The German Shepherd Rottweiler is a cross between a registered Rottweiler and a purebred German Shepherd, also known as a Shepweiler. This is a large-sized mix with a height of within 22 and 27 inches and weighs between 75 and 115 pounds.
Shepweilers are great family dogs but are not great for apartments. German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is a hybrid that is often confused. Get to learn why you should or should not get this crossbreed. Here is a complete guide to the German Shepherd Rottweiller mix.
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The German shepherd Rottweiler Mix Overview
The German Shepherd is one of the unique breeds you could find out there. If you are looking for a strong and smart that is loyal and friendly, look no further.
The Rottie Shepherd will be well suited for you. Also known as Shepweiler, Rottweiler Shepherd, Rotten Shepherd, Rottie Shepherd, or Shottie. You couldn’t find any hybrid whose parent breeds are related.
German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is a crossbreed between two German parents breeds, the German Shepherd and the Rottweiler. Both of the parent breeds are identified throughout the World.
According to the American Kennel Club, German Shepherd ranks second in the list of the most famous dog breeds, and the Rottweiler comes in at the ninth spot.
Both the German Shepherd and the Rottweiler were bred to be guard dogs. However, there are some critical variations while we will try to highlight so that you can have a better understanding of the Shepweiler.
Breed Identification
Shepweiler is one of the ongoing designer dogs trends. Designer dogs/hybrid dogs are crosses between two pure breeds. Any of the Kennel clubs do not recognize German Shepherd Rottweiler.
The Dog Breed registry, however, identifies them as the Rottie Shepherd. When cross-breeding two pure breeds, it is we always hope that the positive traits and qualities will be sustained and the negative attributes bred out.
Interesting Things about Rottie Shepherd
- Both the Rottweiler and the German Shepherd are working dogs, which males the Shepweiler, a high-energy hybrid.
- The German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is more likely to form more powerful bonds with one member of the family more than the others.
- Some of the traits from both the German Shepherd and Rottweiler can be genetically received.
Shepweiler General Characteristics
| Features | Detail |
| Height | 22-27″ in height |
| Weight | 75 – 115lb |
| Lifespan | 10 – 13 years |
| Breed type | Mixes |
| Purpose | Companion |
| Best for | Families with experience of large, powerful Breeds |
| Grooming needs | Moderate to high grooming |
| Color variation | Black, Black and Tan, Brown |
| Temperament | Strong, loyal, intelligent |
| Other names | Shottie, Rottie Shepherd, Rotten Shepherd, Shepweiler |
| Health issues | Hip and elbow dysplasia, Epilepsy, Cataracts |
The Physical Appearance of Shepweiler
German shepherd Rottweiler mixes have eyes that are either black or brown. Their noses are black, just like many other dogs, and their eyes are floppy, which is inherited from the Rottweiler.
German Shepherd Rottweiler mix dogs are muscular, and this is because they are naturally guarding dogs. As long as these dogs are exposed to early socialization, they will be community-friendly. They are also responsible, which makes them easy to train.
Height and Weight of German shepherd Rottweiler Mix
The Shepweiler is a large dog that grows to a height of 22-27 inches and weighing about 75-115 pounds, which depends on the size of the parent breeds. Males are usually larger than females, but their size does not change much.
Coat Appearance, Colors and Shedding
Rottie shepherds have a medium or a thick coat, but the length varies for every specific dog depending on the parent breed where the coat was inherited from.
Rottweilers have short fur, but German Shepherds have a coat that is medium length. He is a medium shedder. However, they have two blow out seasons where they shed the coat excessively.
This is something that you should also consider before getting the dog. The color of the coat does not vary much but comes in varying shades of brown like sable grey and fawn. In some cases, the coat can be black, black, and tan or white, which is usually rare.
Is the German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Hypoallergenic?
No. The Shepweiler is not known to be one of the hypoallergenic dog breeds.
Temperament and Personality of Shepweiler
Before purchasing or adopting any dog, you will want to consider the temperament and personality of that dog. If you are a felt large breed owner, you will find that this mix is a loving and loyal dog.
