German Shepherd Crossbreed With Rottweiler And Families
One of the many ways that you can adopt a Rottman Shepherd is through rescue shelters but be careful in picking one. You must be well aware of its upbringing and temperament because there is a chance that these dogs were abandoned because of behavioral issues as a result mainly of lack of training, poor obedience, lack of socialization, or sometimes, even aggression.
With small kids, it can be hard to control them because they are quite large. They might become overwhelming for the children. On the other hand, they are also in need of a company most of the time because they tend to become destructive if bored.
With proper training at a young age, they can become beautiful guard dogs that are active. They can also provide families with good companionship as they love creatures.
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix: Breed Info Facts
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix â Breed Overview The German Shepherd Rottweiler Dog is 50% German Shepherd and 50% Rottweiler. If you are looking for a smart and strong dog, who is loyal and loving, you need look no further.. Being a hybrid, the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is not recognized by any Kennel Clubs. More
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What About Looking Into Rottweiler German Shepherd Mix Adoption Is This A Good Idea For Families
Another way to find a Rottweiler mix with German Shepherd is through a shelter as a rescue dog.
Under normal circumstances, the idea of getting a rescue and saving an older dog is highly appealing. This is also true with these mixes, but only if you can be sure of their upbringing and temperament.
There is a good chance that these dogs were abandoned because of a behavioral issue and a lack of training, such as poor obedience, no socialization or even aggression.
As we saw above, it can be hard to train older dogs of this hybrid out of these bad habits, especially in the household with children. If you really want to change the life of mistreated Rottie Shepherd, you need to have a strong will.
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Food & Diet Requirements
As with most large breeds, you will need to feed your Shepweiler the proper nutrition, starting with a specific formula during the puppy years until he is an adult. In addition, this dog should be fed high-quality kibble that complements their daily nutritional needs.
The diet of a Shepherd-Rottweiler puppy should contain 22% animal protein and 8% fat. Adult dogs should have access to a diet with 18% protein and 5% fat. Eating enough protein keeps your dogs joints strong while consuming enough fat helps maintain his energy levels. Be careful not to overfeed him, however, because he tends to be overweight.
You can also give your dog joint supplements, like chondroitin and glucosamine, to help keep their joints healthy. But be sure to check with your vet first if this is right for your dog. And, most importantly, never give your human supplements to your dog! These supplements may contain xylitol, which is extremely toxic to your pet.
Getting To Know The German Shepherd
Certainly much leaner than the Rottweiler, the German Shepherd weighs an average of 48-97 pounds and is around 21-25 inches in length. These dogs lack nothing when it comes to devotion and service. These loving, family dogs excel at all things herding-related and have been trained as service dogs for decades.
These pups are not only beautiful, but have also got the brains. They are famous for their incredible trainability and intelligence. Its therefore no surprise that they have had long and flourishing careers as military dogs, guide dogs and believe it or not, acting dogs.
You will find these pooches in all kinds of homes around the world because they make for such wonderful pets and companions. Its also why they are the second most popular dog breed in the world , who wouldnt want to get in on that?
Their eagerness to please also makes them a breeze to train. Not to mention they are hard-working and devoted family members.
While combining two rather distinctive breeds can often result in a designer pooch with quite a few potential health concerns, you could also get a wonderfully unique hybrid doggo that suits many different types of people and households. This is certainly the case with the beloved Shepweiler.
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Shepweilers Around Children And Pets
Your German Rottweiler mix will make for excellent playmates for your kids. They get along with children of all ages but its important to teach your youngster safe play when it comes to your Shepweiler.
The same goes for your pooch. You should teach them not to jump up as they could easily hurt a small child unintentionally during playful excitement.
When it comes to other dogs, Shepweilers are amicable and easy to get along with granted theyve been appropriately socialized. However, your pet cats might have a slightly different experience.
Shepweilers often have the natural instinct to chase a feline. This urge can be prevented with a supervised introduction and consistent training. Peaceful coexistence between your cat and Shepweiler is certainly not impossible.
Just bear in mind that not all Rottie Shepherds are as friendly right off the bat with other pets or kids and might need some getting used to. At the end of the day it really comes down to socialization from a young age, firm training, and even the luck of the draw mixed breeds can be hard to predict after all.
Are Rottweiler German Shepherds First Time Owner Dogs
Many experience dog owners would advise against owning these two sometimes difficult breeds as its hard to say how your mix turned out exactly in terms of behavior.
