What do you get if you cross a Rottweiler with a Labrador Retriever? The Rottweiler Lab Mix, often called the “Labrottie” or “Rottador,” is a fascinating hybrid breed that combines the strength and loyalty of the Rottweiler with the friendliness and intelligence of the Labrador Retriever. This hybrid breed inherits strong traits from both parents: the Rottweiler’s protective nature and the Labrador’s affable temperament. The breed is known by several names, like Rottador, Rottwador, Labrottie, and Labweiler.
If you’re looking for an extremely loyal, protective, and loving pup, then a Lab Rottweiler mix is an outstanding choice for you. They are extremely loyal pet, fun, loving, energetic and affectionate. The combination can give you a strong energy. This mix is known for its devotion, making it an excellent companion and family pet. Known for their loyalty, intelligence, and adaptability, they’re perfect for active family owners.
As a cross breed dog they inherit their characters from each of their parents, typically this dog has the face and head of a Labrador with the body of a Rottweiler; with big brown beautiful eyes. A Rottweiler Lab mix is one of the largest hybrid dogs around. It may look like a fearsome large dog but it can be very friendly, loyal, and loving. This large dog breed is best suited to an experienced owner, as they need a lot of training and socializing. Don’t leave them alone for long periods, though, or else they may become bored and destructive.
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History of Rottweiler lab Mix
A Rottweiler Lab mix is a cross between a purebred Rottweiler dog and a purebred Labrador Retriever dog. When two different dog breeds are deliberately mixed, the crossbreed is known as a Designer dog. The Rottweiler Lab Mix is first appearing in the US in the 1990s, so they don’t have as much history as their purebred parents. Though not recognized by official kennel clubs, the Labrador Rottweiler Mix, is increasingly sought after for its unique combination of traits from both parent breeds. To know more about this crossbreed, we also need to know about both of their purebred parents’ history.
Labrador Retriever History
The Labrador Retriever or simply Labrador is a British breed of retriever gun dog. The Labrador retriever history begins at the turn of the 16th century on the island of Newfoundland. Their ancestors were retrievers of fish and game. The breed was further developed in England in the 19th century to assist in hunting. It is among the most commonly kept dogs in several countries, particularly in the European world.
The Labrador breed dates back to at least the 1830s, when St. John’s water dogs bred by European settlers in Newfoundland were first introduced to Britain from ships trading between Canada and Poole in Dorset. These were then bred with British hunting dogs to create what became known as the Labrador Retriever.
The Labrador is friendly, energetic, and playful. It was bred as a sporting and hunting dog but is widely kept as a companion dog. It may also be trained as a guide or assistance dog, or for rescue or therapy work.
By 1870 the name Labrador Retriever had become common in England. The breed was recognized by the kennel club in 1903. The first American kennel club (AKC) registration was in 1917.
Rottweiler History
The Rottweiler is a purebred large breed of dog that has a very muscular and stocky build; it also looks quite fierce. The Rottweiler is a strong, loyal, powerful, and intelligent known dog breed worldwide. Rottweiler is one of the oldest dog breeds, and he is believed to have descended from Mastiff- type dogsin the Roman era.
Rottweilers take their name from the German town of Rottweil and was known as the “Rottweil butcher’s dog”, where they were originally bred to herd cattle for butchers. In the region of Rottweil, these dogs met and mixed with the native dogs in a natural crossing. The main task of the Rottweiler now became the driving and guarding of the herds of cattle and the defence of their masters and their property.
Their intelligence, strength, and energy levels meant that these large dogs were used during the World Wars as guard dogs and for messenger or ambulance duties. Fans of the breed established the International Club for Leonbergers and Rottweiler dogs in 1899 and created the first breed standard by 1901. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1931.
Size and Lifespan of Rottweiler Lab Mix
The Rottweiler and Labrador Retriever mix is a hybrid breed so they inherit their characters from each of their parents, which also shows in their appearance and size. In order to understand their average size and lifespan of the mix breed we also need to understand about each of the parents breeds as well.
According to the AKC the average height of a male Labrador Retriever is between 22.5-24.5 inches and the average height of a female is ranges between 21.5-23.5 inches. However, the average weight of a male Labrador Retriever ranges between 65-80 pounds and the average weight of a female is ranges between 55-70 pounds.
If we talk about the Rottweiler, the average height of a male Rottweiler is ranges between 24-27 inches and the average height of a female is ranges between 22-25 inches. However, the average weight of a male Rottweiler is ranges between 110-132 pounds and the average weight of a female Rottweiler ranges between 77-106 pounds.
If we talk about the average height and weight of Rottweiler Labrador Retriever Mix, then the average height of the Labrottie ranges between 24-27 inches and the average weight of this mix breed ranges between 75-115 pounds.
The average lifespan of Labrador Retriever will be approx. 11-13 years and the average lifespan of Rottweiler will be 8-10 years. However, the average lifespan of Rottweiler Labrador Retriever will be approx. 9-12 years.
Appearance of Rottweiler Lab Mix
Being a crossbreed dog it is difficult to say what a Rottweiler Lab mix will look like or what kind of personality it will have. Labrotties typically inherit a blend of physical traits from both parent breeds. It could also have the coloring of a Labrador Retriever and the personality of a Rottweiler or vice versa.
The Labrottie is a large and muscular dog, typically, the Rottador will display a powerful chest and strong back legs. Your mixed dog can be the size of the smallest Labrador or the largest Rottweiler. It can also be somewhere in the middle. The head and muzzle of the hybrid will usually look more like that of the Labrador, though the body is typically more comparable to the Rottweiler. Their eyes are expressive, and their ears may flop down like a Lab’s or stand slightly erect, a nod to their Rottweiler lineage.
