Today we continue learning about Rottweiler mixtures, so stay tuned if you want to know what to expect from a Rottweiler-German Shepherd mixture in terms of temper, physique, health and grooming.
Rottweiler German Shepherd names
Pure German Sheppard
One of the first facts to learn about the mixture of Rottweiler and German Shepherd, in fact, are its names. And, oh boy, are there names!
Pure Rottweiler Hero v.d. Tonberger Hohe
So far, we’ve heard of the following ones: Shepweiler, Rottweiler Shepherd, Rotten Shepherd, Rottie Shepherd, even Shottie! There may be even more of them out there, so if you know any of them, do not hestitate to contact us and let us know – we’ll gladly update our database.
For the clarity of thought throughout this article, we’ll still stick to the first one, Shepweiler, as an umbrella term, since it works best for us.
Is Rottweiler German Shepherd crossbred or mixture?
In one of our previous articles on purebred Rotts, crossbreeds or mixture breeds, we learned that purebred dogs originate from parents of the same breed, that crossbred dogs are descendants of parents of two purebred breeds, while mixture dogs could have parents of virtually any breed or other mixtures, most commonly non-pedigree dogs.
Having said that, the Shepweiler type we refer to is a crossbred dog, whose parents are usually pedigree Rottweiler and pedigree German Shepherd.
Do not forget it’s also quite common to refer to Shepweiler as a German Shepherd-Rottweiler mixture, even though it is officially a crossbreed.
Rottweiler German Shepherd appearance
A mixture of Rottweiler and German Shepherd must be one of the strongest dog breeds out there, considering the qualities of both breeds separately. That might be one of the best reasons to combine them to get the Shepweiler, and, as the American Kennel Club states, it is the second most popular breed in the US, right after Labradors.
As with most mixtures, Shepweiler might turn out to be a Shepherd-looking dog with the coloring of Rottweiler, or vice versa, or anything in between.
In terms of size, German Shepherds are medium-sized dogs, can weigh anywhere from 49 to 88 pounds, and are set at 24-26 inches at the shoulder. Also, they are fairly recognizable for their large and alert ears, crouched hind legs and sloping hips. On the other hand, Rotts grow as much as 22-27 inches at the shoulder and generally weigh anywhere between 77-130 pounds. Basically, Rottweiler is a significantly more robust and intimidating in appearance, hence the Shepweiler is most likely to fall somewhere in the middle in terms of both size and weight.
Rottweiler German Shepherd temper
German Shepherd is most often used as guard or service dog, whereas Rottweilers belong to the working group of breeds. Hence, some dog owners fear the temper when considering buying a Shepweiler.
Namely, German Shepherds can often be found in police K-9 positions, due to their aggressive temper, but bear in mind that their aggression can only be prompted by their handler. In other words, they will be aggressive only if trained to be aggressive. Also, if they accompany other dogs or humans, they might display their aggression when they feel the threatened, such as when a stranger trespasses their territory.
Similarly, Rottweilers are also known to be aggressive – but only if trained to be like that. That is why they can often be found as guard dogs too. If you train your Rottie to be a mild and docile dog, there is no reason for any other type of behavior.
Both of these breeds are rather energetic dogs who demand a lot of play and spacious living conditions. If you plan being away a lot or do not own a big yard or at least have access to a dog park, or if you do not have at least one to two hours a day to play with your Shepweiler, you might reconsider your decision of getting one.
In short, a Shepweiler pup should be trained properly from the earliest age, and there should be no problems with its temper. Let them socialize and spend as much time as possible with other dogs and people, and you are good to go!
Rottweiler German Shepherd training relies on socialization
Although it may seem that both Rottweilers and German Shepherds are stubborn dogs, they are in fact quite intelligent dog breeds, hence relatively easy to train. They are both quick learners, so the earlier their training and socialization start, the better.
Familiarizing them with numerous places, people and situations will definitely diminish their distrustful, guarding temper, and make them feel comfortable in new situations.
We particularly recommend positive training techniques, as punishment-based training could have negative consequences in the future, such as biting without warning or masking aggressive behavior.
Rottweiler German Shepherd health
As with any purebred or hybrid dog, a German Shepherd mixed with Rottweiler may have congenital health issues, or they may develop other ailments.
Most common dog health risks, no matter the breed, include hip dysplasia, eye diseases, allergies, and skin irritations. Additionally, since both German Shepherd and Rottweiler are prone to joint degeneration, their mixture is even more prone to elbow and hip dysplasia. Unfortunately, approximately about 70% of large dogs develop this irreversible condition, so pay very close attention to your Shepweiler. Healthy weight may help in delaying the onset of the condition or reducing its severity.
To make the situation even worse, Shepweiler is also prone to inheriting cancer and autoimmune diseases from their parents, as well as hypothyroidism and heart disease.
That is why regular vet checkups are the best tip we could give you, as well as to buy dogs from certified kennels only, where you can receive health certificates and all accompanying documentation.
Rottweiler German Shepherd care and grooming
When it comes to Shepweiler shedding, it mostly depends on the parent that the pup takes after. If they take after their German Shepherd parent, its medium and shaggy coat will require brushing several times a week, even more during shedding season. If, on the other hand, Shepweiler takes after its Rottweiler parent, with its short coat, brushing once a week should suffice.
Bear in mind, after all, that even when dogs do not shed excessively, brushing them every once in a while can only do good for them, simply to facilitate ridding of excess hair and dead skin cells.
~~~
In short, let us conclude that you never know for sure what your mixture dog is to be like until fully mature. Rottweiler-German Shepherd mix might take after both parents, so Shepweiler is either going to look like a Rottweiler and behave as a German Shepherd, or vice versa, or anything in between. They are also quite intelligent, energetic, playful dogs who enjoy spacious yards or parks, so try to provide them with lots of play, physical exercise and a healthy diet to maintain their weight and prevent possible health issues later in life.
Learning about qualities, temper and traits of both breeds is the safest bet on how to train your Shepweiler.
Also, keep in touch with dog breeders and other owners, to exchange information and have a helpful hand if there is a need for it.
Here in Fere Perfectum dog kennel we much prefer staying in touch with you after you receive your puppy from us, because we enjoy being informed on how our pups do after they find new home and gladly share all news and info with you!
One last tip we have for you is to treat your pet with love and affection. Only that way can you both gain invaluable experience and share loving moments to remember forever.