The combination of a German Shepherd with a Rottweiler makes for an incredibly intelligent, affectionate, and loyal dog breed. Referred to as a designer breed, the Shepherd Rottweiler mix combines two of America’s most popular dog breeds into one dog. This combination is often sought out for a reason, and if you are lucky enough to find one, you will have an incredible companion for years.
Still unsure if the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is the right dog for you? Check out this list of the most popular German Shepherd mixes.
What is a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Called?
This designer breed goes by many different names, the most common being a ‘Shepweiler.’ Here are some more names you can use to refer to this breed:
Rottie Shepherd
Rotten Shepherd
Rottweiler Shepherd
Shottie
Pros and Cons of Shepweilers
Pros
Confident and even disposition
Loyal and owner-centric
Alert and watchful dogs
Incredibly smart and quick to train
Usually healthy mixed breed
Cons
Needs plenty of socialization to avoid aggression
Loads of shedding like parent breeds
Very active and requires heavy exercise
Poor reputation/difficulty qualifying for rentals
German Shepherd Rottweiler Appearance
Both the German Shepherd and Rottweiler are fit and energetic dogs, so naturally, their aesthetic tends to be on the athletic side. Expect this mix to have muscular bodies and deep chests built for being active.
There aren’t any breed standards for the dog’s appearance, so you will find many have totally different looks. Many will have a beautiful and dense coat, and others will take on the Rottweiler breed’s traditional smooth coat.
As far as faces go, most will have a pointed snout like a German Shepherd instead of the thicker, more flat face of the Rottweiler breed. Regardless of face shape or coat, you can expect to find your dog beautiful in its own special way.
Colors and Coats
Between the Rottweiler and German Shepherd parents’ coats, you will be more likely to find a mix with the Rottweiler color. This seems to be the more dominant coloring; however, you will sometimes find some German Shepherd patterns.
As far as fur texture goes, you are going to notice more German Shepherd coats. Coats will be dense and on the shorter side. The smooth Rottweiler coat exists, but you will need to do a little more searching.
Heavy shedding is common for both of these breeds. It would be best if you were prepared to do regular brushing to maintain their gorgeous coats.
Quick Breed Stats
The Shepweiler is a large dog breed full of energy and love. You can expect this attentive and watchful dog to demonstrate unconditional affection and protection at all times. Be sure to return the love by properly socializing your Shepweiler and providing the heavy daily exercise it craves and needs.
Height: 22 to 28 inches
Weight: 75 to 115 lbs
Life Span: 9 to 13 years
15 Useful Facts about Shepweilers
- This mixed breed features overlapping characteristics from its breed parents such as intelligence, athleticism, and loyalty.
- Shepweilers can be protective and require plenty of positive socialization experiences to avoid aggressive behaviors.
- These dogs shed A LOT and will need daily brushing to maintain their fur.
- Shepweilers descend from herding and working-class dogs, so be prepared for an attentive dog with a strong prey drive.
- German Shepherd Rottweiler mixes can make great family pets with consistent training.
- Both the German Shepherd and Rottweiler breeds have a long history working in the military and police.
- German Shepherds are also known as Alsatian Wolf Dogs. They picked up the name around World War II when there was some stigma around anything associated with Germans.
- German Shepherds and Rottweiler mixed dogs can be quite goofy! Be prepared for some fun and games.
- In addition to K-9 police work, German Shepherds are often used as service dogs for the disabled.
- The German Shepherd dog gained much of its popularity due to the widely known “Rin Tin Tin” canine character.
- German Shepherds can be born with a condition called dwarfism.
- Shepweilers are known to show favor to one family member over others, especially if the dog is male.
- Rottweiler Metzgerhund is the long-form version of Rottweiler. The translation of this means Butcher’s Dog of Rottweil in English.
- The German Shepherd Rottweiler mix does not take quickly to strangers and will typically focus on their owner.
- German Shepherd translates to Deutsche Schaferhund in German.
German Shepherd History
The German Shepherd breed descends from a long history of German herding dogs intended to work alongside owners and accomplish daily tasks. Max Emil Fridrich von Stephanitz, the founder of this breed, developed and refined the German Shepherd to create his ideal dog.
Von Stephanitz was first inspired by German herding dogs and sought out the perfect dog to create his breed. He knew he had found what he was looking for upon encountering a show dog named Hektor Linksrhein at a dog show in 1899.
He admired the intelligence, beauty, and loyalty of Hektor so much that he decided to purchase him on the spot. Stephanitz immediately changed Hektor’s name to Horand von Grafath. At that moment, the German Shepherd breed was born.
Inspired by this new breed, Stephanitz founded the Society for German Shepherd Dogs. Horand was the first dog to be added to the society’s register. Over the next 35 years, Von Stephanitz put his heart and soul into promoting this breed. Today, the German Shepherd also goes by the name Alsatian and maintains its popularity as a loyal and intelligent companion.
Rottweiler History
The Rottweiler dog is known to be one of the oldest dog breeds that exist today. This breed originated from the Roman times when they were used as working herder and driving dogs. It was the duty of the Rottweiler to protect not only their owners but also the cattle which they accompanied.
The Rottweiler name was inspired by the free old city called Rottweil. It is also known as “The Butcher’s Dog.” This was due to the breeding of this dog by butchers for their performance and utility. Later on, in World War II, the Rottweiler gained new roles in assisting humans, aside from herding.
During World War II, Rottweilers proved useful in service roles such as ambulance, messenger, draught, and guard dogs. Outside the field of battle, this breed became a popular choice for K-9 police jobs. In 1931, the American Kennel Club officially recognized the Rottweiler breed we know today.
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Background
Being a relatively new breed, the Shepweiler does not have the same extensive history as its parents. What we do know was this dog was bred to be a companion and a guard dog.