However, my first dog was a Rottweiler and I truly believe that you can get this dog if youre putting in the effort.
Countless hours of research, watching videos, interacting with them live all these things will help with determining if the German Shepherd Rottweiler mixed breed dog is the right choice for you.
Be prepared to take on the leadership and treat your furry buddy with respect and sensitivity and they can be the most loving companion.
The Rottweiler is known for not being one that forgives any serious mistakes, so make sure you have the experience and knowledge that is required.
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Is A German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix A Good Family Dog
Special consideration should be made before purchasing a German Shepherd Rottweiler cross. Both parent breeds are large and energetic, so a hybrid puppy will require a lot of room to play and grow.
Additionally, they may require a lot of brushing if they have the German Shepherds longer coat, and youll need to clean your house a lot during shedding season.
You must also be prepared to deal with elbow or hip dysplasia, a common disease that affects both parent breeds. Carefully monitoring their diet and weight will be mandatory.
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Lifespan And Health Issues
The lifespan of a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is around 9 to 13 years. While most of this crossbreed is generally healthy, some may develop a few health issues as they reach old age.
The list below discusses some of the health problems common to both the German Shepherd and Rottweiler breed that may be passed on to a Shepweiler:
- Eyelid Issues : Entropion is an eye condition that occurs when the eyelids roll inward. This causes the hair on the surface of the lid to rub against the cornea resulting in pain, corneal ulcers, perforations, and pigment forming on the cornea. Ectropion, on the other hand, causes the lower eyelids to appear droopy since they are rolled outward.
- Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: This is a joint-related disease that typically affects large-breed dogs. Severe pain accompanies the deterioration of the joints in the hips and elbows, which could debilitate a dog. A German Shepherd hybrid suffering from hip or elbow dysplasia will exhibit signs of lameness and decreased mobility.
- Osteochondritis Dissecans: This is a developmental disease that occurs in large breed dogs that grow too fast. The onset of osteochondritis dissecansis typically between six and nine months and tends to occur more often in male dogs.
- Aortic Stenosis: This is a heart condition that is more common in certain dog breeds, such as this German Shepherd crossbred. Aortic stenosis is characterized by a narrowing of the aortic valve of the heart.
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Characteristic Features Of A German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
- Life Span 10 to 14 years
- Weight 85 to 105 pounds
- Height 22 to 25 inches
- Grooming Moderate
- Exercise High
- Difficulty in Training High
The breed of German Shepherd Rottweiler mix serves really well once it is well trained. But training this dog takes a good deal of time and effort. These mixed breed dogs have the tendency to protect the family of owners and are wary of unknown people. They are very loyal to the owner and family till the end. Though it might take longer time for a dog to bond with a new person or a new situation, once the bonding happens, it is for lifetime.
Rottweiler German Shepherd Mix Health
Just like any purebred or hybrid dog, a Rottweiler mixed with german shepherd may have congenital health issues, or they may develop ailments later in life. Common canine health issues, regardless of breed, include hip dysplasia, eye diseases, allergies, and skin irritations.
However, because both the German Shepherd Dog and the Rottweiler are prone to joint degeneration, the GSD Rottweiler mix is especially prone to elbow and hip dysplasia. Its been estimated that almost 70% of large-breed dogs will develop this devastating condition.
To delay the onset of elbow or hip dysplasia or to reduce the severity of an existing case, its very important to keep a Rottweiler GSD mix at a healthy weight.
Studies have shown that carrying extra weight greatly increases a young dogs risk of joint degeneration. In addition to hip and elbow dysplasia, a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix may also inherit cancer, heart disease, hypothyroidism, and/or autoimmune diseases from their parents.
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Pros And Cons Of Owning A German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
Owning a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix will have a few ups and downs. It is imperative that you understand all these so you wont get shell-shocked once you bring a Shepweiler puppy home.
Here are some of the pros of owning a Shepweiler:
- They make terrific companion dogs. Many believe the wrong notion that Shepweilers are aggressive and stubborn. In reality, the German Shepherd and Rottweiler mix is one of the best companion dogs out there, especially when they are socialized at a young age.
- Shepweilers make excellent guard dogs. Apart from being well-built and powerful, the Rottweiler Shepherd is brilliant and capable of doing things that will protect its owner from possible harm. This is expected because they came from two working dog breeds.
- They are easy to train. Rotten Shepherds are a joy to train since they are very intelligent. However, it would take an alpha owner to train them since they only follow who they think is the packs leader.
