat
RSPO284%
FGF593%
KRT7135%
MC1R75%
Ear set
MSRB399%
Skull shape
BMP328%
SMOC257%
n = 183 dogs · high confidence · CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · Sniff Atlas
Names & origins

Other names

The Rottweiler is also recorded as Rott, Rottie, and Standard Rottweiler.

Identified as Rottweiler (VBO:0201143) in the Vertebrate Breed Ontology (Mullen et al. 2025, CC-BY 4.0) · registry IDs FCI 147 · iDog 205 · VeNom 14638.

What you see when you look at a Rottweiler

What does the genome say about how a Rottweiler looks?

Rottweilers look the way they do because of a small set of fixed and near-fixed morphology genes that, taken together, define the visible breed. Each translation below pairs the gene with the trait an owner actually sees, the breed's allele frequency at that locus, and a one-clause causal phrase.

Where the breed-defining genes act, mapped on a generic dog-body key — and how fixed each marker is in the Rottweiler. The figure is the most-settled marker we read in that region; the full per-locus panel is below. (The silhouette is a shared anatomical guide, not this breed's outline.)

Body sizeIGF1 · 96%Skull shapeSMOC2 · 57%EarsMSRB3 · 99%Leg lengthFGF4 CFA18 · 94%Coat & colorFGF5 · 93%
CanVAS trait-locus panel (Brundage 2026)
15 morphology markers read across 5 regions. Allele frequency = how fixed a marker is in this breed, not whether your dog carries it.

Size and build

IGF1 is near-fixed at 96% for the small-body allele, which keeps the breed compact relative to its working-line ancestors.

IGF1what this gene does

IGF1 is a gene that plays a key role in determining a dog's body size. It influences how much a dog grows, affecting overall stature.

For your dog: Knowing about IGF1 gives you insight into your dog's size traits, but it’s just one part of the bigger picture when it comes to their health and care.

Full IGF1 gene page →

HMGA2 sits at 31%. HMGA2 is a chromosome-10 size locus that acts together with IGF1, and intermediate frequencies reflect partial commitment to the dominant size variant.

HMGA2what this gene does

HMGA2 is a gene that influences body size in dogs, helping determine how big or small a dog grows.

For your dog: Knowing about HMGA2 helps you appreciate the genetic factors behind your dog's size, but it doesn't signal any health issues.

Full HMGA2 gene page →

SMAD2 is near-fixed at 89%, a chromosome-7 height locus differentiating small from giant breeds.

SMAD2what this gene does

SMAD2 is a gene involved in regulating body size by influencing how cells grow and develop.

For your dog: Knowing about SMAD2 helps understand your dog's size traits but isn't linked to health issues; no immediate action needed.

Full SMAD2 gene page →

LCORL is near-fixed at 92%, the NCAPG/LCORL height locus that is one of the strongest single contributors to canine body size.

LCORLwhat this gene does

LCORL is a gene that influences body size in dogs. It helps determine how big or small a dog might grow.

For your dog: Knowing about LCORL helps you appreciate the genetic factors behind your dog's size, but it’s just one piece of the bigger picture when it comes to health and care.

Full LCORL gene page →

STC2 sits at 55%.

ADAMTS17 sits at 72%. ADAMTS17 is a body-size locus also linked to lens disorders.

ADAMTS17what this gene does

ADAMTS17 is a gene that influences body size and also plays a role in certain eye conditions. It affects the structure of tissues in the eye and elsewhere in the body.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry ADAMTS17 variants, it’s worth discussing genetic testing and eye exams with your vet to stay ahead of potential issues.

Full ADAMTS17 gene page →

Leg length

The FGF4 retrogene on chromosome 18 is near-fixed in this breed at 94%. This is the leg-length variant. The breed is fully committed to the long-legged form rather than the short-legged Corgi-and-Dachshund body plan.

The FGF4 retrogene on chromosome 12 sits at 66%, the chondrodystrophic variant.

Coat type, length, and color

RSPO2 sits at 84% for the furnishings variant. Furnishings (the eyebrow-and-mustache pattern seen in Schnauzers and Wheaten Terriers) vary across the population at this intermediate frequency, and visible expression depends on the specific allele combination each dog carries.

RSPO2what this gene does

RSPO2 influences the texture and appearance of a dog's coat, particularly the presence of 'furnishings' like mustaches and eyebrows. It helps determine whether a dog has that distinctive wiry or textured look.

