Have you ever been curious about the Pitbull and Rottweiler mix breed and wanted to know a bit more about this popular large dog breed? Below is your go-to guide for these energetic dogs.
A Pitweiler is a name given to a cross-breed of a Rottweiler and a Pitbull. This is a popular dog breed, though it has many myths associated with it that cause many people to come to a false conclusion that they are not good dogs. They can be between 18-25 inches (46-64cm) tall and weigh between 40-100 pounds (18-45kg).
Below, you’ll learn all about their looks, health, temperament, and how to help your Pitweiler have a great, happy life.
The basic details of Pitbull and Rottweiler mix
As you may have figured out, the nickname of Pitweiler comes from combining “Pitbull” with “Rottweiler.” A mixed-breed means that there are often variable traits, too, when it comes to combinations. Some may show more Rottie, and others more Pitbullesque. This is just part of the dog breed, though.
On average, male Pitweilers will be 18-25 inches (46-64cm) in height when full-grown and weigh between 40-100 pounds (18-45kg). Female Pitweiliers will be 17-20 inches (43-51cm) in height but will still weigh 40-100 pounds (18-45kg). As these metrics prove, these are large dogs.
What does a rottweiler pitbull puppy look like?
This is often a fun surprise that comes from watching a litter of puppies. Since they are a mix of two distinctive looks, it depends on which dominant traits in the Pitweiler you bring home! Common colors include:
- Black
- Tan
- Brown
- White
- Fawn
- Blue
- Merle/Brindle
Sometimes you’ll see the distinctive markings of the eyebrows on your Pitweiler from its Rottie parent, but notice it with the Brindle shades of a Pitbull. It is a fun toss-up when it comes to what your new dog will look like — but in a good way!
What is the lifespan of a Pitbull and Rottweiler mix?
Many to-be pet parents are used to large dogs having shorter lifespans. The Pitbull and Rottweiler mix has a decent lifespan of between 12-15 years.
They can be prone to health conditions. However, that may shorten this time dramatically. More on this a little later!
Physical characteristics of a Pitweiler
Both male and female Pitweilers are going to have short, wiry fur. They will be stocky and often be “solid” since they come from naturally muscular dogs.
They have large paws, distinctive snouts, and flopped-over ears. Their eye color depends on their parents. Many have a light brown color, but you can often see light-colored eyes, too!
Are Pitbull Rottweiler mix dogs illegal?
This is a great question to be asking when you’re looking to bring home a puppy. It does depend on where you live. Some communities have made them illegal since there is a lot of public outcry on the aggressiveness and violence of both parent breeds.
We are firm believers that dog aggressiveness has everything to do with “nurture” rather than “nature,” but many powerful leaders disagree.
Before you bring home your puppy, you’ll want to check on the local laws to make sure that you don’t end up with your family dog being seized!
If they are legal in your area, you will still want to carefully choose the breeder you buy from. If you are buying from a puppy mill, or something similar, you will often end up with an aggressive and unhappy dog. A responsible breeder is the way that you want to go when looking at this hybrid dog breed!
The responsibility of being a Pitweiler parent is something to think about very seriously. You must be willing to put in the work to train and control your furry family member. This includes time, obedience training, and socialization. More on that in a bit, though.
The Pitbull Rottweiler mix temperament
It will depend on which traits come out in your dog, of course, but Pitweilers tend to be a beautiful blend of the best features. They were cross-bred because their breeders wanted to create a protective, strong-willed dog with a robust look and feel. The Pitweiler is that, of course.
However, their original breeders also wanted the traits that went along with those physical attributes. These features include confidence, bravery, calmness, steadiness, a tendency to be strong-willed, and obedience. A few of those seem like opposites, which they sort of are.
This is why they are thought to be “dominant” dogs. This means that they will fight you for dominance, so owners must be experienced and dedicated to ensuring they can stay in control of their Pitweiler.
Pitweiler common health issues
Since both parent breeds are known for health issues, Pitweilers will also have many of the same health risks requiring proper attention. The most common ones include:
- Dysplasia (hip or elbow)
- Addison’s disease
- Aortic stenosis
- Bloat
- Cataracts
Dysplasia (hip or elbow)
This is when the ball of the leg or arm doesn’t fit properly into its socket. It can happen in the hips or at the elbow joint.
