The Long Haired Rottweiler: Coat Genetics, Care, and What Makes This Rottie Rare

A long haired Rottweiler is a purebred Rottweiler that inherited a recessive coat gene, giving it a longer, softer coat with feathering on the ears, legs, chest, belly, and tail instead of the breed's usual short, flat coat. Long haired Rottweilers are the same size, temperament, and working heritage as standard Rotties — the only real difference is more fur and more brushing. Because the coat deviates from the breed standard, it can't be shown in AKC conformation.

What Is a Long Haired Rottweiler?

The Rottweiler is a robust German working breed descended from the drover dogs of the Roman legions, famous for its strength, loyalty, and self-assured calm. The overwhelming majority of Rottweilers carry the standard coat: short, dense, and flat, lying close to a muscular body. A small number, however, are born with a noticeably longer coat — wavy or straight hair that grows out around the ears, the backs of the legs, the underbelly, and the tail, often with a soft ruff around the neck.

This is not a designer cross or a different breed. A long haired Rottweiler is 100% Rottweiler. The long coat simply reflects a genetic variant that has quietly existed in the breed's gene pool for generations. Under all that extra hair, the dog is built exactly the same as its short-coated littermates — the fur can make a long-haired Rottie look larger, but height and weight are unchanged. If you already love the breed, our full Rottweiler breed guide covers the temperament and history these dogs share regardless of coat length.

The Genetics: Why Some Rottweilers Have Long Hair

Coat length in dogs is largely governed by the FGF5 gene. The long coat in Rottweilers is a recessive trait, which means a puppy must inherit the long-hair variant from both parents to actually grow a long coat. According to breed researchers, two short-coated parents can each silently "carry" one copy of the gene and still produce long-haired puppies in a litter (A-Z Animals).

Because two carriers are needed, long coats show up relatively rarely and often unexpectedly. Some breeders consider the trait a fault and select against it; others have begun to appreciate the softer look. Importantly, the long coat is not linked to any health defect — it is purely cosmetic, and long-haired Rotties are just as sound as their short-coated relatives when responsibly bred (Dogster).

How to Identify a Long Haired Rottweiler

A long haired Rottweiler keeps the classic Rottweiler markings — a black body with clearly defined mahogany, rust, or tan points over the eyes, on the cheeks, chest, legs, and under the tail. What sets it apart is texture and length:

• Feathering on the backs of the legs and along the tail.
• Longer fringe on the ears, sometimes making them look softer and more rounded.
• A ruff or "mane" of thicker hair around the neck and chest.
• A fuller, fluffier tail and often a longer coat along the underbelly.

The coat can range from slightly wavy to nearly straight, and it is still a true double coat, with a dense insulating undercoat beneath the longer guard hairs. A puppy's long coat may not be obvious until several weeks of age, when the feathering starts to come in.

Size, Weight, and Lifespan

Long haired Rottweilers match the standard breed for build. Adult males generally stand about 24–27 inches at the shoulder and weigh roughly 95–135 pounds, while females stand around 22–25 inches and weigh about 80–100 pounds (American Kennel Club). Coat length does not add real mass — it just adds visual bulk.

Like all Rottweilers, the long-haired variety has a typical lifespan of about 9–10 years. Responsible breeding, a healthy weight, and routine veterinary care all help a Rottie live to the top of that range. The breed is predisposed to certain conditions — including hip and elbow dysplasia, certain heart conditions such as aortic stenosis, and a higher-than-average cancer risk — and these risks are identical whether the coat is short or long (A-Z Animals). This is a large, fast-growing breed, so ask your veterinarian about appropriate growth, joint screening, and weight management for your individual dog.

Grooming a Long Haired Rottweiler

The single biggest practical difference between a long-haired and short-haired Rottie is grooming. That soft feathering is beautiful, but it tangles — especially behind the ears, in the "armpits," and along the legs and tail. Plan on brushing at least a few times a week, and daily during the heavy spring and fall shedding seasons, to prevent mats and keep loose hair under control (Dogster). Rottweilers are moderate-to-heavy shedders year-round; our guide to whether Rottweilers shed breaks down what to expect and how to manage it.

