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Labrottie (Labrador & Rottweiler Mix) Info, Pics, Temperament, Traits

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By Nicole Cosgrove

labrottie

Height: 24–27 inches
Weight: 70–115 pounds
Lifespan: 9–12 years
Colors: Black, brown, grey
Suitable for: High-energy owners, experienced dog owners, active families, those seeking close companionship
Temperament: Lively, protective, loyal, playful, affectionate

The Labrottie, also known as the Rottador, is a mix between a Labrador Retriever and a Rottweiler. They are large dogs that can easily top 100 pounds, and while they can look intimidating, their personalities are one of friendliness and not aggression.

This breed varies quite a lot in their physical traits, and your dog’s appearance may resemble either of the parent breeds or be a mixture of both. Whatever your Labrottie ends up looking like, they will be loving pups with a lot of attention and affection to give.

These dogs get their loyalty from both parents, so they make excellent watchdogs and protectors of your family and home. They are generally friendly dogs as well, so they’ll likely take well to meeting new people, provided they don’t perceive them as a threat to you.

These dogs are full of personality and pep, and they make excellent additions to families of all sizes. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to decide if this is the right breed for you.Divider 1

Labrottie Puppies

labrottie puppy
Image Credit: Martin Carlsson, Shutterstock
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Labrottie puppies are adorable, and while you may find yourself wanting to bring home two or three, know that these puppies will quickly grow into pretty massive dogs. So, unless you have an abundance of space for your dogs, resist the urge to purchase multiples! Even with one Labrottie you really should have a spacious home that ideally has a large yard where they can run and play. These dogs take up a lot of space and are happiest when they have some freedom.

This is a very intelligent and affectionate breed, which means your pup will need a lot of attention from you or other family members, and they may become sad or even depressed if they don’t get the affection they desire. This breed may like their space from time to time, but they aren’t very independent. Make sure you have enough time and attention for your Labrottie before you commit to bringing one home.

Aside from the time you need to dedicate to them emotionally, you’ll also need to set aside ample time every day for exercise. Not getting the proper amount of exercise is one of the biggest reasons that dogs act in undesirable ways. Puppies are especially energetic, so be prepared to tire them out! If you don’t, you may find yourself shopping for new couches or slippers.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Labrottie

1. They Have a Very Long Lineage

The Labrador and Rottweiler parent breeds date back very far in history. Labradors first became popular as fishermen’s dogs in the 18th century, and they were bred for this purpose extensively in Newfoundland. Because the Newfoundland breed already existed and took the name of the mainland, Labradors were named after the Labrador Sea where most of their work was done.

Rottweilers are believed to have originated as far back as 75 A.D. when they were used for herding and guarding by the Roman Empire. Rottweilers were then used for many different purposes including pulling carts and hunting big game.

The Labrottie is a fairly new breed that likely originated in the late 1990s and early 2000s when designer breeds started growing in popularity. However, their parent breeds date back nearly 2,000 years!

2. They Make Excellent Watchdogs

It’s unsurprising to most people that Rottweilers are good guard dogs, but many people believe the kind-hearted nature of the Labrador would make the Labrottie too friendly to be used as watchdogs.

In fact, this breed often inherits its protective nature from the Rottweiler parent and loyalty and eagerness to please their owners from both parents. The result is a dog that will love and adore you and your family and will seek to protect against anything perceived as a threat. Labrotties may just be the most loving guard dog out there!

3. Their Energy Levels Fluctuate

These dogs have a somewhat unique tendency when it comes to their energy levels. You’ll find that your Labrottie is usually ready and willing to go for walks, run around in the yard, or engage in some roughhousing and energetic play whenever you or another family member instigates.

However, when inside and not engaged in an activity, your pup will love lazing around and relaxing. Labrotties are known for their zero-to-sixty energy just as much as they are for their sixty-to-zero energy.

It’s important to understand that their willingness to be lazy inside doesn’t mean your pup has no interest in exercise! With just a little bit of coaxing your Labrottie will be ready to hit the pavement or play fetch.

The parent breeds of the Labrottie
Image Credit: Left – Alexander Rim, Shutterstock | Right – NioleNina, Pixabay

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Labrottie 🧠

The Labrottie inherits its friendly and welcoming personality from both parent breeds, and they truly embody the title of “man’s best friend.” These dogs will be wonderful companions, will love spending time with you in and outside of the house, and will require a lot of attention and affection.

This breed is intelligent and protective, so while they will usually know what should and shouldn’t be considered a threat, they may be a bit distrustful of strangers until they warm up to them. After this brief period of familiarizing, your Labrottie will likely be pleasant and playful with most people.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Labrotties make excellent family dogs. They will love you and all of your family members endlessly and will seek to protect you. These are very loyal dogs that will always be kind to family and familiar people.

