Why do some dogs breeds have spots over the eyes?
The spots you can see over the eyes of certain dogs are known as tan points. It’s a trait mostly seen in breeds that belong to the black-and-tan phenotype.
The black and tan color is dictated by a gene called Agouti. This gene comes in several versions, called allele.
The coloring and the markings on a dog’s fur depends on the specific allele he inherits from his parents.
This is a recessive gene, so the dog will have a distinctive black-and-tan color if the genes he got from his parents are of the same type.
The tan points can appear as pips over the eyes, on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, on the front of the chest, or sometimes on the legs.
Some predominantly tan dogs can have black spots over the eyes, but this is extremely rare.
If you are gazing at a Rottweiler or German Shepherd at this moment, you may disagree with me, and argue that your pooch does indeed have furry shapes above its eyes. And you would be right. These breeds have marks—oftentimes very vividly colored—that you might call eyebrows. But are these really dogs with eyebrows? These marks or furry shapes are, in fact, phantom brows.
This adorable little fellow has silky-fine, wavy hair that manifests in numerous shades of gray. In addition to their “eyebrows,” the hirsute Cesky’s long locks can be groomed in such a way so that they appear to be a “beard.”
The muscular Pug is one of the oldest breeds of dog, dating back to before 400 BC in China. Pugs reach about one foot in height, give or take an inch or two, and pack a solid 14 to 18 lbs into their stout frame.
The Basset Hound breed has adorable furrows above its eyes and could be mistaken for dogs with eyebrows. This mellow and steadfast low-lying dog has a loveable charm. The thick chunky Basset hound stands at 15 inches tall and can weigh 40 to 60 pounds.
Have we missed a pooch with dog eyebrow whiskers? Maybe we’ve overlooked a few dogs with eyebrows? Does your dog have a set of particularly furry eye ridges?
How do Rottweilers Use Their Eyebrows?
Rottweilers make use of their expressive eyebrows in a number of different ways. Rottweilers have many different jobs, and they are one of the most versatile of all dog breeds. A Rottweiler is equally adept at guiding the blind and being a playmate to children as they are working at bite work or herding challenging livestock. Here are a few ways that the Rottweiler’s eyebrows may come into play in their various jobs:
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One of the most distinctive characteristics of a Rottweiler is the striking black and tan coloration and the charming, expressive eyebrows.
Rottweilers have eyebrows because eyebrows can aid in communication, provide an intimidating appearance, and because eyebrows are tied to a very old gene that appears in many different dog breeds. Rottweilers use their eyebrows to herd livestock, intimidate their enemies, and communicate with people.
If you’ve ever wondered why Rottweilers have eyebrows, how they use them, and if dogs with eyebrows are more aggressive than other breeds, here’s everything you know to know about Rottweilers and their expressive eyebrows.
One very good theory for why several dog breeds, including Rottweilers, have eyebrows is because eyebrows are a way to communicate with people and other dogs. All dogs have eyebrows, but accentuating them with a different color causes them to stand out and makes the communication signals more clear.
This is especially important in black dogs, like the Rottweiler, since it may be difficult otherwise to see social signals in the face. Communication using facial expression is very important for dogs to communicate with people, but it is also a valuable tool when communicating with other dogs.
Eyebrows help to accentuate eye contact, loose facial expressions, and other signs that the dog is being friendly or would rather the other dog back off.
Wondering just how communicative Rottweilers can be? Here’s how one Rottie feels about being left home when his mom goes out:
The Rottweiler’s tan eyebrows and other tan markings against an otherwise black background create a very consistent appearance, almost like a military uniform. This should come as no surprise when we consider that Rottweilers were Roman war dogs very early in their history and went on to become German military dogs and then military and police dogs across the world (at least for a little while).
The consistent black and tan coloration provides a uniform-like front, especially when multiple dogs are walked together. Since one of the primary goals of military and police dogs is to provide an intimidating, confident-looking front, this kind of militarized appearance would have been very valuable in the Rottweiler.
Black and tan coloration appear to be tied to a gene known as Agouti. This is one of the oldest genes in dogs. It can cause different colors, including the sable coloration of a wolf, the saddleback of a German Shepherd, and the black and tan of a Rottweiler.
While black and tan aren’t dominant, it does seem to be a color that crops up in a number of breeds, perhaps because it is such an old coloration. It isn’t surprising that this color mutation appeared in and preserved in Rottweilers, as well as many of the other breeds that were descended from Rottweilers such as Doberman Pinschers.