Both the parent breeds of the Rottie Shepherd have almost similar traits making the mix have a strong personality. What you should be aware of is that this is a hybrid, and you can never be convinced of the characteristics or qualities that your dog will inherit.
To own a Shepweiler, make sure that you are adaptable to be able to handle this dog. Presented the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix ix well trained and has early socialization.
The combination will be intelligent, loving, loyal, and energetic. This also helps to keep the aggressive nature at bay.
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Puppy
When looking for a German Shepherd x Rottweiler Mix Puppy, source a reliable breeder. For one of these balls of fluff, you can expect to pay anywhere between $250 – USD 850.
The price will broadly follow the parent’s history (i.e., pedigree) and the type of breeder. Due to the size similarities of the parents, the sire and dam (i.e., mother and father) can be interchangeable, and the litter size is, on average, around eight puppies.
Most Shepherd x Rottweiler puppies will have floppy ears. If they have inherited more Shepherd than Rottweiler, you may find they become pointy as they mature.
Some even have one pop up before the other – most Shepherd owners will remember that moment in their puppy’s life. As they are classed as a medium-large breed, your mix will be fully developed between 18 months and two years of age.
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Temperament
For experienced large breed owners, this mix is a firm contender because of their loyal and loving temperament. With both parents being similar in character.
They will undoubtedly have a strong personality, but be mindful, as it’s a hybrid, you can never be 100% certain which qualities or characteristics your dog will inherit, so adaptable owners are a must.
In general, when from a reputable breeder, and providing they have early and on-going socialization and training, the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is intelligent, energetic, loyal, and loving.
They are suited to all families, giving them have experience of smart and robust dogs. This hybrid can be territorial, but nothing some focused training can’t handle.
You may notice that they are sometimes removed, but this is more a reflection of their historic role as a guard dog. When raised beside them, this mixed breed dog is tolerant of all others: kids, adults, and pets in the home.
Don’t bank on any small furries being safe in your garden, though; those squirrels are a massive threat to home security. Their working lines means they are quite high in energy, once they’ve hit their regular quota for exercise and stimulation.
They love nothing more than relaxing. Both parents are known for their silly yoga poses so that this mix will be no separation. A stable all-rounder; this mix sounds a perfect companion? But, he’s not gotten there by chance, they take a fair amount of caring for.
Living With a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
Shepweilers are well suited for all families as long as they have previous experience with reliable and smart dogs. Their nature does not make them suitable for first-time dog owners.
When this mix is raised together with other kids and even pets at home, he will be tolerant of all of them. However, their big size makes them confusing to be with small kids. If you or any member of your family is threatened, the Shepweiler tends to be protective.
This is due to their instincts to protect their and their loyalty. They make excellent guard dogs and can be reserved thanks to their historical role. The Shepweiler is also a territorial dog, but with proper training, this trait can be tamed.
So, don’t expect small furries like squirrels to survive in your backyard, they will be perceived as threats to home security. Shepweilers are high energy dogs, but once they hit their daily quora, all they will need is a well-earned rest.
Rottweiler Complete History
Much like the German Shepherd, the Rottie is adored for its intelligence and trainability, too; another fastidious worker. Starting in Germany, they were energetic drover dogs.
Their livestock careers soon ended with the advent of railroad cattle cars, but their versatility was noted. After the early 1900s, Rotties have been reliable workers; guide dogs for the blind, protectors, guard dogs, and more recently search and rescue dogs in many disasters.
They have even made it as therapy dogs. Both the German Shepherd and Rottweiler have a terrible reputation for offensive, but most miss the point here.
Both breeds are very trainable and will do whatever you ask them to; it’s why the police and military-like them, they can show aggression on command. A well socialized, and well-trained, German Shepherd or Rottweiler can be the gentlest and most even-tempered dog.
German Shepherd Information
Despite their current military and police work, the German Shepherd originated to herd sheep in Germany. They were bred for intelligence, strength, agility, stealth, and an overall air of authority.
