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German Shepherd and Rottweilers are both popular breeds across the nation, both making the top 10 list. It’s no wonder why the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is becoming increasingly popular within communities. But before you run off to the shelter or breeder, you should know the ins and outs of this intelligent, loyal, silly, and caring dog.

German Shepherd History

The German Shepherd breed began in the early 20th century as a herding dog. A man, who was a German Cavalry Officer named Von Stephanitz, was looking for a dog that had superior intelligence paired with athleticism — and that’s exactly what he found in the German Shepherd. The dog was used as both a herder and in the military/police forces, which the breed can still be found doing today.

While German Shepherds are found regularly in police forces, it is still a very popular family dog, too. This is because the German Shepherd is intelligent and easily trained while being a protector of his family, loyal to a tee. The playful dog enjoys spending time around his family. As long as he’s trained properly, this breed can be a gem in families — even those with smaller children.

Rottweiler History

The Rottweiler has had quite a wild ride. Originally bred by the Romans, he started off as a dog who was meant to drive cattle and protect cattle sellers from thieves. He was also used regularly to pull very heavy carts of meat. The breed almost came to an end before they were saved during the 20th century, eventually being brought to America in 1920 as a working dog.

Since the Rottweiler has a protective nature, muscular frame, and fierce appearance, breeders quickly began to breed this dog for evil instead of good. This is why the Rottweiler has had such a bad reputation as being a ferocious, aggressive animal.

Luckily, in this day and age, breeders have turned things around and are no longer breeding these wonderful dogs for fighting. Now their true personalities can shine through. And while he is still protective of his family, the Rottweiler is actually a fairly calm, yet confident breed that is highly intelligent. Rottweilers are also known for their goofy personalities, always wanting to make their loved ones laugh.

German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix History

There hasn’t been a mass amount of research done on where and when the German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix started, but it’s pretty clear why people would want a mix of both. Both breeds are highly intelligent and easily trained. However, they each bring a certain something to the table that pet owners enjoy.

For the German Shepherd trait, this designer mix breed gets a hefty dose of loyalty and calmness. The Rottweiler brings a sense of silliness and overall enjoyment, yet with a bit of a fiercer look. Together, this is a powerhouse breed that combines the best of both worlds. What you’re left with is a dog that is smart, loyal, fun, and loving — a perfect combination.

What is a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Called?

This designed mix has a few different names, but he is most commonly referred to as a “Shepweiler”. Other common names you may also hear include “Rottweiler Shepherd”, “Rottie Shepherd”, or “Rotten Shepherd”. A less common but easier term also includes “Shottie”.

Fun Facts About the German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix

• Don’t be surprised if your Shepweiler prefers a single family member over all of the others.
• The German Shepherd comes from a herding group, while the Rottweiler comes from the working group. Together, this makes for one high-energy breed.
• German Shepherds were, at one point, named Alsatian Wolf Dogs.
• German Shepherds can be affected by dwarfism.
• Rottweilers always think they are lap dogs.
• Rottweilers have a tendency to be very goofy and enjoy making people laugh.
• The Shepweiler has a large dose of intelligence from both parents, making him a top choice for a designer breed as he is easily trained.

German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Temperament

Temperament is one of the most important things to consider when adopting a new pet, especially if you’re a new pet owner or have small children in the home. And when it comes to the Shepweiler mix, concerns are no different — especially considering you’re mixing two fairly loyal and somewhat aggressive breeds. But what’s the real outcome?

Well, the outcome can vary greatly depending on whether or not the dog was socialized and trained at a young age. A properly trained Shepweiler can be one of the most loyal, loveable, and goofy breeds. Pair that with their high intelligence and active nature and you have a dog that will love to snuggle up for a movie but also go for a hike.

The key is to have him socialized and trained. Without this imperative step, the Shepweiler can easily grow up to be aggressive and dominant, especially towards strangers — and that is something you absolutely need to avoid.

What Does a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Look Like?

The Shepwiler is a fun cross between a German Shepherd and a Rottweiler, so you can expect the dog to look like a perfect blend. The face maintains a bit of a softer Rottie appearance, with a German Shepherd snout and ears. The frame stays about the same, which means this is a large, rather muscular dog.

As far as the coat is concerned, it can change depending on which parent the puppy picks up more genes from. For the most part, you can expect the coat to be short and dense and possibly even coarse. The coat can be any range of colors, including black, brown, tan, gray, cream, or white.

How Big Will a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Get?

The German Shepherd and Rottweiler designer mix is going to be a big dog, with most ranging anywhere from being 22 to 27 inches at the shoulder. So, if you’re getting this breed as a puppy, you should set yourself and your home up for a fairly large animal to inhabit it. This is why it’s important to have plenty of outdoor room, too. This is not a dog for apartments.

As far as weight is concerned, Shepweilers are known to be anywhere from 77 to 115 pounds. Keep in mind that this breed has a moderate tendency to put on weight and become obese, so be on the lookout for that. Plenty of exercises will keep obesity at bay, though.