For your dog: If your dog has those wiry eyebrows or a mustache, RSPO2 is part of the reason—no health worries, just a coat feature worth knowing about.

Full RSPO2 gene page →

FGF5 is at 93% for the long-coat variant, which is why the breed's coat sits where it does on the long end of the dog coat-length spectrum.

FGF5what this gene does

FGF5 is a gene that influences the length of a dog's coat. It acts like a natural switch, telling hair follicles when to stop growing longer fur.

For your dog: If your dog has a notably long or short coat, FGF5 is likely part of the reason—no action needed, but it’s a neat genetic detail to know.

Full FGF5 gene page →

KRT71 sits at 35% for the wavy/curly variant. Coat curl varies across individuals at this intermediate frequency, and visible expression is also influenced by modifier loci.

KRT71what this gene does

KRT71 is a gene that influences the curliness of a dog's coat. It helps determine whether a dog's fur is straight or has a distinctive curl.

For your dog: If your dog has a curly coat, KRT71 is likely part of the reason; it’s a natural variation, not a health concern.

Full KRT71 gene page →

MC1R sits at 75% at the representative SNP. MC1R controls the switch between red-to-gold pigment and black-to-brown pigment, with the e/e homozygous genotype producing the gold-to-red spectrum. Substrate frequencies at this SNP depend on the array's polarity, so visible coat color in the breed is a more reliable indicator than this single number.

MC1Rwhat this gene does

MC1R is a gene that influences coat color in dogs, affecting how pigments are produced in the fur.

For your dog: Knowing about MC1R gives insight into your dog's coat color but doesn't relate to health issues.

Full MC1R gene page →

Ears

MSRB3 is at 99% for the drop-ear allele, the genetic basis of the breed's signature dropped ear set.

MSRB3what this gene does

MSRB3 is a gene involved in the development of ear shape and structure in dogs.

For your dog: Understanding MSRB3 helps explain why your dog's ears look the way they do, but it isn't linked to any health issues.

Full MSRB3 gene page →

Skull shape

BMP3 is at 28%, keeping the breed in the dolichocephalic, long-headed form.

BMP3what this gene does

BMP3 is a gene that influences the shape of a dog's skull, particularly contributing to a shorter, broader head shape known as brachycephaly.

For your dog: If your dog has a broad, short skull, it's worth discussing with your vet how this might impact their health, even though BMP3 isn't directly tied to illness.

Full BMP3 gene page →

SMOC2 sits at 57%, contributing to the breed's moderate head shape.

SMOC2what this gene does

SMOC2 influences the shape of a dog's skull, particularly affecting how flat or short the face appears.

For your dog: If your dog has a short nose, it's worth discussing with your vet how this trait might impact their health over time.

Full SMOC2 gene page →
Mendelian-disease genetics

What genetic diseases do Rottweilers carry?

From a panel of 250 Mendelian-disease variants screened in 1,054,293 dogs (Donner et al. 2023), Rottweilers carry 25 of them at observable frequency. Carrier frequency is not clinical risk. Most recessive variants require two copies for disease expression; many dominant variants show incomplete penetrance. Read this as a population fingerprint of what's in the gene pool, not a per-dog prediction.

Cone-Rod Dystrophy (cord1-PRA/crd4)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
low 6.8%
n = 4,713 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001432-9615 · omia.org →
RPGRIP1what this gene does

RPGRIP1 is a gene involved in the function of photoreceptor cells in the eye, which help dogs see in different light conditions.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry RPGRIP1 mutations, it’s worth discussing with your vet to understand the risks and monitor eye health.

Polyneuropathy with Ocular Abnormalities and Neuronal Vacuolation (Discovered in the Black Russian Terrier and Rottweiler; POANV)
Autosomal recessive
low 3.1%
n = 4,667 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001970-9615 · omia.org →
RAB3GAP1what this gene does

RAB3GAP1 is a gene involved in nerve cell function, particularly in how cells communicate and maintain their structure.

For your dog: If your dog is one of the breeds known to carry this gene variant, it's worth discussing genetic testing with your vet to understand any potential risks.

Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (Discovered in the Rottweiler; VPS11-related)
Autosomal recessive
low 3.0%
n = 4,718 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:002152-9615 · omia.org →
Nonsyndromic hearing loss (Discovered in the Rottweiler)
Autosomal recessive
low 0.89%
n = 4,718 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:002336-9615 · omia.org →
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
low 0.59%
n = 4,718 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000263-9615 · omia.org →
SOD1what this gene does

SOD1 is a gene that helps protect cells from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals.

