Rottie Shepherd | German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Info, Pics, Facts

The Rottie Shepherd is an impressive mixed breed that’s gentle and loving yet protective and strong. As a result of breeding the Rottweiler and German Shepherd together, Rottie Shepherds are large dogs that don’t scare easily and won’t back down from a confrontation. That being said, with training and socialization, these dogs make excellent family pets that will protect the home and play with the kids any time of the day.

This handsome mixed breed loves nothing more than a long daily walk and a little time snuggling in the evening time. They’ll stay home and keep a watch for strangers while you’re away, but they will gladly accompany you on outdoor adventures, whether to the park or the town for errands. This is a powerful breed that does best with owners who have experience with training and fair discipline.

Rottie Shepherds tend to gravitate to one “pack leader,” but they’ll show love to every member of the family with wagging tails and playful companionship. These are working dogs that require stimulation both physically and mentally to maintain a happy and healthy life. They’d love to live on a farm, but they can do just as well in a home with a nice-sized backyard. Keep reading to learn about being a Rottie Shepherd puppy parent.

Rottweiler Shepherd Puppies

Rottie Shepherds might be big and strong, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get along in a family setting. In fact, these dogs love to socialize and spend time with their human companions. But there is much you should know before deciding whether to adopt one of these powerful yet loving mixed breed dogs.

It is important that you only adopt from a reputable breeder or choose a Rottie Shepherd from a shelter or rescue. You want to avoid backyard breeders and puppy mills that are mass producing these dogs or breeding them without regard for their health and well-being. If a “breeder” is selling a dog for a small amount of money and the dog doesn’t seem to be in the best health, it could be a sign of a backyard breeder.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Rottie Shepherd

1. They Have a Few Nicknames

Rottie Shepherds are named so to acknowledge their parent breeds. But they actually go by a few different names that better explain their personality and temperament. You may hear lovers of this breed refer to them as Shepweiler, Shottie, or Rotten Shepherd.

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2. They Don’t Always Look the Same

Your Rottie Shepherd might turn out to look more like their Rottweiler parent or like their German Shepherd parent, or a nice mixture of them both. They could be all black, all brown, or a combination of the two. Even if your puppy looks more like one parent when they’re young, they may turn out to look completely different once they are fully grown.

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3. They Can be Shy and Timid

While this mixed breed is known for being aggressive, this isn’t always the case. In fact, these dogs typically become aggressive due to lack of exercise and work, which results in boredom and an unbalanced temperament. If the Rottie Shepherd isn’t aggressive but isn’t socialized at a young age, they can be shy when meeting new people and timid when meeting new animals.

Temperament & Intelligence of the German Shepherd Rottweiler 🧠

The Rottie Shepherd is a loving and loyal dog that will do anything to protect their family. They are intelligent and can learn all the basic obedience commands quickly. These dogs love a good adventure and are willing to head out on a moment’s notice, whether it’s to take a quick walk or to spend the day hiking.

This beautiful mixed breed is large in stature and can weight up to 115 pounds when they become full grown. So, a strong yet loving hand is necessary for full control in social situations. Rottie Shepherds do better in homes with big enough yards to run around and play in because they like to stay active throughout the day.

Because these dogs can be intimidating in appearance, they can be susceptible to abuse when left unattended, by people who feel the need to defend themselves, even in parks. So, it’s important that owners are always with their Rottie Shepherd pups when in public. With proper supervision, your Rottie Shephard will be a joy to bring along to social engagements.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Many people think that Rottie Shepherds are too large and strong to bring home to their children. But the truth is that with proper training for kids, these dogs make the perfect family companion. Children should learn how to respect the dog’s space and to avoid getting rambunctious while spending time together.

Doing so will ensure a happy and loving exchange of communication and time that both your pooch and your kids are sure to remember for a lifetime. These dogs will also do well when introduced to new kids in social settings, as long as the precedent is set when they are puppies.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

As long as socialization is made a priority while the Rottie Shepherd is young, you shouldn’t have a problem introducing them to new dogs. In fact, this striking mixed breed loves going to the dog park and has no problem hanging out with random dogs at the beach if they have a chance to practice their social skills when they are still learning about the world. Attending social activities such as agility training and walk-a-thons are great ways to get this breed used to meeting new dogs.

When it comes to meeting other animals like cats, the Rottie Shepherd needs to be well oriented with such animals as an incredibly young age. Their working instincts tend to take over when facing cats for the first time at an older age, which could lead to a predator/prey situation that the cat nor the humans want to experience.