Considering the parent breeds there are only a few likely coat colors including Black, Black & Tan, chocolate blown, and Gray. The chocolate lab Rottweiler Mix and the black and tan mix are the most common. The dense coat of this hybrid may vary from wavy to straight, depending on the prominent parental gene.
Rottweiler Lab Mix Temperament
Rottweiler Lab mix are known for their loyal, intelligent, and protective nature. They inherit their characters from each of their parents, the Rottweiler’s guarding instincts and the Labrador’s social and friendly demeanor. Your Labrador Rottweiler Mix will probably be friendly and faithful, just like the beloved Labrador. Conversely, it can also become an effective guard dog like the Rottweiler.
Lab Rottweiler Mix are smart, very powerful with a protective nature. The Labrottie makes an excellent watchdog who will bark when someone he does not know approaches. They are great guard dogs and extremely intelligent. This makes them easy to train most of the time, and since they’re so eager to please, it typically doesn’t take too long. While protective, the Rottadoris not aggressive. As with any dog, early socialization is helpful to ensure that the Labrottie is comfortable around children and other animals.
Grooming
It’s fairly easy to groom a Rottweiler Lab mix. Labradors will typically shed heavily while Rottweilers shed very little, if at all. Dogs of the hybrid will have a short to medium length coat that will shed on occasion and can shed more seasonally. Due to its short hair, a weekly brushing with a soft bristled brush is enough to keep its coat shiny and healthy. Due to its active nature, your dog will be running around and playing quite a bit. It can get dirty really fast so you might have to give it a bath once a month. You should be trimmed the nails of your Labrottie as needed. Experts recommend that you brush your Rottweiler Lab’s teeth daily. But since this is often not possible, brushing two or three times a week is fine.
Exercise
A Labrottie is outgoing, athletic, and energetic so it will need lots of mixed exercises that blend fun and challenges. They need outdoor space to run around and burn off their excess energy. It is recommended that your dog has 60 minutes of exercise per day. A Lab Rottweiler mix needs to be taken on long walks daily, with each trip lasting about 30 to 60 minutes long. Interactive games are also popular for the Labrottie, who will enjoy retrieving and returning a ball to his human. Once well socialized, letting your Labrottie off the leash in open areas is a great way for them to burn off some energy. A Labrottie is outgoing, athletic, and energetic and it is recommended that your dog has 60 minutes of exercise per day.
Training
Rottador are generally easy to train, especially with positive reinforcement techniques. Their intelligence and eagerness to please make them responsive to commands, though consistency is essential to ensure good behavior. They are intelligent dogs, who are eager to please, so with consistent positive reinforcement training, you should quickly have a well-balanced dog. you should also tap the services of an experienced dog trainer to help train your dog. It’s also vital that training and socialization should be done while it’s still a puppy. If you don’t socialize your Labrottie puppy, it will never learn to get along with other people and pets.
Food Requirement
Lab Rottweiler mix is a big dog so they need large amount of food. High-quality dog food, rich in protein and nutrients, is essential for their growth. There are plenty of dry dog feeds formulated for large dogs, packed full of vitamins and nutrients to meet their needs. It’s best if you feed your Rottweiler Lab mix three times a day. This lessens the amount of food they will have per meal and reduces the risk of bloating, something that typically afflicts large breeds. This crossbreed is susceptible to obesity, especially if they don’t get the exercise it needs. You should make sure your dog enjoys a balanced diet along with frequent exercise.
Health
When it comes to this hybrid dog, it is important to look at health issues that can occur in both parent breeds. While most are generally healthy, some may be prone to a few health issues, which is why it is important to maintain good care and regular veterinary checkups. Some of the more common health problems Rottweiler Lab mix suffer include: allergies, bloat, bone cancer, ear infections, epilepsy, eye problems, hip dysplasia, and obesity.
Hip Dysplasia (and elbow dysplasia)
Owners should be particularly concerned about hip dysplasia as both parent breeds suffer from it. common in many large breeds of dog. Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip joint, where the ball at the top of the leg does not fit properly into the socket and the ligaments attaching it are weak. This allows excess movement of the fitting which can eventually lead to stiffness and pain for the dog.
Early warning signs are visual stiffness then walking, a reluctance to get up when prompted, and a difference in walking style; limp or caution. There is no cure for hip dysplasia.
Bloat
any large dog that eats quickly or drinks a lot before exercising can suffer from bloat. This dangerous excessive gas build-up can cause the stomach to twist and damage other organs.
Cataract eye disease
both the Labrador Retriever and Rottweiler breeds are prone to Cataracts – a clouding of its vision, and other eye problems so it’s recommended that its eyes are checked regularly by a vet.
Good breeders should be able to provide health certificates for both parents; this will help you determine what health issues your puppy is more or less likely to inherit.
Regular veterinary check-ups are essential to monitor for common health issues. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise is crucial to preventing joint problems and other health concerns.
Conclusion
A Rottweiler Lab mix is a cross between a purebred Rottweiler dog and a purebred Labrador Retriever dog. They inherit their characters from each of their parents and it also seen in their appearance and size as well. Rottweiler Lab mix are known for their loyal, intelligent, and protective nature. They are great guard dogs and extremely intelligent. This makes them easy to train most of the time. A Labrottie is outgoing, athletic, and energetic and it is recommended that your dog has 60 minutes of exercise per day. Labrotties are generally easy to train, especially with positive reinforcement techniques. Lab Rottweiler mix is a big dog so they need large amount of food. High-quality dog food, rich in protein and nutrients, is essential for their growth. They also have some health problems like Hip Dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Labrador Rottweiler mix is a great combination of two great dogs. With proper training and socialization, they will be a great family and watch dog.