Your lifestyle needs warrant the adoption of a powerful, loyal and capable guardian. A half German Shepherd half Rottweiler dog should suit your needs perfectly. A potent crossbreed of GSD and Rottweiler combines intelligence and agility with sheer power and durability.
What is a Shepweiler?
A “shepweiler”, also known as “Rotten Shepherd” or “Rottie”, is a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix. Because the two dog breeds are very similar in appearance, its physical characteristics can best describe this dog as a larger, more robust GSD.
A Rottweiler cross with German Shepherd can stand as tall as 2.5 feet (0.7 m), weigh between 75 – 115 lbs (34 – 52 kgs), depending on its gender and is classified as a medium-large to large size dog breed. Common physical traits inherent to this dog are its barrel-chested appearance, muscular build and may have floppy ears initially. A Rottweiler Shepherd mix puppy’s ears may grow to become sharp or pointed later on in its life.
A Rottweiler Shepherd’s coat color can be black, cream, red, silver, tan, gray, liver, sable, white or a mix of any two or three colors. Usually, half German Shepherd half Rottweiler mixes have dark brown eyes.
What are some basic facts about Shepweilers?
Read the following points to educate yourself on basic and practical information regarding half German Shepherd half Rottweilers.
Life Span
A German Shepherd Rottweiler mix lifespan ranges from 10 to 13 years.
Price
A German Shepherd Rottweiler mix price range lies between US$250 and $850. This price range varies from breeder to breeder and is what you can expect to pay for a Rottweiler Shepherd mix puppy (not an adolescent or adult).
Commonly-occurring known health issues
The following list of ailments and health conditions may affect your German Shepherd Rottweiler mix lifespan as well as quality of life.
Hip Dysplasia
A problem associated with both dog breeds, hip dysplasia can cause severe pain and can greatly decrease your Shepweiler’s quality of life. Common symptoms include stiffness or weakness in the hind leg area, a reluctance to exercise and problems walking.
Elbow Dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia happens when the joints start damaging the cartilage cushioning a Shepweiler’s elbow sockets which can lead to premature arthritis. Noticeable symptoms include weakness in the front legs and a general reluctance to exercise or walk.
Degenerative Myelopathy
This painless disease has a tendency to occur in the later portion of a Shepweiler’s life; age 9 or older. When it occurs, the myelin sheath and axons in the spinal cord slowly waste away, causing motor coordination problems, weakness and paralysis.
Bloat
A common problem for large breeds is bloat. When this happens, a Shepweiler experiences torsion in its stomach which can lead to blood circulation problems or even death. Symptoms to watch out for include dry heaving, irregular or shallow breathing, bloated stomachs and excessive salivation.
Eye problems
Eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, dry eyes, conjunctivitis and excessive tearing may occur in Shepweilers. Symptoms include milkiness or cloudiness in your dog’s eye lens, red eyes, discharge from the eyes, constant rubbing or scratching of the eyes and clumsiness.
Panosteitis (Pano)
A Shepweiler puppy can suffer from inflammation in the leg bones from 5 to 18 months. While this disease usually goes away on its own, it may cause muscle atrophy, fever and depression for your puppy.
Allergies
The most common allergies for Shepweilers include an intolerance to pollen, dust, and mildew. Contact dermatitis may result from contact with fleas or certain dog shampoos. Ear infections usually happen when your Shepweiler suffers an allergic reaction.
Osteosarcoma
Also known as bone cancer in dogs, Shepweilers are vulnerable to contracting this disorder. Osteosarcoma symptoms include swelling in the joints or cancer-affected areas, general fatigue and even anorexia.
Aortic Stenosis
Shepweilers are also prone to suffer narrowing in the aortic valve which can cause their hearts to work harder than normal. Severe symptoms include increased fatigue, difficulty breathing or exercising which may lead to heart failure.
What is a Shepweiler’s personality like?
A German Shepherd Rottweiler mix temperament combines a lot of favorable personality traits found in guard dogs. Because of this, some people invest in expensive dog breeders and rarely spare the cost when considering a Rottweiler German Shepherd mix price. A good way to determine a Shepweiler puppy’s temperament is to meet its parents; aggression in these dogs can be passed through genetics.
Intelligence
This personality trait comes from the GSD side. Shepweilers are highly trainable dogs and are recommended to undergo training and socialization at an early age. They can learn commands very quickly and perform them to the best of their abilities.
Loyalty
Shepweilers are loyal and very protective of their owners. Usually, they may seem aloof, but can become aggressive when they or their owners are threatened, or are placed in situations where being aggressive is necessary. This personality trait makes a half German Shepherd half Rottweiler mix a great choice for protection or security detail.
High energy
Shepweilers respect owners who give them tasks and goals to do everyday. Not only does this reinforce their natural intelligence, it also keeps them mentally and physically active. It is important for Shepweilers to be regularly engaged in physical activity to keep their mood and morale in high spirits. Shepweilers that do not exercise regularly are known to engage in destructive behavior.
Aggression
A German Shepherd Rottweiler mix temperament is commonly associated with bouts of aggression. Aggressive tendencies can become troublesome if Shepweilers are not well-socialized and can lead to them lunging towards other people, ignoring commands or punishments, and even hurting their handlers.
However, early intervention, regular training schedules and firm disciplinary actions by Shepweiler handlers can prevent this. If raised and trained correctly, Shepweiler aggression can be focused and used to fuel more productive activities.