Things to Know When Owning a Rottie Shepherd

You already know that a Rottie Shepherd is large and muscular. But you may not know about things like proper feeding, adequate exercise, and training abilities. These are all things you should know before bringing one of these strong yet loving dogs home to become a part of your family.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Because Rottie Shepherds are a large breed, they tend to eat a large amount of food. Adolescent puppies can eat 2-3 cups a day while they’re quickly growing and extremely active. Adult dogs can eat upward of 2 cups a day, depending on their activity level.

If the Rottie Shepherd gets their way, they’ll be out in the field working on a project like herding or hauling firewood, and they will be hungry after doing so. Your veterinarian can help you determine how much to feed your pup now and as they grow. No matter how much food you’re feeding your Rottie Shepherd, it should be separated into multiple meals throughout the day.

This breed needs a high-quality diet that consists of real meats, fruits, and vegetables. Many Rottie Shepherds do well on diets that contain whole grains too. While you can prepare homemade meals for your pooch, the process would be time-consuming and likely more expensive than a store-bought food.

Look for a food that contains no artificial ingredients of any kind. Your chosen food should be formulated especially for large breed puppies until your Rottie Shepherd turns a year old. The food should include real meat as the number-one ingredient. Most high-quality foods include ingredients such as spinach, carrots, beets, and fish oil.

Exercise 🐕

This mixed breed is born to be active, so they require a great deal of exercise throughout the week. You can expect your Rottie Shepherd to want a walk every day of the week. While they can stand missing a day of outdoor exercise in a given week, they won’t tolerate a lazy life at home well. These dogs should be walked at least a mile several times a week and should have access to outdoor play daily.

You should also make puzzle toys available throughout the house when your pooch is expected to spend their time indoors. Rainy days offer the perfect opportunity for indoor training exercises and games of hide-and-seek.

Training 🦮

Every Rottie Shepherd should be trained to obey their pack leader — that would be you — when they are puppies. It’s crucial to make sure that your pup knows how to sit, stay, heel, and come on command, to ensure that they and others stay safe while they’re interacting in social settings or even just hanging out at home.

Luckily, these dogs are intelligent and typically take to obedience training well. Your pup should know a few basic commands by the time they are just a few months old. Because of their high energy levels, this mixed breed would thrive in an agility competition environment. Doing agility training at home or taking your pup to agility classes will stimulate their working dog instincts and make them feel accomplished at the end of the day.

Because the Rottie Shepherd makes such a great guard dog, it’s worth considering hiring a professional guard trainer to come to your home and train both the dog and the humans. These dogs can learn how to bark only when a true threat is observed and to attack only on command. When a threat isn’t present, these pooches will be happy to snuggle up on the couch with a family member if no exciting activity is going on.

Grooming ✂️

Unfortunately, the Rottie Shepherd sheds frequently. You can end up with a house full of hair and a shaggy looking dog if you don’t make brushing a priority. This hybrid dog should be brushed daily to avoid excessive shedding and matting as time goes on. This dog’s fur isn’t necessarily long, so there is no point in having it cut or trimmed.

Bathing your pup once a month or so will help ensure a soft and healthy coat in the coming years. Most Rottie Shepherds don’t need their nails trimmed because they get plenty of outdoor exercise that will naturally keep the nails short and smooth. Teeth brushing is always advisable but isn’t necessary. If you’re uncomfortable brushing your dog’s teeth, you can give him a dental treat that will naturally scrub tartar buildup away.

Health and Conditions ❤️

The good news is that Rottie Shepherds can live long and healthy lives. The bad news is that some dogs of this mixed breed succumb to one of a wide variety of health ailments as they age. Therefore, it’s important to understand the possible health problems that your Rottie Shepherd mix might be susceptible to.

Male vs. Female

Both males and females like to show their affectionate side to their owners and family members, yet neither would back away from the opportunity to protect their household when necessary. Males that aren’t neutered tend to mark their territory indoors, which can lead to serious urine smell problems as time goes on. Females are loving, but they tend to be a bit more independent than males.

Both sexes get along well with other children when properly introduced. Both also enjoy a good snuggle on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Whether you decide to adopt a male or female Rottie Shepherd, you can expect many years of enrichment.

Final Thoughts: German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix

Adopting a Rottie Shepherd puppy requires a ton of commitment, but it also results in a lifetime of fond memories. Whether you’re looking for a fun-loving pet that can keep up with your active family with teens or you need a household watch dog to rely on while you work all week, this is a dog worth considering.

Have you had the pleasure of spending time with a Rottie Shepherd? Are you thinking about adopting one of your own? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

• See Also: Rottweiler vs German Shepherd: Which Dog to Choose?

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Featured Image Credit: Muuo, Shutterstock