Rottweiler Eye Color, Placement and Shape

The color of the eyes should always be as dark as possible, with 1A the best. It is not so much a functionality reason, since the eyes can work either light or dark, but an all important type trait. As the eye color gets lighter it softens the appearance of the gaze, diminishing the fearlessness of Rottweiler expression.

(Our Stablemates Cora vd Tal and her beautiful 1B eye color, eye set and shape)

Another factor in striving to keep the eye color dark is it's difficulty maintaining it once light eyes are introduced into the blood line. Interestingly, the German eye chart allows a range of 1A-5B, however, to be more precise one can often observe shades of eye color in between these numbers. Therefore half shades are also possible. Example 1 A 1/2, 2 B 1/2, etc.

(6 week old WCR puppy female, beautiful black eyes, shape and eye set are perfect)

Shape and placement of eyes (subcategory):

The shape of the eye should always be almond with tight fitting lids. Round eyes are a fault. Hairless lids are a fault and an indication of a problem. The distance of the eyes from each other and their location on the head is also of importance. The eyes should lie at a 10-15 degree angle above the bridge of the nose (see fig 5). Best set wide apart.

(Color, placement and shape..it does not get any better than 14 month old WCR's Atlas vd Tal)

 

Below is a chart with an approximation of the correct proportionate distance which the eyes should be set apart. This chart is taken from  Dr.Carla Lensi's book on the Rottweiler. She marks the angle at which the eyes should sit in it's placement above the bridge of the nose ( approx. 10-15 degrees). The eyes ideally should also be set 1/4 the distance of the width of the top skull from ear to ear. For example if the top skull measures 15 cm across then the eye should sit 3.75 cm from the center of the stop.

Some faults that occur with eye placement:

1. Eyes set too far apart

2. Eyes set too close together

3. Eye shape (lids) of different size

4. Eyes set too low of an angle( below 10 / 15 degrees)

WCR's Note: It appears that 4A eye color is the new 1A eye color in both the German Style Arena and the AKC Arena. We have even noted dogs winning with two different eye color shades.

(WCR's Athena vd Tal and her beautiful black eyes, shape and placement)

Rottweiler Eye Color Chart/Marbles

(Perfect eye color 1A and placement of WCRs Karly)

Steve Wolfson sits on the board of the American Rottweiler Club (ARC) and is actively judging, lecturing and writing articles on Rottweilers

The above comments are solely that of WCR/Bob Flynn

"West Coast Rottweilers is HEAVILY COMMITTED to the preservation of the Rottweiler as it was intended. Using only the finest males in the world to our outstanding females, we will settle for nothing less than to exceed the Standards of the breed; we have proven that over and over." -Bob Flynn/West Coast Rottweilers

 

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