Golden Retriever Rottweiler Mix

The Rottweiler golden retriever cross blends the best of both breeds, combining impressive intelligence, obedience, and protectiveness with playfulness and affectionate nature.

This cross seems to do well in any application – Golden Rotties make great family, service, hunting, and guard dogs.

But despite all the benefits, this cross also has disadvantages prospective owners should be aware of. Remember that each puppy is unique, so interacting with it before bringing it home is crucial.

Appearance

The Rottweiler golden retriever cross resembles either a Rottweiler with long fur or a golden retriever with signature Rottweiler markings. Either way, the parent breeds have many appearance traits in common, so the puppy look is predictable.

Golden retriever Rottweiler mix puppies have short drop ears, long snouts with black noses, broad skulls, and round dark eyes. They range from 24 to 28 inches in height, being slightly larger than purebred goldens, and weigh 60-90 pounds.

Rottweiler golden retriever mix can have either short or long coats depending on which parent’s genes it inherits. While golden retrievers have a thick undercoat, Rottweilers only have an undercoat on the beck and thighs.

The Rottweiler golden retriever cross can be gold, tan, black, or mahogany, either solid or with Rottweiler face, paw, and chest markings. Dark colors are more common because they are dominant.

Temperament

The golden retriever Rottweiler mix is guaranteed to be loyal, intelligent, energetic, and playful. These dogs are protective of their owners because of Rottweiler’s guard dog heritage.

However, many Golden Rottweilers are friendly with strangers and happily make new friends because goldens are the extraverts of the canine world. Attitude toward strangers varies by a puppy and depends on its socialization.

The golden retriever Rottweiler mix is unlikely to be stubborn because both parent breeds historically worked alongside people and learned to cooperate.

Goldens have a low prey drive, but Rottweilers have it high, so whether a Rottweiler golden retriever mix will chase smaller pets depends. Despite its intimidating look, Rottweiler golden retriever cross makes a wonderful companion for kids.

These dogs are patient and gentle. They may be too exuberant for babies, and Rottweilers tend to be barky, but they are perfect for older children who can handle their immense energy levels.

Intelligence & Trainability

According to canine researcher Stanley Coren, golden retrievers and Rottweilers are in the top ten of the most intelligent dog breeds. Their mix keeps up to the standard, featuring excellent memory and problem-solving skills.

Because of its hunting-guard dog heritage, the Rottweiler golden retriever mix is highly obedient and never stubborn. These dogs are eager to please the owner and can act independently when necessary.

They also communicate well with people, reading human body language and assessing facial expressions and tone of voice. For this reason, they make wonderful emotional support and therapy pets.

Due to this trait combination, the golden retriever Rottweiler mix is a natural-born service dog that can perform the most challenging tasks. Its physical strength enables it to help people with mobility issues.

Rottweiler golden retriever mix can also serve as a guard or protection dog. This cross can be helpful in police and rescue operations.

Health

Both golden retrievers and Rottweilers are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, like most large dogs, and their cross isn’t any different.

Hip dysplasia results from hip joint dislocation because of improper development and causes mobility problems.

Another widespread golden retriever and Rottweiler health issue is progressive retinal atrophy, leading to partial or complete blindness. One cannot predict or prevent this condition.

Rottweilers are also at high risk of cataracts, while golden retrievers commonly have epilepsy. Overall, crossbreed dogs are less likely to develop severe medical conditions, but the risk is still there.

Both parent breeds are prone to obesity, so Rottweiler golden retriever mix should eat a healthy diet and get enough exercise. Cancer is the most common cause of death in both parent breeds, particularly bone cancer.

Like all dogs with drop ears, the golden retriever Rottweiler mix is susceptible to ear infections. Moisture trapped in the ear canal is a common infection trigger, so owners should clean their dog’s ears after every swimming session.

Grooming

The golden retriever Rottweiler cross grooming depends on a dog’s coat length. Both parent breeds are seasonal shedders and must be brushed daily with a de-shedding tool when they blow out their undercoats.