A Simple Grooming Routine

• Brush 3–4 times weekly with a slicker brush and an undercoat rake; use a metal comb on the feathered areas.
• Bathe every 6–8 weeks, or when genuinely dirty, using a dog-safe shampoo.
• Check ears regularly, since the extra fringe can trap moisture and debris.
• Trim the hair between the paw pads and tidy the feathering as needed, but never shave a double coat — it protects against both heat and cold.
• Nails and teeth: trim nails every few weeks and brush teeth several times a week.

Temperament: Same Loyal, Confident Rottie

Coat length has no effect on personality. A long haired Rottweiler is the same self-assured, deeply loyal, family-oriented dog the breed is known for — calm and confident at home, watchful with strangers, and devoted to "their" people. Rottweilers are highly intelligent and eager to work, which makes them very trainable in the right hands but also means they need a job, structure, and consistent leadership.

Early, thorough socialization is essential. A well-raised Rottie is typically gentle and patient with children in its own family, though its size means play with small kids should always be supervised — see our take on whether Rottweilers are good with kids. Because the breed is powerful and protective, understanding its capabilities matters, too; we cover the numbers behind the breed's strength in Rottweiler bite force. With daily exercise, mental stimulation, and firm-but-kind training, this is one of the most rewarding companions in the working group.

Are Long Haired Rottweilers Recognized by the AKC?

No. The AKC and most major kennel clubs define the Rottweiler coat as short, straight, coarse, and dense. Because the long coat departs from that standard, a long haired Rottweiler cannot compete in AKC conformation shows and the trait is considered a disqualifying fault (Dogster). This has no bearing on the dog as a pet: a long-haired Rottie can still be registered as a purebred Rottweiler, can compete in performance sports like obedience and rally, and is every bit as loving a family dog. If you're curious about other ways the breed varies from the show ring, our article on the Rottweiler with a tail explores another common point of confusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a long haired Rottweiler a purebred?

Yes. A long haired Rottweiler is a purebred Rottweiler that inherited a recessive long-coat gene from both parents. It is not a mix with another breed.

Are long haired Rottweilers rare?

Relatively. Because the long-coat trait is recessive, both parents must carry the gene for a puppy to be born with a long coat, so long-haired Rotties appear far less often than the standard short-coated variety.

Do long haired Rottweilers have more health problems?

No. The long coat is cosmetic and is not linked to additional health issues. Long-haired Rottweilers face the same breed predispositions — such as hip dysplasia and certain heart conditions — as short-coated ones. Always consult your veterinarian about screening and preventive care.

Do long haired Rottweilers shed a lot?

Yes, they shed moderately to heavily and "blow" their undercoat seasonally. The longer feathering also mats more easily, so they need more frequent brushing than short-coated Rottweilers.

How big does a long haired Rottweiler get?

The same size as any Rottweiler: males roughly 24–27 inches and 95–135 pounds, females about 22–25 inches and 80–100 pounds. The extra fur can make them look bigger than they actually are.

Can you show a long haired Rottweiler?

Not in AKC conformation, because the long coat is a disqualifying fault under the breed standard. However, they can still be registered as purebred and can compete in performance events like obedience, rally, and tracking.

The Bottom Line

A long haired Rottweiler offers everything people love about the breed — loyalty, confidence, intelligence, and a steady protective heart — wrapped in a rarer, softer coat. The trade-off is simply more grooming and no spot in the show ring. If you're drawn to the look and ready for the brushing, you'll get the same magnificent Rottie underneath.

Want to keep exploring the breed? Read our complete Rottweiler breed profile and meet the imposing Roman Rottweiler to see how coat, size, and type vary across these dogs. And for weekly breed deep-dives, care tips, and dog-friendly finds, subscribe to the Daily Wag newsletter — it's free, and it's the easiest way to keep learning about the dogs you love.