For your dog: If your dog is a carrier of SOD1 variants, it's worth discussing with your vet, but remember carrier status doesn't mean your dog will get the disease.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy risk factor (Discovered in the Doberman Pinscher; PDK4-related)
Autosomal dominant (Incomplete penetrance)
low 0.20%
n = 4,718 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:000162-9615 · omia.org →
PDK4what this gene does

PDK4 helps regulate how cells use energy, especially in the heart muscle.

For your dog: If your dog is one of the breeds known to carry this gene, it’s worth discussing heart health with your vet, but being a carrier doesn’t mean your dog will develop disease.

Von Willebrand's Disease, Type 1 (vWD 1)
Autosomal recessive
low 0.20%
n = 4,718 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001057-9615 · omia.org →
Hyperuricosuria (HUU)
Autosomal recessive
low 0.11%
n = 4,718 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001033-9615 · omia.org →
SLC2A9what this gene does

SLC2A9 is a gene that helps regulate uric acid levels in a dog's body. It plays a role in how the kidneys handle this substance.

For your dog: If your dog is one of the breeds known to carry this gene variant, it’s worth discussing with your vet to understand any potential urinary health concerns.

Cystinuria Type I-A (SLC3A1 p.I192V)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 4,718 dogs · 3 variants tested · OMIA:000256-9615 · omia.org →
SLC3A1what this gene does

SLC3A1 is a gene that helps transport certain amino acids in the kidneys. It plays a key role in preventing the buildup of cystine, which can form stones.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry SLC3A1 variants, it’s worth discussing cystinuria risks with your vet, especially if urinary issues arise.

Ichthyosis (Discovered in the Golden Retriever)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 4,718 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001588-9615 · omia.org →
PNPLA1what this gene does

PNPLA1 is a gene involved in maintaining the skin's barrier by helping produce essential fats that keep the skin healthy and hydrated.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry PNPLA1 variants and shows persistent dry, flaky skin, it's worth discussing with your vet to understand if genetics might be playing a role.

Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
low <0.1%
n = 4,717 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001466-9615 · omia.org →
DNM1what this gene does

DNM1 is a gene that helps nerve cells communicate properly by managing how they send signals during muscle activity.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to one of the breeds known to carry this gene variant, it's worth discussing EIC with your vet, especially if your dog is very active or shows signs of weakness during exercise.

Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (prcd-PRA)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 4,710 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001298-9615 · omia.org →
PRCDwhat this gene does

PRCD is a gene involved in the health of a dog's retina, the part of the eye that detects light and helps with vision.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry PRCD changes, it's worth discussing eye health and potential genetic testing with your vet.

Chondrodystrophy and Intervertebral Disc Disease Risk (CDDY)
Autosomal dominant
low <0.1%
n = 4,697 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000157-9615 · omia.org →
FGF4what this gene does

FGF4 influences leg length by affecting bone growth, leading to shorter legs in certain breeds.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry this gene, it's worth discussing spinal health with your vet, but being a carrier doesn’t guarantee problems.

Acral Mutilation Syndrome (AMS)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 4,718 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001514-9615 · omia.org →
GDNFwhat this gene does

GDNF is a gene that helps support nerve cells, especially those involved in sensing pain and movement.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed that can carry this gene change, it’s worth asking your vet about testing to understand any potential risks.

Cystinuria Type I-B (SLC7A9 p.A217T)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
low <0.1%
n = 4,718 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:001880-9615 · omia.org →
SLC7A9what this gene does

SLC7A9 is a gene that helps transport certain amino acids in the kidneys. It plays a role in how the body handles cystine, an amino acid that can form crystals.

For your dog: If your dog is a carrier, it’s worth discussing with your vet to monitor urinary health and catch any issues early.

Stargardt Disease (Discovered in the Labrador Retriever)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 4,718 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:002179-9615 · omia.org →
ABCA4what this gene does

ABCA4 is a gene that helps manage the transport of molecules in the retina, the part of the eye responsible for vision.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry ABCA4 variants, it's worth discussing eye health with your vet, especially as they age.

