Rottweiler and Mastiff: Everything You Need to Know About the Mix

The Rottweiler and mastiff mix is an excellent guard dog due to its intimidating appearance and large size. This hybrid inherits the mastiff’s calm demeanor and the Rottweiler’s alertness. These dogs are not a good choice for novice owners because their size demands a firm personality for training and handling. Rottweiler and mastiff mixes need space and aren’t suited for apartments. Below is everything you need to know about this mix.

Rottweiler and Mastiff Appearance

This hybrid is very large and muscular, and its appearance varies. Some take after the Rottweiler, while others look more like mastiffs. In addition, Rottweiler and mastiff mixes have thick, short coats that require moderate grooming. However, some of these hybrids have longer fur, resulting from long-haired Rottweilers.

Rottweilers and Mastiffs also have a variety of coat colors, like gold, black, chocolate, tan, and light or dark brindle. These hybrids also have traits of both parents. For example, they have large, bulky heads with floppy ears and wrinkled faces. But, their appearance varies widely. It’s common for breeders to dock their tails, much like Rottweilers. However, this practice has become more and more taboo. Docked tails are supposed to make them look more intimidating for guarding purposes. Additionally, shorter tails prevent large dogs from bumping or breaking items in the home.

Rottweiler and Mastiff Size and Weight

It’s tough to determine the size and weight of a Rottweiler and mastiff mix because it varies depending on the parents. However, they are usually between 27 to 32 inches tall, and their weight ranges from 100 to 160 pounds. Furthermore, their weight and size also depend on their gender, as males are bigger. Males can weigh between 120 to 160 pounds and grow 28 to 32 inches tall. But females weigh 100 to 150 pounds and reach 26 to 30 inches tall.

If a dog is sterilized at a very young age, it may affect its size. They maybe become larger or smaller depending on the dog’s genetics. But, one of the main factors contributing to their size is their nutrition. If a Rottweiler and mastiff is underfed, it can experience reduced muscle mass and stunted growth.

Rottweiler and Mastiff Temperament

This hybrid is kind, loving, and loyal. However, their temperaments are inconsistent as they can take after either parent or have a mixture of both. But, typically, they are the ideal companions for families with older kids. Furthermore, their protective nature makes them excellent guard dogs, which they inherit from the Rottweiler. But they also inherit a gentle, loving nature from the mastiff. Add all these characteristics together, and you get a well-rounded family pet. However, it is essential to socialize and train this hybrid as soon as possible, especially if you want them to interact with children and strangers. Additionally, they need obedience training to make them easier to manage, as their size can cause some issues if they are rambunctious.

Rottweiler and Mastiff Health Issues and Lifespan

As is common in large breeds, the Rottweiler and Mastiff mix has a relatively short lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Unfortunately, these hybrids can inherit both parents’ health issues, which include several conditions, including:

• Heart Disease – Large breeds are more susceptible to heart problems, especially dilated cardiomyopathy. Sadly, this condition causes loss of heart function because the heart walls are degrading.
• Seizure disorders – the Rottweiler and Mastiff mix are susceptible to sudden onset of seizures, which disturbs the brain and causes involuntary movements or loss of consciousness.
• Bloat – a health issue where the stomach expands due to the presence of air, gas, food, and liquid. Severe cases result in pressure negatively impacting neighboring organs like the lungs and heart or a ruptured stomach.
• Hip and elbow dysplasia is a genetic problem inherited by man breeds, especially large dogs. Therefore Rottweiler and mastiff mixes are particularly prone to hip or elbow dysplasia. This condition is painful and often leads to arthritis.

Therefore, if you want to prevent unwanted or expensive medical conditions, early intervention is the only solution. Take your hybrid for regular vet checkups and screenings to ensure the health and safety of your furry friend.

Rottweiler and Mastiff Diet

Since the Rottweiler and mastiff mix is so large, they need a lot of food to keep them nourished. For example, they need at least four cups of wet and dry food to keep them at a healthy weight. Rottweilers descend from a family of carnivorous dogs whose diet consisted of bones and raw meat. As a result, their digestive systems are more equipped to break down raw meat than other breeds. Therefore, this hybrid thrives on a raw food diet.

However, if you cannot feed them a raw diet, there are ways to incorporate more protein into their diet. Feed them kibble, but supplement them with treats like raw chicken, beef, or lamb. It’s best not to cook these meats, as cooked food can be dangerous for dogs. If you feed your dog throughout the day, keep the meals small, as these hybrids are prone to bloat. Smaller meals prevent digestive complications.

Grooming

Generally, Rottweiler and mastiff mixes have short coats. Therefore, this hybrid requires minimal to moderate grooming to prevent shedding. As a result, they only need a good brush once a week to keep their coats healthy. Furthermore, they must have their nails trimmed regularly as soon as they start touching the floor. Additionally, these mixes usually have face wrinkles that collect bacteria in their folds, which leads to foul odors and skin issues. So, owners must clean between the creases to keep the skin healthy and prevent health issues.

Exercise and Training

As mentioned above, due to their massive size, these hybrids require obedience training from a young age. They can easily damage items in your home or accidentally injure someone in the family if not trained properly. However, when they are socialized and trained, these dogs make incredible family pets. Since both parent breeds are working dogs, Rottweiler, and mastiff mixes need a lot of exercise or something to do. While they are more relaxed than Rottweilers, they still need plenty of exercise to keep them stimulated. Activities can include long walks, hiking, or playing in the dog park. As a result, owners need to spend between 40 to 60 minutes a day exercising with their hybrids. But, be careful with puppies, as strenuous exercise when they are still young can cause elbow or hip dysplasia when they get older.

Pros and Cons of Owning a Rottweiler and Mastiff

Many people purchase or rescue dogs impulsively and don’t consider what the dog will need regarding food, exercise, attention, training, and health. Therefore, owners should learn everything they can about the breed they want to ensure it will be the right fit. So, below are the pros and cons of the Rottweiler and mastiff mix to help you decide whether it’s the breed for you.

Pros

• This hybrid is an incredible guard dog thanks to its imposing build, giving it an intimidating appearance. Therefore, these dogs can easily scare off any potential threats. Furthermore, they are loyal and will protect you with their lives.
• The Rottweiler and mastiff mix is a great family dog as both parent breeds have loving and gentle natures. However, they need early socialization to help them understand how to behave around children and strangers.
• These mixes are low maintenance and easy to groom. They have short coats and only need a brush once a week.

Cons

• These hybrids are massive, so they need obedience training, especially if they live in the house. Furthermore, their large size makes them unsuitable for apartments.
• Due to their Rottweiler genes, these hybrids can be aggressive if not trained properly.
• Rottweiler and mastiff mixes are prone to several health issues like bloat and hip and elbow dysplasia. They need regular vet checkups to maintain their health and prevent serious conditions.

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