The German Shepherd’s popularity increased in the US in the early 1900s, largely thanks to the adventures of Strongheart, and this breed has subsequently been cross-bred to produce many mixed kinds.
Unfortunately, soon after their rise in popularity came the War and their reputation plummeted due to the German organization. After a name change to American Alsatian and its subsequent return.
The German Shepherd is loved again, the world over, being the second most popular dog in the US. They are avid workers, valued for their intelligence and trainability.
Grooming a German Shepherd and Rottweiler Hybrid
Shepweilers do not shed as much as the German Shepherd does because, most of the time, they take after the Rottweiler”s coat. But if you are unfortunate and get a pooch that has inherited the German Shepherd’s, he might shed extremely more than others.
If you get a puppy that is a moderate shedder, you will require to brush the coat once or twice every day to keep the fur well during the shedding season. For their bath, the German Shepherd and Rottweiler mix will only need it when it is necessary.
Bathin the hybrid too many times can strip the coat of oils, making the skin dry. Use dog shampoo while washing the dog. Other grooming practices like cleaning the ears may require you to get a professional groomer if you are not used to doing them.
It is also essential that you start dental hygiene for the Rottie Shepherd while he is still young. Trim the nails only when it is needed.
Feeding Requirements of a Rottie Shepherd
To keep a Rottie shepherd in excellent health and physique, you will need to make sure that he is fed in the right diet that meets his nutritional necessities.
Shepweilers need about 2000 calories of food in a day. That will translate to about 5 cups of kibble to make it easier for you to know. As a puppy, a Rottie Shepherd has high energy demands due to their fast growth; you will need to give him about four meals in a day to bypass overstretching the stomach.
As the puppy grows, reduce this to 2 meals in a day. Small but frequent meals can help decrease the chances of bloat, which is common in large dog breeds and can be fatal to your pooch.
Both the parent breeds are used to diets that are high in proteins from good meat sources. The more protein that is in your dog’s nutrition, the healthier he will become. Several dog lovers try to avoid foods that have grains when they want to prevent allergies in their dogs.
Always make sure that you read the food label to make sure that it has the correct amount of fat, proteins, and that it does not have too many carbs.
How to Train a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
Like all puppies, this hybrid responds best to positive reinforcement and reward-based dog training. You should support the behavior you want to see, praise, and reward with toys and attention.
Ignore and re-direct unwanted behavior. Make sure you never use aversive techniques as we know these cause and exacerbate problematic behaviors. Start early, build the relationship with your puppy, and introduce him to what the world has on offer.
Both parents were guardian dogs – your dog needs to learn that this isn’t his job anymore. The more he endures the sights and sounds of the world, the more he will discover they are safe and nothing to be wary of.
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Exercise Requirements
A Shepweiler is a high energy dog and requires a lot of exercises to stay happy. This is because bot of the parent breeds is known for being traditional workers.
To keep them in shape and their minds active, you will need to exercise them for about 1 to 2 hours. If you live in a flat or have a small house that has no backyard living with a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix might prove to be hard as you may not be able to meet their daily exercise requirements.
They enjoy owning a garden to run in, but you should not leave them out by themselves for long. Shepweilers are not sympathetic to extreme weather, but that does not mean that you should exercise them when it gets too hot. It is not advisable to leave your Rottie Shepherd on their own for long hours.
He can suffer from separation anxiety and needs a great deal of physical and mental stimulation to be content. Some of the movements that they like are going for long walks, ball games, and even swimming. They also love activities that challenge them, for example, dog sports like activity training and playing hide and seek.
Shepweiler Health Issues
There are always a few health concerns that you have to look out for even if the dog was crossed to outbreed any health issues. The German shepherd Rottweiler mix is no objection to that as this dog is prone to obtaining some of the health problems from the parent breeds.
Luckily some of these problems can be treated as long as you keep a close eye on your dog. You can list a test with your veterinarian to determine the possibility of any inherited health issues.
There are recommendations and diet demands that you will require to follow to keep your pooch in a stable, healthy state.