Deafness and Vestibular Dysfunction (Discovered in the Doberman Pinscher)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 4,717 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:002148-9615 · omia.org →
Shar-Pei Autoinflammatory Disease (SPAID)
Autosomal dominant (Incomplete penetrance)
low <0.1%
n = 4,718 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001561-9615 · omia.org →
MTBPwhat this gene does

MTBP is a gene involved in regulating inflammation in the body. It helps control how the immune system responds to triggers.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry MTBP variants, it's worth discussing with your vet whether genetic testing or monitoring for inflammation-related issues makes sense.

Centronuclear Myopathy (Discovered in the Labrador Retriever; HACD1-related; CNM)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 4,716 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001374-9615 · omia.org →
Canine Multifocal Retinopathy 1 (Discovered in Mastiff-related breeds; CMR1)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 4,718 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001444-9615 · omia.org →
BEST1what this gene does

BEST1 is a gene that helps maintain the health of the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. It plays a role in keeping the cells in the retina functioning properly.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry BEST1 variants, it’s worth discussing retinal health with your vet, especially if you notice any vision changes.

Plus 5 more at lower frequency. Full table available via the API when shipped.
Source: Donner J et al. 2023. Genetic prevalence and clinical relevance of canine Mendelian disease variants in over one million dogs. PLOS Genetics 19(2):e1010651 · Evidence: Limited (DTC ascertainment, tag-SNP proxy) · Confounding MEDIUM · License CC-BY-4.0 · Phene IDs from OMIA (Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney; DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70).
Sample size in this breed: 4,718 dogs from the Donner 2023 cohort.
Comparative oncology

Rottweilers are a natural model for human cancer.

Some cancers appear in Rottweilers and in people driven by the same somatically-altered genes, cohort by cohort and cited on both sides. That makes this breed part of how we understand, and one day treat, the human disease. This is not a prediction about your dog, it is a window into the biology we share.

The dog and human osteosarcoma model →

Which Mendelian variants matter most for Rottweilers?

The Mendelian-disease table above lists variants screened in 4,718 Rottweilers (Donner 2023). Twelve variants appear at measurable carrier frequency in the breed, with six carrying enough frequency to shape breeding decisions. All are recessive or incompletely penetrant; none dominates the breed’s health calculus the way ichthyosis does in Goldens. The highest-frequency variants are still uncommon, and because these are recessive or incompletely penetrant, carrying one is usually a long way from a dog being affected.

Cone-Rod Dystrophy (cord1-PRA/crd4)

Cone-rod dystrophy in Rottweilers is a recessive retinal degeneration caused by a variant in RPGRIP1 (OMIA:001432-9615). Affected dogs lose photoreceptor function over months to years, progressing from day blindness (cone loss first) toward broader vision loss as rod function declines. The disease manifests in early to middle age.

6.8% of Rottweilers in the Donner cohort carry the variant (n=4,713). That is the highest carrier frequency in the breed’s Mendelian panel. Testing is available through commercial labs and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

Polyneuropathy with Ocular Abnormalities and Neuronal Vacuolation (POANV)

Polyneuropathy with Ocular Abnormalities and Neuronal Vacuolation in Rottweilers is a recessive neurological condition affecting nerve and retinal tissue. Affected dogs develop progressive hind-limb weakness and vision loss, typically in early life. The disease was first described in Black Russian Terriers and subsequently identified in Rottweilers.

3.1% of Rottweilers carry the variant (n=4,667). Testing is available. The condition is rare enough in the breed that most owners will not encounter it.

Neuroaxonal dystrophy in Rottweilers is a recessive neurological condition caused by a variant in VPS11. Affected dogs develop progressive neurological decline, with onset typically in early life. The Donner 2023 cohort found phenotype confirmation in both dogs carrying two copies, suggesting complete penetrance (n=2, max 100%).

3.0% of Rottweilers carry the variant (n=4,718). Testing is available.

Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss

Nonsyndromic hearing loss in Rottweilers is a recessive form of deafness, identified first in this breed. Affected dogs have congenital or early-onset bilateral hearing loss unrelated to other systemic disease.

0.89% of Rottweilers carry the variant (n=4,718). This is a low-frequency variant in the breed. Testing is available through OFA and commercial canine genetics labs.

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

Degenerative myelopathy in Rottweilers is a progressive spinal-cord degeneration caused by a recessive variant with incomplete penetrance. Affected dogs develop hind-limb weakness and loss of coordination, typically in middle to advanced age. Not all dogs carrying two copies become symptomatic.

0.59% of Rottweilers carry the variant (n=4,718). OFA maintains breed-specific statistics on DM prevalence and testing. Testing is widely available.

How should I test my Rottweiler?