How to Feed a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix

It is important to feed your Shepweiler quality food specifically designed for large breeds. When he is a puppy, his diet should contain 22% protein and 8% fat. As an adult, he will need 18% protein and 5% fat per day. That being said, checking dog food labels is important and you should be wary of excessive carbohydrates in his dog food.

The Shepweiler puppy can easily be fed a cup of puppy food up to 4 meals per day, but not more than this. It’s okay if he eats less sometimes, though. Feeding him too much can lead to overstretching of the stomach which causes pain and possible health issues.

As your Shepweiler grows into adulthood, he should only be fed 2 meals a day. Do not overfeed your Shepweiler. He is prone to obesity and overfeeding can lead to a slew of problems, starting at bloat and obesity and furthering into other health conditions.

How much grooming does German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Need?

It’s a crapshoot when it comes to grooming with the Shepweiler. This is because it depends on which parent he gets more of his genes from. On the one hand, if the puppy takes after his Rottweiler parent, then there won’t be very much shedding and you only need to brush him a few times per week.

On the other hand, if the puppy takes after the German Shepherd parent, there will be far more shedding involved. You can expect to brush this type of coat daily with weekly baths during heavy shedding seasons.

How to Train a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix

The best part about adopting a Shepweiler is that they are highly intelligent and easily trained. Since both parents are known for their high intelligence, you can rest assured that your puppy — no matter who he takes after more — is going to be brilliant. This breed learns quickly, but it is important to train them as early as possible for the best result.

While we’re on the topic, we should also mention that proper socialization at a young age is key, too. Socialization and training should be done at the same age to ensure the best outcome of your Shepweiler. Together, this training and socializing will leave you with a dog that is calm, yet loyal, respectful instead of dominant, and loving and caring around all types of people.

Proper socialization and training are necessary if you’re planning on having this dog in a family, especially one with small children. It will teach the dog to be able to behave correctly and avoid any mishaps.

It’s best to use positive training techniques with a Shepweiler. Any type of negative training can result in a dog that is more aggressive in the future. He will be more likely to strike without warning in the future with negative training.

How much exercise does the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix need?

If there is one thing you need to keep in mind, it’s this — The Shepweiler is a very high energy dog that requires plenty of exercises. Since his parents are both working dogs, it’s no surprise that the mix created a dog that requires activity to keep him happy.

For the Shepweiler, being active is not only good for his health but will keep him happy, too. A dog with this much energy can turn to destructive behaviors if not active enough. That being said, you should exercise your Shepweiler for a minimum of 60 minutes a day, with 120 minutes being the goal.

As a puppy, though, your Shepweiler should only be exercised for 5 minutes per month of age. That being said, if your dog is 4 months old, then he should be exercised 20 minutes a day. This helps to avoid any type of skeletal damage that can occur.

German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Health

There are some fairly severe health problems that can come with owning a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix. These include:

• Heart Problems
• Cancer
• Bloating
• Pano
• Hypothyroidism
• Degenerative Myelopathy
• EPI
• Joint Dysplasia
• Allergies

Feeding your dog quality food, allowing for enough activity during the day, and having him routinely checked by a veterinarian will help to stave off these conditions.

Rescuing a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix

Since the German Shepherd and Rottweiler mix is becoming increasingly popular, it’s not entirely unheard of to find a Shepweiler in a rescue. However, the major drawback to adopting a rescue is that you don’t know their history. As we mentioned previously, a Shepweiler must be trained and socialized from a young age — you won’t know if this dog was, or wasn’t, at a rescue.

Does this mean all hope is lost? Of course, not! The rescued Shepweiler may have been rehomed simply because the owner moved or didn’t have time/space for their dog. On the other hand, if the dog is troublesome, you can still have him socialized and trained — although it may be a bit harder.

Finding a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Puppy

While it may be easier to go the shelter and rescue route, you still have the option of finding a quality breeder for your Shepweiler request. However, you can expect to pay a pretty penny for a Shepweiler. Since this is known as a “designer breed”, you can easily pay anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars all the way up to $1,000+, depending on many factors.

Raising a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Puppy

The good news about the German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is that they are extremely intelligent. So, as long as you train and socialize your Shepweiler at a very young age, they will be easily maintained puppies that grow into unbelievably wonderful adult dogs.

The main thing to keep in mind is that your Shepweiler puppy needs to have high-quality food, too, to keep his body functioning in tip-top condition. Use the 5-minute rule for exercise — 5 minutes for his age by month, as we mentioned earlier.

Shepweiler: is it Right For You?

The German Shepherd Rottweiler mix is a popular one, and for good reason, too. With proper training and socialization, this can easily be one of the best dogs you will ever own. He is highly intelligent with a deep love for his family. He will always stay by your side as your protector, friend, and playmate for the entirety of his life.