Quick Take
- Maintaining a 130-pound Rotterman depends on meeting a specific strong owner requirement.
- Inheriting Von Willebrand’s Disease from the parent breeds creates specific health complications for the Rotterman.
- This big breed paradoxically defies aggressive parentage by exhibiting a patient and affectionate nature.
- Executing early socialization is necessary to neutralize the Rotterman’s inherent protective aggression.
The Rotterman is the result of crossbreeding a Rottweiler and a Doberman Pinscher. It is a large and powerful breed that needs a strong owner. While their parent breeds are notorious for being aggressive, the Rotterman is very affectionate, loyal, and protective.
When raised with pets and children, they are patient and very tolerant. Because of their high intellect, they are easy to train but need a firm and persistent trainer. It’s the perfect breed for search and rescue training, and they make excellent guard dogs.
Three Pros and Cons of Owning a Rotterman
The Rotterman has a lot of good traits, but before purchasing one, there are a few things dog owners should know:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent guard dogs without all the barking | They may be stubborn at times, so they require a firm hand when training |
| Very affectionate and loves to play and exercise with the whole family | If not socialized properly, they can be territorial and aggressive towards other pets |
| Highly intelligent and easy to train | Not hypoallergenic |
The Best Dog Food for a Rotterman
Rottermans require a nutritious, high-quality diet that will give them energy. In addition, because of their size, they need dog food specifically formulated for large breeds. However, as they change through the different stages of their lives, they need a diet to accommodate their development. For example, the puppy stage, adult stage, and senior stage.
They require 4-6 cups of high-quality food split into two portions per day. However, if they receive wet food, this amount should be reduced according to the instructions on the label. Never overfeed them because they are prone to obesity, which will affect their overall health.
Size and Weight
Rottermans are a large breed, and they can weigh between 70 and 130 pounds. In addition, they are tall and measure 22 to 27 inches.
Common Health Issues
Unfortunately, the Rotterman inherits many of its parent breed’s health issues. These include:
Temperament
The Rotterman has a loving nature and is extremely loyal to its owners. They are natural protectors and would happily stand in the way of danger for their families. However, this protective side can also be detrimental because it can make them aggressive towards new people entering the home.
If socialized from a young age, the Rotterman gets along well with other pets. However, they should always be supervised around smaller dogs and children because they are a large breed and can accidentally cause harm.
How to Take Care of a Rotterman
Caring for a Rotterman is relatively easy because of their short coats and good health. However, owners must meet certain requirements to keep them happy and healthy.
Grooming
Luckily, when it comes to grooming, Rottermans are a breeze. While Doberman Pinschers are generally light shedders, Rottweilers shed moderately year-round and can shed heavily during seasonal changes, so brushing your Rotterman at least once or twice a week is recommended, and more frequently during shedding seasons. In addition, a light run over their coat with a grooming mitt daily will keep your dog’s coat shiny.
Both Rottweilers and Dobermans have short coats and typically do not require frequent bathing; bathing once every couple of months or as needed when dirty is usually sufficient.
In addition, as soon as their nails touch the ground, they need a trim, approximately once every two months. Dental hygiene in dogs is very important, so brush their teeth daily with high-quality dog toothpaste.
Training
The Rotterman is incredibly intelligent and is easily trainable if done properly. However, they can be stubborn, which makes things a little trickier. It shouldn’t be a problem if you are persistent and have a firm hand. However, training them as soon as possible will help manage these behaviors and ensure an obedient dog.
Exercise
Rottermans have high energy levels and can become destructive if not stimulated properly. In addition, they are prone to obesity, so ensure that they get enough exercise each day. Rottermans need at least two hours of exercise daily; this can include hiking, long walks, and playtime in the backyard.
Puppies
The Rotterman can produce a litter of 6 to 12 pups; however, larger litters are often expected. But, for first-time mothers, it is not unusual to give birth to only two puppies.
Depending on your location and breeder of choice, Rottermans’ price can range from $900 to $3000. However, if you can find one in a shelter, it will cost much less to adopt.
Rottermans and Children
Introducing a full-grown Rotterman into a home with young children will not be good if they have never been around kids before. However, if introduced when they are puppies, they are caring, loving, patient, and protective of kids, no matter their age.
Dogs similar to the Rotterman
Several breeds are similar to Rottermans in both size and behavior; they include:
Rotterman Pictures
View all of our Rotterman pictures in the gallery.
Gemma Fletcher/Shutterstock.com
Sources
- Wag Walking / Accessed October 1, 2022
- Pet Guide / Accessed October 1, 2022
- Dog Zone / Accessed October 1, 2022
- Dog Time / Accessed October 1, 2022