For breeding stock, a panel covering the five higher-frequency variants is reasonable: cord1-PRA/crd4 (cone-rod dystrophy), POANV, VPS11 (neuroaxonal dystrophy), nonsyndromic hearing loss, and degenerative myelopathy. The dilated cardiomyopathy variant (TTN, autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance) and von Willebrand’s Disease Type 1 (VWF, autosomal recessive) are both at 0.20% carrier frequency, low enough that they carry minimal breeding decision weight. For a pet owner, the decision depends on your dog’s intended role and your breeding plans; a general veterinarian can help prioritize.

What should I feed a Rottweiler?

Feeding a Rottweiler well means accounting for the breed’s size, growth rate, and the emerging cardiac risk signal in the broader working-dog population. Rottweilers are large working dogs, with adult males typically weighing 95 to 135 pounds, which means the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio during the growth phase is the single most important food decision an owner makes.

Giant-breed puppies require controlled calcium and phosphorus. Excess calcium during rapid growth can cause developmental orthopedic disease and joint instability. The National Research Council recommends a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio between 1.1:1 and 2:1 for large-breed puppies (NRC 2006). A large-breed puppy formula that controls mineral levels and delivers moderate protein supports steady growth without accelerating skeletal problems. Adult Rottweilers benefit from continued attention to joint support, particularly given the breed’s size and the orthopedic load.

Dilated cardiomyopathy signal warrants caution on grain-free formulations. While the dilated cardiomyopathy risk factor variant (TTN-related) is rare in Rottweilers (0.20% carrier frequency, n=4,718), the broader breed population and genetic relatives (Leonberger, Saint Bernard, Newfoundland) include working and large breeds where diet-associated DCM has been flagged. The FDA issued advisories in 2018 and 2022 on diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy in large breeds (FDA 2018/2022 DCM advisories). A grain-inclusive adult diet with explicit taurine supplementation is the conservative default for the breed.

Weight management in adulthood prevents joint stress. Rottweilers do not have a documented high hip dysplasia rate in the Donner cohort, but the breed’s size and orthopedic load mean excess weight is costly. A moderate-protein, controlled-calorie maintenance diet that keeps adult dogs in lean body condition supports longevity and quality of life.

What we don’t know

The Rottweiler atlas contains 183 dogs, a solid sample for a large-breed specialty cohort but smaller than the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study (Morris Animal Foundation, morrisanimalfoundation.org/golden-retriever-lifetime-study). The carrier frequencies for the rarer variants (degenerative myelopathy, von Willebrand’s Disease Type 1, hyperuricosuria) rest on small numbers of at-risk dogs; confidence intervals are wide.

The atlas median lifespan is 9.3 years, while breed-club estimates typically cite 8 to 11 years. The gap between atlas median and the breed-club range suggests either selection bias in which dogs are genotyped, variation in how lifespan is recorded, or genuine heterogeneity in the breed’s longevity. A larger longitudinal cohort will narrow those confidence intervals over time.

Dilated cardiomyopathy has not been formally characterized in Rottweilers themselves, though the OMIA entry for this variant notes its origin in the Doberman Pinscher, where a separate DCM locus (PDK4) is well characterized. We do not yet know whether that genetic-relative risk translates into clinical prevalence in the Rottweiler population, or whether dietary factors modulate it. The Rottweiler’s DCM risk variant is in TTN (Titin), a different locus from the Doberman Pinscher’s PDK4 variant.

Frequently asked questions about Rottweilers

What is the most common genetic disease in Rottweilers? Cone-rod dystrophy. 6.8% of Rottweilers carry the variant (Donner 2023, n=4,713). It causes progressive vision loss but is manageable and does not affect lifespan significantly.

How long do Rottweilers live? The atlas median is 9.3 years. Breed-club estimates typically cite 8 to 11 years. Large and giant breeds have shorter lifespans than smaller dogs due to the metabolic cost of size.

Should I do a DNA test on my Rottweiler? For breeding stock, a panel covering the five measurable variants (cone-rod dystrophy, POANV, neuroaxonal dystrophy, hearing loss, and degenerative myelopathy) is the practical standard. For a pet, testing is optional unless you have concerns about a specific condition.

Are Rottweilers prone to heart disease? The breed does not show high prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy in the current data. Genetic relatives such as Leonberger and Saint Bernard carry known DCM risk variants, and a taurine-adequate, grain-inclusive diet is a reasonable precaution. A diet that avoids grain-free formulations and ensures adequate taurine is a reasonable precaution.

