Have you heard of the Rottweiler Lab mix? Are you looking to adopt one of these beautiful dogs? Or are you a new pet parents to a Rottweiler Lab mix? Then you’ve come to the right place!
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We’ve put together an owner’s guide for pet parents who’d like more information on these amazing dogs! Let’s get started!
History & Background of the Rottweiler Lab Mix
A Rottweiler Lab mix is a mixed breed dog that is part Labrador Retriever and part Rottweiler. If you’re familiar with both of these breeds, then you may have guessed that this will be a large dog. And you’re right!
These dogs are a crossbreed between a purebred Rottweiler and a purebred Labrador. They’re bred to be companions, and these dogs are very athletic. In fact, they love to participate in dog agility competitions.
You may hear these dogs referred to by other names including:
- Rottadors
- Labrottie
- Labweiler
- Rottwador
- Rott’n Lab (personally, we think adding “Spoiled” in front of this name would be much better! “Spoiled Rott’n Lab”)
This mix between the Rottweiler and a Lab is believed to have first begun in North America back in the 90s. Soon, the crossbred dogs were extremely popular, which led to more breeders breed more of these beautifully mixed puppies.
While these dogs are popular, you’ll find many in shelters and rescues that are looking for their furever homes. If you’ve not adopted a Rottweiler Lab yet, then be sure to check out local shelters in your area. You can also find these mixed breed dogs in rescues and shelters specifically created for these dogs.
The Mix
When you adopt a Labrottie, you never know what they’re personality will be more like—their Rottweiler side, or the Lab side. In fact, experts say there’s a spectrum of personality—on one end you may have a Rottador who is more like his Lab parent, or on the other end of the spectrum, you may end up with a Rottador who is more like his Rottweiler parent.
Even dogs from the same litter may have different personalities and characteristics. But this is what makes a crossbreed so unique!
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Here, again, litter mates could be different from one another when it comes their fur colors. Coat colors include black, brown and grey, or a combination of these colors. And in some dogs, the brown color may more resemble a rust or reddish color.
The Rottador’s fur is short to medium length and is usually smooth. These dogs do have a double coat and they can shed quite a bit. Your fur baby will need to be brushed about every day, or at least every other day, to keep his fur healthy, tangle free, and free of shedding hair. And one more note—some people mistakenly believe that because these dogs have short fur the dogs are hypoallergenic. However, that’s not the case.
When it comes to size, your Rottador will be large—they may weigh between 70 to 115 lbs and stand about 24-27 inches. However, you may see some variation in size—it just depends on the parents.
Rottador Personality & Training
Rottadors have been bred to be companions to their pet parents. They’re very affectionate and make great watchdogs. They are highly protective and will let you know when a stranger comes near. While they may not be friendly with strangers in the beginning, they will be your friend once they accept you.
Both breeds, the Rottweiler and the Labrador Retriever, are working dogs. Rottweilers are commonly used as police or guard dogs and are also used as cattle dogs. Labradors have been bred to be trained as hunting dogs or guide dogs.
So, your Rottador will be a trainable, intelligent dog. These dogs do best when you use train them with positive reinforcement. A Rottador also needs to be properly socialized. This means they should be trained to accept other dogs, pets and even strangers from a young age. However, because these dogs are so intelligent and come from parents who are working dogs, Rottadors can easily become bored.
For this reason, and the fact they become quickly devoted to you and your family, they should not be left alone for long periods. If they become depressed, bored, and frustrated, you may find your fur baby starts acting out. He may decide to chew things up, etc.
One more important characteristic to know about a Rottador is that they can be aggressive, especially if their Rottweiler parent was aggressive. Having said that, most dogs are great and will not be aggressive. But you just never know. If you have small kids at home, then you may want to look at adopting another type of dog.
Rottador Health & Exercise
Rottador dogs have an average lifespan from 9 to 10 years. They’re also prone to a number of genetic health problems including:
- Hip & elbow dysplasia
- Cancer
- Aortic stenosis
- Entropion
- Ectropion
- Cruciate ligament rupture
- Osteochondritis Dissecans
- Wet eczema
- Cold water tail
- Juvenile laryngeal paralysis
- Polyneuropathy
- Epilepsy
- Obesity
- Blat
- Chronic allergies
When it comes to exercise, your Rottador will need plenty of exercise to keep him physically and mentally healthy. These dogs enjoy hiking, brisk walks, time in a fenced yard, playing games with their family (think of fetch—they love it!).
So, you’ll need to exercise you fur baby for about an hour a day, in order to keep him health and happy.
Rottador Diet
Your Rottador canine companion needs a high protein dog food that made especially for large dogs. As these dogs are prone to bloat, experts suggest feeding your dog about 1 cup of food about three times a day, rather than feeding him everything at one meal.
The Rottador makes a great fur baby for many families; however, it is recommended to not adopt one of these dogs if you have small children at home. Otherwise, the dogs are very happy to live with you in the city or in the suburbs. Having a fenced is a great way to help keep your dog happy.
Rottadors love to play and are highly protective. They’re also very intelligent and very devoted to their pet parents and families. If you choose to adopt a Rottador, you’ll have a loving companion for years to come!
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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