At Melschwarz Kennel, the health and wellbeing of every puppy we breed is our highest priority.

Responsible breeding is about far more than producing beautiful dogs. It means doing everything reasonably possible to reduce the risk of inherited disease and to give every puppy the healthiest possible start in life.

Our breeding dogs undergo extensive health screening, including hip scoring, elbow scoring and DNA testing. Although no breeder can ever guarantee that a puppy will never experience illness, careful health testing allows informed breeding decisions and reduces the risk of passing on known inherited conditions.

Our passion for health testing is also personal as we own a dog that came from a poor breeding background and have experienced first hand the emotional and financial impact that irresponsible breeding can have. From recurring gastrointestinal infections to prolonged periods of rest because of poor joint health, we’ve seen how heartbreaking preventable health problems can be.

Those experiences reinforced our commitment to responsible breeding. Every mating is carefully considered with the aim of producing healthy, confident puppies with excellent temperaments that families can enjoy for many years.

Hip and Elbow Scoring

Hip and elbow dysplasia are developmental conditions that affect the joints.

Dogs with poor hips or elbows may develop:

• stiffness
• pain
• reduced mobility
• arthritis
• lameness

Hip scoring involves x rays that are assessed by specialists. Lower scores indicate healthier hips.

By breeding from dogs with good hip and elbow scores, breeders help reduce the likelihood of these conditions appearing in future generations.

DNA Health Testing

DNA testing helps identify whether a dog is:

• Clear - carries no copies of the genetic disease
• Carrier - carries one copy of the genetic disease, the dog is healthy but can pass on one variant to some of their offspring
• Affected - carries two copies of genetic disease,  the dog is at risk of developing the disease and passing it to their offspring

Knowing these results allows breeders to make informed mating choices and reduce the risk of producing affected puppies.

JLPP (Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy) 

JLPP is a severe inherited neurological disorder.

Affected puppies may develop:

• weakness
• difficulty walking
• breathing problems
• difficulty swallowing
• progressive paralysis

Symptoms usually begin at a young age and unfortunately the disease is often fatal.

LEMP (Leukoencephalomyelopathy)

LEMP is another inherited neurological disease.

Signs include:

• weakness
• wobbliness
• dragging feet
• loss of coordination
• progressive difficulty walking

Symptoms often develop between one and four years of age and worsen over time.  

Degenerative Myleopathy (DM)

Degenerative Myelopathy is a progressive disease affecting the spinal cord.

Signs include:

• weakness in the back legs
• loss of coordination
• dragging paws
• eventual paralysis of the hind limbs

While there is currently no cure, DNA testing helps breeders make informed breeding decisions.

NAD (Neuroaxonal Dystrophy)

Neuroaxonal Dystrophy is an inherited neurological disease affecting the nervous system.

Clinical signs may include:

• tremors
• poor coordination
• weakness
• abnormal gait
• progressive neurological decline

Affected dogs can experience a reduced quality of life.

XLMTM (X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy)

XLMTM is a rare inherited muscle disorder.

Affected puppies may develop:

• muscle weakness
• exercise intolerance
• poor muscle development
• difficulty standing or walking

Because it is inherited, DNA testing allows breeders to avoid producing affected puppies.

Why We Test Beyond Royal Kennel Club Recommendations

The Royal Kennel Club currently recommends breed specific DNA testing for JLPP and LEMP in Rottweilers.  

However, we choose to go further.

Additional inherited diseases have been identified within the breed and we believe that using wider DNA screening helps us make the most informed breeding decisions available. While no test can guarantee perfect health, responsible breeders should use every tool available to improve the long term health of future generations in their breeding programmes. 

Coat Information

Both standard coated and long-haired (often called “fluffy”) Rottweilers are purebred Rottweilers.

The long coat is caused by a naturally occurring recessive genetic variation. A puppy must inherit one copy of the recessive gene from each parent to express the long coat. Dogs with only one copy are carriers and have a standard-length coat.  

Long-haired Rottweilers are not mixed breeds simply because of their coat length. They remain genetically Rottweilers the difference is only in the coat length gene.

Where did the long coat come from?

The long coat has existed within the breed’s gene pool for many generations.

Because it is recessive, it can remain hidden for decades before appearing when two carrier dogs are bred together. This is why two standard coated parents can occasionally produce a long haired puppy if both carry the gene.

Unfortunately due to breed standards being in place, people used to cull puppies that were "mutated." This is an inhumane practice and is unjustifiable. Now people are starting to embrace this gene and  long haired Rottweilers are back on the rise!  

Grooming

Both coat types should be:

• bathed every 6-8 weeks
• thoroughly dried after bathing
• regularly checked for skin health

Every long-haired Rottweiler is different. Some have a flowing coat, while others have a slightly wavy or curlier appearance.

The longer feathering around:

• the backs of the legs
• the tail
• the chest
• behind the ears
• around the hindquarters

should be gently combed every day to prevent knots and matting.

Personally, we like using a rubber grooming brush similar to the KONG ZoomGroom over the back and sides, as I find it very effective for removing loose coat during shedding.

Some long-haired Rottweilers may benefit from a small sanitary trim around the rear to help keep them clean. Whether you choose this is entirely personal but good hygiene is important either way.

In my own experience, our short coated Rottweilers shed more than our fluffy Rottweilers, although coat shedding can vary from dog to dog.

FAQ