Hip dysplasia
This is an inherited condition where the bone at the thigh fails to fit the hip joint snugly. Some dogs will show signs of pain on one or both of the rear legs, but others may not show any indication that they are not satisfied. To diagnose the best thing you can do is to get an x-ray screening. As the dog gets older, he may develop disease.
Allergies
Dogs commonly suffer from allergies, and the Rottie Shepherd is one of them. The most common forms of allergies are food allergies. You can treat food allergies by preventing your dog from eating certain foods. Inhalant allergies are also common.
They are caused by airborne allergens such as mildew, dust, and even pollen. There are also contact allergies which are responses to topical substances such as chemicals, dog shampoos, beddings, and powder to get rid of fleas.
Cancer
This is a condition that not only affects humans but dogs too. It is the first cause of death to dogs that are over the age of 10. Rottie Shepherd’s parents make this dog even more prone to the disease. You should observe your dog for any signs of cancer in the dog.
Elbow Dysplasia
This condition is very similar to hip dysplasia, but it affects the forelimbs of the dog. Elbow dysplasia is an elbow joint failure that occurs at the connection between the ulna and the radius.
Just like hip dysplasia, this condition causes uneven wear and a loose connection at the cartilage that pads this two-move and rotate. This results in severe arthritis and lameness as the dog ages and can be a distressing condition to your dog.
During the early stages of the dog, examinations should be carried out to determine if your dog has elbow dysplasia.
Good and Bad Things of Having a Rottie Shepherd
Pros
Here are reasons why you should get yourself a German shepherd Rottweiler mix:
- They make great companion dogs
Shepweiler aggressiveness is a misconception that has always been exaggerated.
In contrast to what many believe the German Shepherd and Rottweiler mix is one of the best escort dogs that are out there.
One thing that you must know is that no matter how big or intimidating a dog may look if you treat them well, they make great and adorable pets.
This is one of the reasons that they require early and proper socialization.
2. Shepweiler make excellent guard dogs
You can get a Shottie as a guard dog since both of his parents are known and proven guard dogs.
Apart from being well built and being dominant, the Rottweiler Shepherd is a brilliant breed that able of doing things that can protect his owner from any possible harm.
3. Training a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is fun
Rottie Shepherds are enjoyable to train thanks to their high intelligence.
Giant breeds such as the German Shepherd and Rottweiler mix tend to be hard as they have problems obeying orders, especially if training does not start when they are young.
They can think that they are the leader and not the follower, something that you sure don’t want to deal with.
Before getting a Shepweiler, make sure that they had training while they were still young to avoid having a hard time and having problems with people and other animals.
Cons
Here are some of the reasons that may make you not a German Shepherd and Rottweiler mix:
1. They need a big home and house to grow
Generally, all large dog breeds require a lot of space for growth.
They will need a backyard where they can move easily. If you don’t have one, you should consider another breed as a Shottie can develop behaviour problems when they are brought up in a confined space.
One of these problems is chewing. One way you can solve it is by training your dog not to eat or getting a large cage and fill it with chew toys.
Another problem that this dog can develop is barking, which is annoying even to your neighbours.
2. You will need to clean your house frequently
Although most of the time they inherit the Rottweilers coat, they still need brushing once or twice every week.
It gets worse if the dog has inherited a German shepherd coat. This coat will need daily brushing as he sheds all year round.
The brushing frequency should be increased during the shedding season to minimize the shedding.
3. They live very active lives
The German shepherd and Rottweiler mix dog is a brilliant and high energy dog that translates to a lot of physical and mental stimulation.
Keep the dog busy by playing games and training.
Final Verdicts
A German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix is a designer breed. It results from the crossing of a purebred German Shepherd Dog (GSD) with a purebred rottweiler.
When well raised the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is a stable, strong, and well-tempered dog.
They thrive in homes that have experienced dog owners and do well with children of all ages and even other animals.
He is an intelligent, loyal, and loving dog that is highly trainable.
Because they are high in energy you will need to meet their mental and physical stimulation requirements.
If you enjoy having large dogs and can provide the training that the Shepweiler hybrid requires, then why not go get one?