Here are the cons of owning a German Shepherd and Rottweiler mix:
The list of pros and cons above will give you a pretty good idea if you are a good match for a Shepweiler.
Before purchasing a pup, it is crucial to consider all these to avoid abandoning them to a shelter or rescue later on.
Final Thoughts On The Shepweiler
A blend of their parent breeds, Shepweilers are ideal companions and also excel at guard work and protection services. Theyre intelligent, energetic, kid-friendly goofballs who are as keen to work as they are to cuddle.
If you are sure to keep their weight and their physical needs in check, you will certainly have a friendly, balanced, healthy family member in your Shepweiler.
When you combine the self-assured, fearless nature of the Rottweiler with the obedient, curious temperament of the German Shepherd, it leaves little to be desired in a pooch. Mix in their instinctive need to both dote on and protect their human at all costs, and you will be pretty well taken care of.
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Are Dog Supplements Good For My German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
Switching to a natural good quality raw dog food diet will be the single best thing you can do for your dog’s well-being. Whether you DIY recipes at home, or choose one of ProDog’s no-nonsense foods, like Complete Raw Dog Food or Pure 80:10:10 Raw Dog Food, there is no disputing dog science dogs predominantly benefit from eating meat, organ and bone, with a handful of natural ingredients from time to time. Check out our comprehensive guide on what dogs can eat for more information on the foods you can add to your dog’s diet for these benefits.
Finding The Right Breeders With A German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
If all of this still has you interested in looking at German Shepherd Rottweiler mix puppies for a family pet, you need to start looking at reputable breeders.
There are pros and cons to this hybrid, but it is understandable that many families see the potential in training up a puppy as a family pet and guard dog.
This means finding that perfect Rottweiler German Shepherd mix for sale. The rules for finding a puppy are the same as with all cross breed.
Visit the breeder to get an idea of the health of the pups, the conditions they are living in and their parentage.
A chance to see the mother and father will give an idea of the temperament of the pup. Ask questions about the pups linage, spend time with litter and see if one chooses you.
If you do go down this route, you need to be aware that a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix cost can vary from anything from $250 to $850.
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Canine Gut Health And Raw Food
The gut houses an ecosystem of bacteria called the microbiome . The balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria that makes up the microbiome has now been linked to the development of several health conditions through scientific studies.
Dog nutrition is important, and, independent from genetic factors and calorie intake, an imbalanced gut microbiome has been linked to:
- digestive disorders.
Processed dog food loaded with additives, synthetics, and chemicals can upset the balance of microbiome by fuelling the harmful bacteria. This type of imbalance can contribute to ‘leaky gut’, a condition where the intestine lining becomes permeated. There is a delicate intestinal mucosa lining protecting the gut, which allows digested nutrients to pass through the system into the bloodstream. This mucous lining provides an effective barrier against toxins passing through and entering the dog’s system. When this lining becomes compromised, food particles and toxins ‘leak’ through and trigger an immune response, prompting systemic inflammation, all of which makes your dog more prone to illness. DEFRA-approved and raw green tripe for dogs can promote a healthy microbiome and support their digestion.
How To Train A German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
Like all puppies, this hybrid responds best to positive reinforcement and rewards during their puppy training regimen. Here are some puppy training tips to help.
You should encourage 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 actually 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 isnt his job anymore.
The more he experiences the sights and sounds of the world, the more he will learn they are safe and nothing to be wary of.
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Is This German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Right For Your Family
It can be a handful when you get a Rottweiler mixed with German shepherd, but the potential benefits of owning this hybrid can easily outweigh the negatives.
Like many breeds, the experience of ownership depends on the effort put into loving, training and caring for the breed.
If you are not prepared to socialize this dog with children and animals, exercise it regularly and teach it from a young age, you will have problems.
However, if you are prepared to be firm, to stick to the regimen as a family unit and treat them well from day one, these GSD/Rottie hybrids can be wonderful companions for a decade or more.
Caring For A German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
Couch potatoes be warned this is not the dog for you!
Both the German Shepherd and the Rottweiler have been bred to work, both breeds are very large and strong dogs and the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is no exception.
This mix needs an active family that loves being on the move.
Their intelligence is a double-edged sword, as they can be mischievous if you do not factor in mental stimulation. Still, their intelligence makes for satisfying training sessions. Overall this can be an intense dog to handle, especially if you are not used to being around larger breeds. They will need a home with a large yard to play in and plenty of exercise.
If you put the time and effort into giving this breed the exercise they need, this mix will be a loving companion.
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