Rottle

Quick Take

• The Rottle's ancient lineage traces back further than most owners realize, with its origins connected to a retreating army. See the rare breed benefits →
• Buying a rare breed sounds risky, but there's a counterintuitive health advantage that most dog shoppers never consider. Explore the health advantage →
• Rottles are low-shedding, though their grooming routine has a hidden cost that catches most new owners off guard. See the grooming requirements →
• Skipping early training doesn't just make a Rottle harder to manage. It can also trigger a specific behavior that's especially dangerous in larger dogs. Understand resource guarding risks →

Rottles, also known as Rottie-Poos or Rottidoodles, are a relatively recent hybrid of the Rottweiler and the Poodle that originated in the United States in the 1980s. Their Rottweiler ancestors may have been descended from dogs left behind in northern Europe by the retreating Roman army. Modern Rottles have been bred to combine some of the best features of two immensely popular breeds. They have a sweet and playful nature and do well with other pets and children. They can be reserved and protective around people they don’t know and have a prey instinct to chase smaller creatures, but these behaviors can be modified, as they are quite intelligent and therefore easy to train. People considering this breed should remember, though, that hybrid dogs, especially those without a long breeding history, can inherit unpredictable traits from the individual genetic mix of their parents. Puppies should be monitored and trained as necessary to bring out their adorable personality traits.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning Rottles

Size and Weight

Rottles can vary greatly in size and weight depending on their parentage. In particular, because poodles come in miniature and standard sizes, Rottles can range from medium to large sizes. Rottles of either gender may range from 18 to 27 inches tall and 30 to 100 pounds in weight.

Common Health Issues

Rottles inherit not only the positive traits of their parent breeds but some of their problems as well. Conditions you and your vet should monitor for include:

• Hip dysplasia
• Eye diseases
• Bloat
• Blood clotting disorders
• Obesity
• Heart conditions

Temperament and Behavior

These dogs are noted most of all for their devoted, loving nature. They interact very well with other pets and with children. They can be protective and reserved around strangers, though. Since traits may differ depending on the individual dog’s genetic heritage, you should watch new puppies closely to determine their characteristics and training needs.

Rottles are also quite smart, sociable, and eager to please. This makes them not only fun companions, but also, for the most part, easily trainable. Some are particularly independent-minded, though, and will resist training, particularly if you don’t make it into a positive bonding experience.

How To Take Care of Rottles

The Best Dog Food For Rottles

When considering a dog food for your Rottle, you’ll want to choose a healthy food made from natural ingredients and make sure to follow the portion guidelines recommended by your veterinarian. Obesity is one of the biggest health problems for all breeds of dog.

Maintenance and Grooming

Rottles come in a variety of coat colors: gray, blue, red, brown, white, black, or a combination of two or more colors. Their coats can be single or double-layered and are usually medium to long in length and dense and curly.

They are low-shedding, but their coats do need brushing at least every other day to detangle them and prevent mats. They should be professionally groomed every 6 to 12 weeks. This can be expensive as groomers charge more for larger dogs, particularly if you’ve fallen behind on your daily brushings.

Training

They can be easily trained if started early in puppyhood. Positive training methods based on praise and rewards rather than punishments should always be used. Untrained, a Rottle may become excessively protective of its food and toys and use guarding behaviors against people it doesn’t know. This can be especially difficult if you have a Rottle on the larger end of the size range.

Exercise

Rottles are playful, fun-loving, and very energetic. They need daily exercise with a long walk and playtime in a fenced yard. Rottles like running, swimming, and playing ball. They generally do well at dog parks because of their general friendliness. Because they are quite intelligent, they will enjoy tasks that require some problem-solving skills, exercising both their mind and their body.

Even though these dogs are so athletic and can be quite large, they do adapt well to apartments or small homes. And because they don’t bark very much, they can be good neighbors. Left alone too long, however, they will act out due to separation anxiety, and then all bets are off.

Rottles and Children

Many consider Rottles to be quite good with children. However, this can vary from puppy to puppy. Until you get to know your dog better, closely supervise them around small children. Larger Rottles can be clumsy and not understand their own size and strength. They might knock over a child or play-bite too hard. They can also be overprotective when your children’s friends come to visit. All of these behaviors are trainable with a consistent, positive training regimen.

Dogs Similar to Rottles

• Rottweiler: Rottweilers are one of the parent breeds of Rottles and are similar in appearance. Rottles live longer, shed and drool less, and are generally healthier.
• Poodle: Poodles are another of the parent breeds of Rottles. They are considered easier for novice owners. They are also even more kid-friendly, dog-friendly, and friendly to strangers than Rottles.
• Beauceron: This breed looks like a Rottle and is similar in temperament, but barks more and tends to have more health issues. It is considered to be a good companion dog for the elderly.