What should I feed my Rottweiler puppy? A large-breed puppy formula with controlled calcium and phosphorus (calcium-to-phosphorus ratio between 1.1:1 and 2:1) is essential for healthy skeletal development (NRC 2006). Avoid excessive protein and mineral supplementation.

Are Rottweilers good with children? Rottweilers are large, powerful dogs that require early socialization and training. Their size and strength demand owner responsibility and supervision around children. Temperament varies; individual dogs matter more than breed generalizations.

Do Rottweilers shed a lot? Yes. Rottweilers have a double coat and shed heavily. Regular brushing during shedding season reduces loose hair in the home and skin issues.

What is the Rottweiler’s typical adult size? Males typically weigh 95 to 135 pounds; females 80 to 100 pounds (AKC breed standard). They are among the larger working breeds, which shapes their nutritional and exercise needs.

A gift to human medicine

Rottweilers are a natural model for human disease

Because the same genes cause the same conditions across species, the inherited conditions documented in Rottweilers help researchers understand, and work toward treating, the human diseases they model. This is the dog advancing human medicine. The breed models the human disease; it does not have it, and this is not a prediction for your dog.

Human equivalents via OMIA → Mondo / OMIM. Model-of, not identity.
Documented in OMIA

Every condition recorded in the Rottweiler

Beyond the testable carriers above, OMIA's literature catalogue records 28 genetic conditions in the Rottweiler, 21 of which have a known human equivalent. This is the documented landscape across all Rottweilers ever studied, not a prediction for any one dog.

Plus 10 more conditions recorded in the Rottweiler in OMIA.

Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA); Nicholas, Tammen & Sydney Informatics Hub, DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70
Documented in the breed's literature is not carrier status and not a forecast for an individual dog. Human equivalents are mapped via Mondo/OMIM. Carrier frequencies (above) are the separately-measured testable subset (Donner 2023).
The data behind this page

Where every number on this page came from.

This page draws on three primary data sources. Carrier frequencies for the Mendelian section come from Donner et al. 2023 (CC-BY-4.0). We grade these data at evidence Limited because the cohort is a direct-to-consumer ascertainment, which biases toward owners who chose to test their dogs. The panel also uses tag-SNP proxies for some variants rather than direct causal-variant assays. Limited is a study-design grade, not a quality grade: the Donner cohort is the largest open canine-genotype dataset in existence and we are grateful for it. We rate the confounding MEDIUM.

Population-genetic dimensions (heterozygosity, intra-breed PCA distance, nearest neighbors, trait-locus frequencies) come from CanVAS (Brundage 2026), harmonized through the Sniff Atlas. The exact release date and verification commit are pinned at the bottom of the page so a researcher can trace a number back to a specific snapshot. The disease-gene-variant graph comes from OMIA (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals; Nicholas, Tammen, and the Sydney Informatics Hub at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney; retrieved April 2026, DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70).

What this page does not yet have. Inheritance modes and per-disease penetrance evidence from Donner 2023 are now in the structured data for every variant the panel covers. Mondo, OMIM, Ensembl, and HGNC cross-references on gene pages remain pending, they arrive in December 2026 alongside the imputed 9.67M-variant CanVAS dataset via the OMIA SQL dump absorption. Until then, gene IDs carry NCBI Gene and OMIA phene URLs only; the wider human-homolog and disease-ontology cross-reference set fills in with that release.

How to cite this page. The computed dimensions on this page are derived from the open Sniff Atlas v1.0.1 (Gehring 2026, doi:10.5281/zenodo.20566358, CC-BY 4.0). Full citation formats including BibTeX, RIS, and CITATION.cff at sniff.world/cite.

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References
  1. Donner J, Freyer J, Davison S, Anderson H, Blades M, Honkanen L, et al. (2023). Genetic prevalence and clinical relevance of canine Mendelian disease variants in over one million dogs. PLOS Genetics 19(2):e1010651. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1010651
  2. Brundage J, et al. (2026). CanVAS: a harmonized canine variant atlas. bioRxiv. doi:10.64898/2026.04.13.718238
  3. Nicholas, F.W., Tammen, I., & Sydney Informatics Hub. (2026). Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) [dataset]. The University of Sydney. https://omia.org. doi:10.25910/2AMR-PV70 (retrieved April 2026).
Last updated
Sources: CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · Donner 2023 · OMIA