Whenever you welcome a dog into your home, it’s always worthwhile researching your chosen dog breed’s temperament, exercise needs, and grooming requirements. But what happens when you pick a mixed breed dog like the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix? How do you know what your dog will be like when it is made up of two different dog breeds?
Although no one can really predict the characteristics of a chosen dog, the ideal breed characteristics of the parent dogs are an excellent place to start. So let’s have a look at the German Shepherd and Rottweiler and their mixed-breed offspring, the ‘Shepweiler.’
Breed history
The history of a dog breed offers invaluable insight into the type of dog you’ll be sharing your life with. If, for example, you invite a hunting dog into your home. You will likely need to train a perfect recall if you want to let them off-leash.
While it can be more challenging working out what your mixed breed dog is likely to enjoy doing. Reaching back into the history of the parent breeds can be a useful exercise. In the case of the Shepweiler, both parent breeds were initially herders.
Rottweilers are one of the oldest herding breeds and are descendants of mastiff-type dogs that drove herds of cattle into Germany with the Romans. Also known as butcher’s dogs because they were used to pull carts of meat to market too they were valued for their intelligence, dependability, and as excellent guard dogs.
Meanwhile, the German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog and is a descendant of sheep herding dogs. Originating in 1899, it wasn’t long before the German Shepherd’s intelligence, strength, work ethic, and obedience highlighted its adaptability to work in other areas, like the military.
Despite their humble origins as herders, both the Rottweiler and German Shepherd are versatile breeds. Their intelligence, work ethic, and trainability have enabled them to work in many different roles, including the military, Police, and Search and rescue.
Your Shepweiler is a working dog at heart and is unlikely to be happy with a walk around the block once a day. Not only will your dog need an outlet for its physical energy. But they will also need a regular mental workout to keep their working brains happy.
German Shepherd Rottweiler mix appearance
While the appearance of mixed-breed dogs can be unpredictable, the Shepweiler is most commonly black or black and tan.
While Rottweilers are always black with distinctive tan markings, German Shepherds are also seen in black, white, and rare liver and blue varieties. So the rottweiler german shepherd mix can inherit facial masks as a result of their German Shepherd parent and, although rare, can show cream, rust, and white colorings.
The length of the fur will depend on the German Shepherd parent so that it can be short or mid-length with a full or part double coat. As both the German Shepherd and Rottweiler are large dogs expect the shepherd Rottie mix puppies to grow into a large dog that’s powerfully built, athletic dogs and will be medium to large in size.
German Shepherd Rottweiler mix temperament
Both the Rottweiler and German shepherd dog are aloof, protective, and reserved. The Rottweiler is confident, placid, and eager to please. Often clownish with family and friends, Rottweilers nether the less have a strong desire to work and have an instinct to protect their family and home.
Meanwhile, the German Shepherd is loyal and easy-going with friends and family. With intense curiosity and desire to protect their family, they are intelligent and love to have a job.
So what about the Shepweiler? The Shepweiler is likely to be aloof with strangers but tolerant and dedicated to family.
Shepweilers at their best A loyal, affectionate and versatile dog. Easy to train and biddable. Protective and tolerant with friends and family
Intelligent, and easy to train, Shepweilers make loyal and affectionate housemates. Self-assured with a curiosity that enables them to assess new situations calmly. Not only that, but Shepweilers are adaptable, making them suitable as a companion, guardian, and family dog.
Shepweilers at their worse A powerful, aloof, excessively protective large breed dog whose herding instinct extends to family members.
Shepweiler exercise
As both the German Shepherd and the Rottweiler are herding breeds, it means that they have the stamina to work all day long so have greater than average exercise requirements. Your Shepweiler will require an active lifestyle. Not only will your dog need at least an hour of exercise a day they will also need mental stimulation to keep their brains busy.
As the two-parent breeds are highly intelligent, their offspring don’t do well when bored. If you don’t provide enough productive entertainment for your dog, they will create their own! Because the Shepweiler is such a smart dog, they will excel in any environment they can learn. Training, agility, and Pets as Therapy are some of the possible outlets for your dog’s mental energy.
Shepweiler grooming
Both the Rottweiler and German Shepherd have thick double coats. This means that they have a fluffy undercoat that keeps them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. However, it also means that they shed a lot, and at least twice a year, they blow their thick coats and molt excessively.
You may be lucky and have a Rottie Shepherd that has a coat more akin to its Rottweiler parent, which is short and only needs a weekly brush. If your dog has inherited a German Shepherd medium-length thick coat, be prepared for daily brushing and a lot of hair.
German Shepherds, affectionately known as German Shedders, are heavy moulters and during shedding season this greatly increases. There’s no guarantee that your german shepherd mix breed will not pick up this particular characteristic. Whatever type of coat your dog has, regular brushing will keep your dog’s coat in excellent condition and tangle-free.
Shepweiler health
Despite the prevailing view that mixed breeds are healthier than pure-breed dogs, this isn’t necessarily true. Health problems that affect the parent breeds are also a concern for their mixed-breed offspring.
It’s always worth being aware of any potential health issues. As some conditions mean that your dog will need specialist care or adjustments in lifestyle as they get older. While it may seem like a long and scary list, these are only possible health problems for german shepherd rottweiler mixes, and many dogs never experience any of them.
- Hip and elbow Dysplasia
- Aortic Stenosis/Sub-aortic Stenosis (AS/SAS)
- Osteosarcoma
- Autoimmune diseases
- Degenerative Myelopathy
- Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
- Bloat
- Hypothyroidism
- Allergies
Despite the possible health risks, if you decide that the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix breed is the right dog for you. You can expect to share your life with your chosen pet for 10-12 years.
German Shepherd Rottweiler mix highlights
If you enjoy training, socializing, and keeping active, then the loyal, adaptable and affectionate Shepweiler may be the perfect dog for you and your family.
However, just as with both german shepherds and rottweilers. A Shepweiler that is not well socialized at a young age and does not have an outlet for both its physical and mental energy is a powerful dog that has a desire to guard its family and home. Challenging for first-time owners, the rottweiler shepherd mix can nevertheless thrive in the right home with proper training, and positive reinforcement and make beautiful and devoted dogs.