The German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is an increasingly popular designer breed. Fiercely loyal and protective of the people it loves, they make great family dogs for active owners.
What is a Shepweiler? The Shepweiler is a cross between German Shepherd and Rottweiler dog breeds. Energetic, loyal, and easy to train this mix does best in large homes with access to a yard. Properly trained and socialized Rottie Shepherd gets along with children and will watch over your family and home.
If you are looking for an active companion that can double as a guard dog, the German Shepherd Rottweiler might be the right breed for you! Keep on reading to learn more about this loyal watchdog.
What Is a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix?
The German Shepherd Rottweiler mix was created by crossing a purebred German Shepherd Dog with a purebred Rottweiler. This designer breed goes by several names including, Rottie Shepherd, Shepweiler, Rotten Shepherd, Rottweiler Shepherd, and Shottie.
Brief History
The Rottweiler Shepherd may have existed naturally over the years. However, designer breeders started intentionally crossing German Shepherds and Rottweilers in the late 1990s.
Breeders likely wanted to combine the loyalty, strength, and intelligence of both parent breeds and create a family-friendly guard dog. As demand for designer breeds climbed, breeders continued to create Shepweilers.
German Shepherd
Developed in Germany as a herding dog, the German Shepherd is nowadays an all-purpose working dog. Besides being used by police and military units, Shepherds are also loyal family companions and amazing guard dogs.
Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a working dog originally used to herd and guard cattle and pull heavy carts. Known for their muscular and intimidating appearance, Rottweilers are active and exuberant dogs that are highly protective of their families.
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
When you mix the two you get a Rottweiler Shepherd – a very energetic, loyal, and fierce family guardian. Don’t let their formidable appearance scare you. Shotties are goofy, playful, and devoted dogs who make great family companions and even get along with children.
Characteristics of German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
Being a crossbreed, it’s hard to predict the exact appearance and personality of any Rottie Shepherd. Your mix can take more after one of its parent breeds or be a perfect blend of a Rottweiler and German Shepherd.
Most Shepweilers have muscular and powerful bodies, deep chest, and strong legs. They usually inherit the rounded head of their Rottweiler parent and have a longer muzzle like their German Shepherd parent.
Rottie Shepherd Highlights
Size | Large size dog |
Weight | 75-115 pounds |
Height | 22-28 inches |
Coat Type | Short or medium-long double coat |
Shedding | Moderate to heavy shedding |
Energy Level | Highly energetic |
Overall Health | Good |
Lifespan | 9-13 years |
Size
As a mix of two large and athletically built breeds, you can expect your German Shepherd Rottweiler mix to be a large dog.
Height
Most Shepweilers are from 22 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder. But some can be shorter or taller depending on the size of both parents.
Weight
A full-grown German Shepherd Rottweiler mix can weigh between 75 and 115 pounds.
Coat Color
The Rottie Shepherd’s coat is usually a mix of its Rottweiler and German Shepherd parents’ coat colors. Their coats are rarely solid and most have two or three colors.
The most commonly seen coat colors are:
- Black
- Grey
- Sable
- Tan
- Red
- Cream
Shedding
Your Rottweiler German Shepherd mix can have a short or medium length double coat, depending on which parent it takes more after. Regardless of the coat’s length, this mix sheds moderately all-year-round and will lose a ton of hair during the shedding season thanks to its German Shepherd heritage (source).
Temperament
It’s hard to predict the exact temperament and personality of any mixed-breed dog. But it’s safe to say that a Shottie will make a loyal and highly energetic companion.
Both German Shepherds and Rottweilers are athletic working breeds so their mix will like to work and stay busy at all times. Rottie Shepherds need a lot of physical and mental stimulation to stay on best behavior.
If you are a couch potato, this isn’t a dog for you! An under-exercised Shottie can easily become bored and destructive, and will chew anything in sight, including your shoes and furniture (source).
The German Shepherd Rottweiler mix has an inherently strong guarding instinct and they are very protective of their families and homes. When not properly trained and socialized this mix can be hostile towards strangers and perceive everyone as a threat to their family.
While intimidating to others, Shepweilers are softies with their owners and families. They are goofy, playful, and devoted dogs that form strong bonds with their main caregiver.
Pet Friendly
Most Rottie Shepherds are generally friendly with other dogs, as long as they are introduced to them slowly and properly. This mixed dog has a strong drive to chase smaller animals like cats, so they might not be the best choice if you have cats.