In fact, their high energy and emotional neediness actually make them especially good for families. More people to play with and engage with them means they’re more likely to get the exercise and attention they desire and need to be happy. This will lead to a pleasant and well-behaved dog that doesn’t seek attention or stimulation through destructive behavior.

Labrotties are also excellent with children, especially if they are introduced to them early on. They are large dogs that can be unaware of their size and strength, so while they would never intentionally harm a family member, you should keep a close eye on any kids playing with these dogs. It’s possible that these pups will accidentally knock over a smaller child.

This breed will very likely fit in with and become a big part of your family. They have vibrant personalities and will bring joy and laughter to family members of any age.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Labrotties are a good fit for homes that have other dogs and usually don’t show aggression toward their fellow canines. Provided you have enough space to house multiple dogs, you probably won’t run into any problems, especially if you socialize your Labrottie early and often. They are usually openly friendly even toward strange dogs, so meeting others while on a walk or at a dog park shouldn’t lead to any issues either.

This breed has a moderate prey drive, so you may find that they take a little too much interest in your cat or other small animals. However, most owners don’t have problems if their dog is introduced and socialized with their other animals early on.

labrottie
Image Credit: Alexlky, Shutterstock

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Things to Know When Owning a Labrottie:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Labrotties have large and muscular bodies, and you’d be correct in assuming that their appetites are big to match! Their high energy levels also contribute to their appetite, so expect to feed your Labrottie between three and four cups of food each day. Labrotties need a diet that is high in protein, and you should always look for a commercial dog food that uses high-quality, whole ingredients and contains a variety of protein sources.

This breed is known to struggle with obesity, so you must be very careful not to overfeed your pup. If you notice that they are gaining weight, consider reducing their food intake a bit, and consult a vet for proper feeding volume for your individual dog.

It’s also important to note that these dogs are prone to bloat, so you should split their food up into multiple, smaller meals each day, and avoid exercise immediately after eating or drinking large volumes of water.

Exercise 🐕

The Labrottie has a high activity level, so while they’re not lounging on the couch with you, they’ll be happiest being active. You should plan on at least an hour a day of exercise outside of playtime. This will keep them healthy and will also help prevent weight gain.

Because these dogs adore human interaction, they’re most satisfied doing their exercise with you, so walks, runs, or hikes alongside their owners are best. However, these pups also have an inquisitive nature and sometimes like their space, so if you have room for them to explore sounds and smells outside on their own, that can also be a great way to get out some of their energy from time to time.

Training 🦮

Labrotties are an intelligent breed, and for the most part, they are willing to please their owners. These two traits usually make for a dog that learns commands, rules, and tricks quickly.

With that being said, your dog will learn quickly, but they may not listen willingly! This breed tends to assert dominance in their homes, so if you don’t train them consistently and routinely establish yourself as their leader, you’ll end up with a dog who does what they want when they want. For this reason, these dogs aren’t recommended for new dog owners.

If you are willing to begin training early and you have experience with establishing dominance, this breed will very happily take your lead and learn new things just about as quickly as you teach them.

Grooming ✂️

The Labrottie inherits its exceptionally thick coat from its Rottweiler parent, so you can expect a lot of shedding from this dog. You’ll want to brush your pup at least once or twice a week to keep their coat healthy and to cut down on their shedding. Keep in mind that brushing even every day won’t eliminate shedding entirely, so be ready to vacuum often.

Grooming outside of coat maintenance is fairly straightforward. Your pup should get a bath about once a month, have their nails clipped regularly to prevent cracking and infection and have their teeth and ears cleaned about once a week as well. These simple practices will help keep your dog in tip-top shape and will help prevent infections and health problems.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Labrotties are generally healthy and hearty breeds that don’t face many health problems. Thankfully, of those that are more common, most aren’t life-threatening. It’s still very important to look out for what problems could surface so they can be addressed as quickly as possible.

Common Health Conditions of the Boxer
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Cataracts
  • Obesity
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Ear infections
Common Health Conditions of the Pug
  • Bloat
  • Hip dysplasia

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Male vs Female

Surprisingly, you won’t see much of a size difference between male and female Labrotties. Males may tend to be a bit more distrusting of strangers and might have a higher prey drive and consequential issues with cats or other small animals. Both sexes are very energetic, but you may find that males are a bit peppier and more playful.

For the most part, males and females will be very similar in temperament.

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Final Thoughts

The Labrottie is a wonderful hybrid breed that brings together the protective and loving nature of the Rottweiler and the playfulness and affection of the Labrador.

These pups make wonderful additions to families of any size, and they will love and protect your family members and your home above all else. They have big personalities and love human interaction, so they’ll be more like a family member than a pet.

Labrotties are an affectionate and active breed that will need a lot of attention and exercise on a daily basis, and they’re best described as “emotionally needy.” If you have the time to dedicate to giving them the proper attention, exercise, and training, the Labrottie will be an excellent choice for both a dog and a best friend!

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Featured Image Credit: Arpon Pongkasetkam, Shutterstock

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