The Shepweiler was likely to have originated sometime in the 2000s and is expected to be around for a long time. You can expect this breed to share the amazing characteristics of both its parent breeds along with traits unique to each parent breed.
German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Temperament
Choosing a dog breed with the appropriate temperament for your situation will help ensure you have a positive dog ownership experience. Having a household with children versus being a single dog owner will make a difference in whether or not you should consider getting a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix as a pet.
Shepweilers come with many of the great advantages their parent breeds offer and some of the challenges. Both parent breeds are confident, intelligent, and loyal breeds. However, owners must be careful about raising and training these dogs as they can become overly protective and aggressive towards strangers.
If you are interested in getting a Shepweiler, you will want to make sure you can put forth the effort to socialize and train using positive reinforcement properly. Once you have these bases covered, you can enjoy regularly taking out a balanced and well-behaved dog for hikes and other outings.
In addition to being able to go out regularly with your Shepweiler, ensuring your dog is socialized will also grant the possibility of introducing other pets into your home. Depending on the personality of your German Shepherd Rottweiler, you may be able to have multiple dogs and/or cats. Be sure to properly introduce new animals to each other and be aware of signs of aggression.
Remember, it is your duty to take care of this amazing mixed dog if you decide to take on all the glories of pet ownership. The consequences of not socializing and training your dog can be deadly for them if they become aggressive with a human being.
Guide to Caring for a German Sheperd Rottweiler Mix
Be prepared to take your German Shepherd Rottweiler on all of your outdoor adventures! This high-energy working dog has plenty of fuel to burn, and getting all their energy out is key to a happy doggo. If you are the type who likes to go on daily long walks with weekend hiking trips, this dog could be your match made in heaven.
Grooming and Shedding
Grooming your German Shepherd Rottweiler every day is important for maintaining the health of their skin and coat. As a bonus, setting aside time each day to brush your dog down will do wonders for bonding.
Since shedding is a regular occurrence with this mix, using the proper brushing tools will make your life easier. Make sure to check out these best brushes for German Shepherds. You will also find some great brushing tips you get you started.
Aside from brushing, cleaning your dog’s teeth and trimming their nails is required. Depending on how much activity your dog gets, you may not have to trim their nails very often.
Exercise Needs
We all know that a tired dog is a well-behaved dog, but this is especially true for breeds like this. Please make a point each day to give your dog the exercise they need to keep them from becoming destructive inside your house.
2-4 walks per day totaling over 75 minutes will keep your dog in great shape both physically and mentally.
A walk around the neighborhood or playtime in the backyard is a great way to get energy out throughout the day. For a more challenging workout, take your German Shepherd Rottweiler for long hikes.
Check out these dog toys for German Shepherds to get an idea of what types of toys you should purchase for your dog.
Food and Diet
Buying quality dog food for your Shepweiler will help them live and long and healthy life. Dog food options range from kibble to canned to frozen raw. Prices will tend to be higher, with kibble being the lowest, canned in the middle, and raw being the highest.
You can add supplements to their diet in special cases based on health conditions and age. It is a good idea to looking into joint supplements if your dog is on the older side. Probiotics are a great choice for all ages.
When feeding your Shepweiler, take a look at the guide on the back of your dog food packaging. You must feed your dog an appropriate amount for their weight, breed size, and age. Overfeeding your dog can cause a lot of stress on their body.
If you are ever in doubt, be sure to ask your veterinarian for some advice.
Known Health Concerns
The two most known serious health issues of German Shepherd Rottweilers are bloat and hip dysplasia.
Bloat is a dangerous condition that can occur in dogs with deep chests. It is life-threatening and immediate action should be taken if you suspect your dog is experiencing it.
Hip dysplasia is a hereditary skeletal condition in larger dogs like the German Shepherd.
Other known health concerns with the Shepweiler include cancer, heart problems, pano, allergies, EPI, and hypothyroidism.
Training a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
Training is one of the areas where owning a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix has serious perks. This breed mix is brilliant, making learning new tricks a breeze.
To maximize your training results, start training while your dog is still young and/or as soon as you bring them home. Training will include obeying commands as well as learning how to behave in social situations.
By properly socializing your dog, you can improve not only your quality of life but theirs as well. A socialized dog is calm and happy in public and will respectfully listen to your commands.
It has been researched and proven that dogs respond best to positive reinforcement when being trained. Since dogs generally want to please their owners, giving them plenty of rewards for good behavior will keep them on their best behavior.
Avoid negative training as it instills a sense of fear in your dog. This can lead to unwanted consequences like aggression and timid behavior. Dogs who are trained using negative methods have the potential to bite strangers. This is definitely not what you want.
Finding Your German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
Price of a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
The price of your new German Shepherd Rottweiler will be influenced by its age, location where you purchase, and the parents used for breeding.
The price of a Shepweiler will be similar to purchasing a purebred German Shepherd or Rottweiler. Here is a guide to German Shepherd pricing.
Breeders Vs. Adopting/Rescuing
To find your Shepweiler, you will have the easiest time purchasing from a breeder. Searching adoption centers is always an ethical idea, but you may be looking for a needle in a haystack.
Check out Petfinder to find out more information on adoption and rescuing.
Is a Shepweiler the Right Breed for You?
Getting a new dog to take home isn’t ever an easy decision. There are many responsibilities to consider when purchasing or adopting a dog.
However, if you are willing to take on the responsibility of owning a Shepweiler, you will find your efforts to be rewarded exponentially. These dogs bring love, goofiness, and loyalty to every home.
If you are still unsure, take some time to think about it. Visit some dog shelters and/or breeders to get a feel for what these dogs are like in real life. Be warned, though; you might instantly fall in love!