Rottie Shepherd -- Rottweiler X German Shepherd

		Rottie Shepherd
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Germany -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen
This breed is also known as			Rottweiler Shepherd Rotten Shepherd Shepweiler Shottie

A brief presentation of the Rottie Shepherd

The Rottie Shepherd is an intelligent, confident and powerful dog that, with the right training, will make an excellent family pet. They are designer dogs and a cross between a pure-bred Rottweiler and a pure-bred German Shepherd, both extremely popular dogs. They are also called Shepweiler, Rottweiler Shepherd, Rotten Shepherd, Shottie. These dogs are large, weighing up to 52 kilos and standing up to 69 centimetres tall. Common colors include black, brown, fawn, red and sable. The coat is likely to be thick and can be short or medium. Both parent breeds have a reputation for aggression, but with the right training and early socialization, these dogs can be an excellent addition to any family, preferably one that will give them plenty of attention. The Rottie Shepherd is very protective and makes a great watchdog. They shed a little, but brushing once or twice a week should be enough to keep your pet well groomed.

History of the Rottie Shepherd

The Rottie Shepherd is a combination of two very popular breeds, the Rottweiler and the German Shepherd.

	A little of the Rottweiler
	Rottweillers are dogs that originated in Germany and are thought to be descended from the Molossus, a Mastiff-type dog. They were known as Rottweiler Metzgerhund, meaning Rottweil Butchers' dogs, because they pulled carts with slaughtered meat to market. They are considered to be one of the oldest breeds bred and are thought to be ancient Roman drover dogs. These dogs almost died out when rail transport made them redundant. But in 1901, the Rottweiler and Leonberger Club was founded and a breed standard established. They first appeared in the USA in the 1920s and were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1931. Today, they are popular dogs but have a reputation for aggression, partly due to poor breeding.

	Standard of the Rottweiler


	A little of the German Shepherd
	The German Shepherd originated in Germany and is known as the Alsatian in Britain and Ireland. The breed, which is prized for its intelligence and athleticism, dates back to 1899. Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German military officer, is credited with developing the breed and was partly responsible for using them as working dogs during the First World War. Used by the Red Cross, as messenger and guard dogs. His dog Horand von Grafrath was one of the founding dogs of the breed. Today, they are widely used for their search and rescue skills, for narcotics detection and for detecting human remains on land and in water. The first German Shepherd Dog registered in the U.S.A. was the Swiss Queen. But poor breeding led to several defects and the dogs declined in popularity by the late 1920s. Numbers further declined after the World War due to anti-German sentiment, but the tide later turned and the breed regained popularity. They now rank among the 10 most popular dog breeds in the USA.

	Standard of the German Shepherd

Appearance of the Rottie Shepherd

These dogs are large and powerful, weighing up to 52 kilos with a height of up to 69 centimeters. Common colors include black, brown, fawn, red and sable. The coat is likely to be thick and can be short or medium depending on the breed of parents it takes after most. The Rottie Shepherd is likely to have a powerful jaw and a muzzle that is longer than a Rottweiler and not as long as a German Shepherd. Their ears usually hang down over the face, but can be pricked from time to time. Their eyes are brown and almond-shaped. Rottweilers are known to have one brown eye and one blue eye, but this is not common.

Temperament of the Rottie Shepherd

The Rottie Shepherd can be an intimidating dog with its large build and reputation for aggression. But with the right training, these dogs make fabulous pets who will be very protective of their families. Early socialization will also make them suitable for households with children and other pets. Small children will need to learn to respect animals and should be supervised when playing with a Rottie Shepherd. These dogs are highly intelligent and will respond well to training. They will need a firm, confident trainer to bring out the best in the dog. They are best suited to people who have some experience with dogs and can devote a lot of time and energy to them. These are not dogs to be kept for protection and left out in the backyard. If bored, they can become destructive and develop bad habits such as barking and digging. Rottie Shepherds have lots of energy and are extremely alert.

Needs and activities of the Rottie Shepherd

A Rottie Shepherd is a high-energy dog who will need plenty of exercise to be happy. These are not dogs that do well for long periods left alone. They can suffer from separation anxiety and need plenty of mental and physical stimulation to keep them content. These dogs are highly intelligent and will love going for long walks, swimming and playing ball games. They'll love activities like hide-and-seek, challenge them and dog sports like agility training. These dogs are not suited to apartments due to their size. They will appreciate having a garden to run around in, but don't leave them for too long. They are not so sensitive to extreme weather conditions, but don't exercise your dog when it's too hot.

Maintenance of the Rottie Shepherd

A Rottie Shepherd is likely to shed a little, so brushing will be needed at least once or twice a week to get rid of loose hair and keep the coat shiny and healthy. If the coat more closely resembles the German Shepherd parent breed, your dog may shed more and need a little extra brushing compared to a hybrid with the short Rottweiler coat, which doesn't. It's always a good idea to check your dog's ears carefully and wipe them when necessary. Dental hygiene is also important, and with a large breed like a Rottie Shepherd, you'll need to start early. If nails aren't worn down with exercise, trim them when necessary.