From mild to severe, it tends to degrade with age, and it can require pain medication and other interventions as joints weaken and stiffen over time.
Joint problems are also going to be an issue for this mixed breed, generally. Think of it as a predisposition to arthritis. Your vet will recommend treatment to help keep them as strong as possible in both care and diet.
Addison’s disease
This is more common with females, but it can happen with both genders. This is a disease where your pet’s glands prevent hormones from working correctly or at the correct dosages. It will need to be appropriately treated with regular vet appointments to make sure that they keep their overall quality of life.
Aortic stenosis
This is just a fancy term for a heart murmur. It means that the aorta is narrow and doesn’t beat quite as clearly as it should. If it is a problem for your dog, they will need to have surgery to help correct it.
Bloat
It sounds so innocent, but bloat in dogs is a severe condition. The stomach will twist, and gas will start to build up. This weakens blood flow to the heart and causes breathing issues if left untreated.
Treatment is most often surgery since it can very quickly be a fatal condition for dogs without extensive help from vet surgeons.
Cataracts
This is when the film of their eye’s lens clouds or becomes covered. It can make their vision cloudy and can even cause blindness if your dog. Surgery is often required to remove the film so that your dog can see again.
Is a Pitbull Rottweiler mix a good family dog?
While the rumors of their aggressive tendencies and their overall size tend to be a deterrent, a Pitweiler makes a fantastic family dog!
Here are just some of their wonderful attributes that make this a valuable family member to consider:
- Protective
- Affectionate and loving
- Intelligent and focused
- Spirited and energetic
Protective
These dogs are great for those with kids because they are so protective! Their natural instincts make them scan for danger and act as watchdogs.
They will keep an eye on your little ones, too, as far as making sure that they stay away from things that want to harm them (like other people or a busy street).
While a Pitwiler should never be used as a babysitter, these family dogs can be a great assurance to parents as they all play together in the backyard or another room in the home.
Affectionate and loving
Pitweilers just want to be loved. They have huge hearts and love, love, love being around their humans — especially the mini ones.
They enjoy being around people and pets and just want to be the center of attention. This means curling up with you during movie night, and snuggling up with you during a thunderstorm, etc.
Many feel as though they are great companions because they often are very aware of when their humans need some love and attention.
Intelligent and focused
Pitweilers are very smart dogs and can often be very focused. When you want to have a dog that you can train, a Pitweiler is a beautiful choice.
They are great playmates for kids and want to be a part of everything you do together as a family — just how a family dog should be, right?
Spirited and energetic
Pitweilers are certainly what you’d call extra. They are energetic, entirely spirited, and very much hyperactive dogs.
When you’ve got kids, this is great. They tend to tire each other out and offer themselves as great playmates for each other. This is also wonderful if you lead a really active life and want a dog that will be able to keep up with everything that you take on.
Rottweilers are as happy hiking a mountain with you as they are going for a walk around the block. They just simply like to move and be active as often as possible!
Pitweilers are excellent family dogs because they always find a great way to immerse themselves in whatever everyone else is doing.
They’re comfortable watching it all or being a part of a play session, or just curling up for a group movie session. Whatever it is, they’ll happily participate and be a great addition to your network!
What is the price of a Pitbull Rottweiler mix?
As with any kind of designer breed, you’ll be looking at a hefty price tag when you compare it to something like a rescue dog. Most Pitweilers are priced between $200-$1 000.
Their color and breeding integrity are on a scale of common to rare and low to high quality, respectively. To be clear, “quality” in terms of breeding just refers to the certification and other kinds of paperwork rather than the dog itself!
Pros and cons of a Pitbull Rottweiler mix
If you like all that you’re learning with this kind of information but still aren’t sure, here’s a handy list of pros and cons. Great for scanning and also seeing the good and potentially trouble-some details in one spot.
PROS
- Protective and loving;
- Great choice as a family dog;
- Smart and “part of the gang”.
These pros come together to make a protective, loving, engaged with the family, and intelligent dog. All of these things are often expected when looking for a classic family dog, which is what makes this such an instant winner for families.