However, apart from seasonal shedding periods, Rottweilers suffice with occasional brushing to evenly distribute skin oils, whereas golden retrievers need daily brushing to prevent tangling and matting.

Brushing also helps spot parasites hiding in the dog’s fur, so don’t neglect it even if your pet has a short coat. Regular bathing is crucial, but its frequency may vary depending on the dog’s lifestyle.

Dogs that spend most of their time in the owner’s backyard don’t need as frequent baths as dogs rolling in mud or swimming in stagnant water. As a rule of thumb, expect to bathe your dog at least once in six weeks.

The golden retriever Rottweiler mix doesn’t need haircuts and shouldn’t be shaved even in summer. However, long-haired Golden Rotties will appreciate a simple trim.

Exercise Needs

Rottweilers and golden retrievers are very active dogs with high stamina, so they need one to two hours of walking daily.

Vigorous exercise sessions can be shorter – for example, 15 minutes of swimming replace an hour or moderately-paced walk.

The golden retriever Rottweiler mix will appreciate mentally stimulating activities such as hiking, playing fetch, or tracking smells.

Without sufficient exercise and mental enrichment, these dogs may become mischievous out of boredom.

Puppies don’t need as much physical activity. In fact, excessive exercise can be harmful to a puppy’s joints, leading to hip dysplasia development.

Provide your puppy with five minutes of exercise for each month of its life until its bone growth plates close.

Senior dog exercise duration depends on its health state, so owners shouldn’t force activity. However, regular walks will help prevent weight gain and skeletal issues.

Most importantly, remember to keep your Rottweiler golden retriever mix brain engaged as much as its muscles.

Life Expectancy

The golden retriever Rottweiler mix lifespan is 10-12 years, which is equal to the lifespan of purebred golden retrievers. Purebred Rottweilers have a shorter average lifespan of 8-10 years because of their high cancer risk.

Remember that a dog’s lifespan largely depends on its lifestyle, so feed your dog a healthy diet and dedicate enough time to walks. With proper care, a golden retriever Rottweiler mix can live; longer than expected.

Behavior Problems

The golden retriever Rottweiler cross behavior problems typically arise from boredom, under-stimulation, or lack of socialization. Rescue dogs may behave poorly because of a history of abuse.

Because both breeds are people-oriented and love spending time in a company, their cross may suffer from separation anxiety.

The problem is characterized by destructive behavior, potty accidents, excessive vocalization, and hyperactivity.

Rottweiler golden retriever mix may exhibit similar behavior out of boredom, so providing the dog with enough exercise and mental enrichment is vital. Because Rottweilers are a guarding breed, some Rottweiler golden retrievers may bark too much.

These dogs often pull on the leash and jump on people in puppyhood. Without training, these habits will remain in adulthood, causing the owner and people around them inconvenience. Fortunately, poor behavior can be combatted with training.

Goldens are sensitive dogs, so some Rottweiler golden retriever cross puppies may be anxious when exposed to new environments and people. Some dogs may react poorly to other animals because of their high prey drive.

Rarity

Golden retrievers and Rottweilers are in the top ten of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S., according to American Kennel Club.

Crossbreed dogs are generally less widespread than purebred ones, but how rare is the golden retriever Rottweiler mix compared to other hybrids?

The Golden Rottie Retriever isn’t on the list of the most popular crossbreed dogs, but we cannot quantify its popularity or rarity. One thing is for sure – the demand for this cross isn’t high; most people prefer either purebred goldens or Rotties.

Consequently, not many people breed these dogs, and you might have to invest some time searching for a puppy. The good news is that once you find your perfect pup, your efforts will pay off.

Price

The Rottweiler golden retriever cross price starts at $300 and can exceed $2,000, so the range is vast.

Golden Rottie price depends on many factors, including a particular puppy’s heritage, temperament, appearance, health, and breeder’s reputation.

Puppies from champion parents tend to cost more because they are likely to inherit traits that made their ancestors excel. Sometimes, puppies from the same litter are priced differently because of their look or behavior.

The location also matters. Puppies cost more in states with a higher cost of living and where the parent breeds aren’t as widespread.

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