Child Friendly
The Rottweiler Shepherd can be an energetic and fun playmate for older kids who know how to interact with such a large dog. Shotties are also easily excitable and like to jump on people, which can be problematic if you have small children at home.
This large dog can easily unintentionally knock and injure a young child by jumping on them. So, you must train your Shepweiler not to jump on people or children, no matter how excited it is to see them.
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Care
Like all other dogs, this Rottweiler mix needs proper care and a lot of attention to stay healthy and happy. You should develop a care routine as soon as you bring your puppy home and pay close attention to:
Health Risks
The German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is generally a healthy designer hybrid. However, some may be predisposed to the same health problems that affect German Shepherd and Rottweiler dog breeds.
The most common health issues seen in this mix are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Aortic stenosis
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Bloat
- Cancer
- Hypothyroidism
Rottie Shepherds have an average lifespan of 9 to 13 years when properly cared for and taken for regular veterinary checkups.
Grooming and Maintenance
Your Shepweiler can have a short or medium-length double coat, depending on which parent breed it takes more after. Regardless of the coat’s length your pooch will shed moderately throughout the year and go through a heavy shed during the shedding season.
Brush your dog four times a week to keep its coat clean and to minimize shedding. Depending on the amount of shedding during spring and fall, you may need to brush your dog every day.
Bathe your dog once every two months or as needed to keep its coat clean and odor-free. Use mild or hypoallergenic dog shampoo and avoid bathing your mix too often since this can damage its skin and coat.
The rest is basic care and involves regular teeth brushing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning. If you aren’t comfortable trimming your dog’s nails at home, you can take them to a professional groomer.
Food or Diet
The ideal diet for a Rottweiler German Shepherd mix should be formulated for large dogs with high energy. Make sure that your dog is eating plenty of proteins and moderate levels of carbs and fat to stay healthy and in good shape.
This mix tends to gain weight easily, so stick to a regular feeding schedule of two or three smaller meals a day. You should also limit the amount of treats your dog is eating and follow a 10 percent rule (source).
Training and Exercise
As an offspring of two active working breeds, the Shottie is a highly energetic dog that needs between 60 and 90 minutes of vigorous exercise every day. Besides two or three longer walks per day, your mix will also need to run, jog, or hike to burn excess energy.
Fun-loving and lively, Rottie Shepherds love to play and will never refuse a game of fetch, flyball, Frisbee, or tug-of-war. Daily play sessions are a great way to exercise your dog’s body and mind and will prevent boredom.
Both German Shepherds and Rottweilers are intelligent breeds, so their mix will be a super smart pooch. Shepweilers are generally easy to train and respond well to positive reinforcement and reward-based training.
Since they are large dogs, it’s imperative that you properly train your mix from a young age. Otherwise, you will have trouble controlling such a big dog once it reaches its full size.
You should start socializing your Shottie as soon as you bring it home since they are naturally reserved with strangers. Introduce your puppy to different people and situations early on, to prevent aggression and other behavioral problems.
Housing
Due to its large size, the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix isn’t a good apartment dweller. They need spacious homes with access to a fenced yard where they can play and burn pent up energy.
Where to Get a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix?
There are only two ways you can get a Rottie Shepherd – either adopt or shop!
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Breeders
The Shepweiler is an increasingly popular designer hybrid, and with a bit of research, you can find reputable breeders that make puppies available. When you find a breeder you like, schedule an appointment to meet both parents and the puppies and to see the conditions they are kept in.
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Price
German Shepherd Rottweiler puppies on average cost between $500 and $1000. Still, you may end up paying more, depending on a breeder, puppy’s coat color, lineage, and your location.
Adoption
Although a designer breed, some Shepweilers end up in animal shelters and rescue organizations. Check your local shelters to see if they have any German Shepherd Rottweiler mixes for adoption.
You can also try German Shepherd and Rottweiler breed-specific rescue groups since these organizations often take care and rehome mixes too.
Conclusion
The increasingly popular German Shepherd Rottweiler mix makes an active companion and fearless guard dog. Exuberant, goofy, and loyal to their families, Shepweilers are generally aloof with strangers and may see them as a threat.
If you are a couch potato or don’t have time to train and socialize your dog consistently, the Rottie Shepherd isn’t the right breed for you. But, if you lead an active lifestyle and are looking for a protective family dog, the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is a perfect choice.
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