CONS
- They are prone to being stubborn and antisocial;
- Require a strong and dominant owner;
- Can have a lot of vet bills.
The first point is referring more to socialization with other animals, particularly other alpha dogs. They will need to have proper training, both in terms of obedience and also socialization. They need to learn how to get along with other animals and dogs, so socialization is not something you’ll want to skip!
Since they are stubborn and dominant, these are best for dog owners that have had stubborn breeds before and can take on the need to stay in charge of their pig-headed Pitweiler!
Any responsible pet parent will want to ensure that they can take on any potential medical expenses that their dog may bring, too, as we discussed above.
Which is the winner?
In looking at the difference between pros and cons, you may feel as though cons win out. This is not the case, however.
It comes down to understanding what you are getting yourself into and making the most out of your new role as a Pitweiler parent.
This means that you are making a carefully researched and thoughtful decision instead of one that is purely based on the surface facts.
Bringing home a Pitwelier should never be an “off the cuff” decision. Do your research and make sure that you know what you’re getting into!
How to properly take care of a Pitbull Rottweiler mix
If you’re preparing to bring your puppy home, there are some details that you’re going to want to keep in mind so that you can make the most out of your new role. These include:
- A proper focus on training
- A steady decision to be dominant over your dog
- Dedication to caring for your dog’s grooming
- Taking care of your dog’s ears, nails, and teeth
- Regular and frequent exercise
A proper focus on training
Both socialization and obedience training is critical. You need to make sure that your dog obeys you and that you can always stay in control of your dog if you ever need to rely on it.
Training is about consistency and staying in charge, both of which can be challenging at first. If you need help, there are classes that you can enroll in to help you out!
Pitweilers also make great candidates for advanced training. This includes those competitions like dog shows and other obstacle courses. This keeps their brain active and their body, and it’s great for bonding, too!
A steady decision to be dominant over your dog
Pitweilers are naturally dominant, as mentioned. Sometimes it can be really challenging to stay dominant over them, but you need to prioritize this.
Once you submit to your dog’s preferences, it will be even harder to get back up as the alpha again! Make sure that you are determined to stay dominant over this strong-willed dog. It is an important decision that you should be ready for as an essential part of taking proper care of your dog.
Dedication to caring for your dog’s grooming
Thankfully, Pitweilers have short and low-maintenance fur. You can groom them once a week or once every two weeks. You’ll want to look at taking them to a groomer for a bath every 3-4 months, though. If you are set on doing it yourself, make sure you buy sensitive shampoo and other pet products.
Taking care of your dog’s ears, nails, and teeth
You’ll want to wipe your dog’s ears regularly to keep them free from infection. You’ll also want to clip their nails (or take them to a groomer) and get comfortable with brushing their teeth every few weeks. These all help prevent long-term health concerns that can make for expensive vet bills!
Regular and frequent exercise
Exercise is going to be a crucial part of properly caring for your new dog. They need at least 60 minutes of exercise a day, and many will need more than that. This can be a combination of walking, playing with toys, and even training — especially mentally engaging training sessions.
If you need suggestions on keeping this energetic dog occupied, your breeder or vet can help you out.
Is a Pitbull and Rottweiler mix dangerous?
This is what a lot of the public thinks. The breed itself is not dangerous unless it has been trained to be so. That is, an untrained dog (of any kind) is going to be potentially dangerous. This is part of why proper training will be so essential when you become a Pitweiler parent.
Make sure that you budge your funds and time to appropriate training and socialization for your new addition. This will help destroy some of the negative assumptions about this wonderful dog breed!
In short
Pitweilers are a cross-breed of Rottweiler and Pitbulls. They are intelligent, hyperactive, protective, and loving.
They are large dogs that can measure up to 18-25 inches (46-64cm) tall and weigh between 40-100 pounds (18-45kg) as adults.
They are the alpha dog and must be appropriately trained to help keep them properly cared for.
Being a Pitweiler parent can be challenging and take a lot of time. But, it is a rewarding choice for those that want a loveable family dog.
While there is a lot of bad press about them, Pitweilers are great family dogs with many positives to offer. When you understand how to turn the potential “cons” into pros, adding them to your family instantly becomes easier!
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