12 Mesmerizing Facts About the Rottweiler Lab Mix (AKA Labrottie)
Credit: Tim Wilson / CC BY
Sometimes, it is not easy finding the perfect dog for us. It depends on our lifestyle, the amount of free time we have, and on our means. After all, some dogs need more care and money than others. But, most of them (if not all), are worth it, and the Rottweiler Lab mix is definitely one of those dogs. This mixed breed makes for a beautiful, adorable dog. He is the perfect family pet and will make your life a little bit happier. The Rottweiler Lab mix might scare some people, but he is actually one of the most adorable dogs you will ever meet. Fun, friendly, and loving, he is truly a gem to keep around the house.
Also known as the Labrottie, the Rottweiler Lab mix is a talented and fun dog who makes the perfect guard or watchdog. Big and impressive, he can definitely protect you from danger, and will gladly do so. This mixed breed needs a lot of care and attention though, so you need to think it thoroughly before welcoming one of these beautiful beasts into your home.
So, if you want to learn more about the Rottweiler Lab mix, keep on reading. Take a seat, make yourself comfortable, and maybe grab a cookie or two, this is going to be a long ride!
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Who are the Labrottie’s parents?
As always, before diving into the heart of the subject, we should learn more about our mixed breed’s origins. As you know, the Rottweiler Lab mix is the love child (well, this is a metaphor of course) of a Rottweiler and a Labrador Retriever. Both of these dogs are loyal, strong dogs that will love you no matter what. This makes their cross, the Labrottie, a magnificent specimen worthy of our attention.
So, let’s learn more about the Rottweiler Lab mix’s purebred parents, shall we?
The Rottweiler
Originally from Germany, the Rottweiler is a powerful dog with the heart of a softie. Strong and hard-working, he was used by farmers to pull carts and drive cattle. You can definitely see just how powerful this dog is by looking at his build: his broad chest and muscled body inspire fear, but also respect, not only among dogs but among people as well (no one in their right mind would fight against a Rottweiler, let’s be honest here). A lot of people are scared of Rottweilers and associate these majestic animals with violence. But, a well-trained Rottweiler will always be calm, composed, and confident.
The Rottweiler is usually wary of strangers, which makes him the perfect guard dog. Not only can he be a great police or military dog, he is also an amazing family dog. Welcoming a Rottweiler in your house means having a protector who will do anything to keep you away from danger. This all comes down to this beautiful breed’s instincts, as the Rottweiler will ferociously protect you if he senses that you are in any danger. This is why it is always recommended to socialize and train your Rottie early into his puppyhood, so he doesn’t end up hurting someone by mistake. This breed also needs to be kept busy by doing some sort of job, if not, your Rottweiler might end up bored. And when this dog is bored, it can turn into a disaster, as he might become dangerous, and bully the people and other pets around him. When a Rottweiler is not well-trained, he might become overly protective, and this will definitely end up having some bad consequences.
Because of his nature as well, your Rottweiler might try to be the leader of the pack at home, especially if you haven’t asserted your dominance over him. Because he is such a strong and powerful dog, this is, without doubt, a recipe for disaster.
But, don’t get too scared too quickly. Rottweilers, in their nature, are not vicious or mean, they are just extremely protective of what they cherish. When they are properly trained and socialized, Rotties can be incredibly sweet and loving pooches to their family. And, it doesn’t hurt that with their intelligence and wits, Rottweilers are easy to train.
Rottweilers have a bad reputation in some places and are even a banned breed in many cities around the US. This was mostly due to some accidents that involved this misunderstood breed. We can’t do much about this apart from making sure our Rottweilers are trained and can respect and obey people. Another surprising fact about the Rottweiler is that he is quite dependent. He is not a dog that you can just forget about. He will demand care and attention, and if you are up to the task, you will be rewarded by a loyal companion for life.
All in all, Rottweilers are some of the most misunderstood dog breeds in the world. To people who don’t know much about dogs, they are scary, dangerous, and aggressive. But, as long as a Rottweiler is trained to be well-behaved, he can be the perfect dog to keep around the house.
To learn more about Rottweilers, here is our ultimate guide.
The Labrador Retriever
Don’t you want to protect this smile? Because I do!
Ah, the Labrador Retriever, America’s original (and only, at least for me) sweetheart. This beautiful dog is a child favorite. Friendly and playful, he fares well with everyone, from your snappy little sister to the neighbor’s dog. This breed is famous for its easy-going nature and calm temperament, which makes it one of the best family dogs around. This, though, doesn’t mean that the Labrador Retriever can’t be a badass. Extremely athletic and muscular, this beautiful dog is perfect for competitions and shows. He is also extremely energetic, happy, and smart, which makes him fairly easy to train.
Thanks to his devotion and people-oriented nature, the Labrador Retriever has never found it difficult to find a job. He is only happy when he is busy and will become destructive once bored. So, if you don’t want your Labrador Retriever to destroy your furniture or happily chew on your shoes, make sure to give him plenty of exercise.
Thanks to his tremendous wits, the Labrador Retriever is the perfect working-dog. He can be a companion for handicapped people, assisting them on their daily tasks. He is an excellent therapy dog and can even be a search and rescue dog if trained for it. But, the Labrador Retriever doesn’t fare well as a watchdog. He is too friendly, and he would rather greet and play around with an intruder than keep him at bay.
All in all, the Labrador Retriever is a handsome fella with a heart of gold and the temperament of a puppy. Even when mixed with other breeds (such as the Boxer or the Husky), the mixed breed retains the Lab’s gentle and sweet nature. He is beautiful, loving, friendly and affectionate, and he definitely deserves our attention more than anything.
If you want to learn more about the Labrador Retriever, click here.
Now that we have learned about the Rottweiler Lab mix’s purebred parents, let’s dive into the heart of the subject. Who is the Labrottie?
Facts about the Rottweiler Lab mix
When breeders started thinking about cross-breeding a purebred Rottweiler with a purebred Labrador Retriever, they didn't want to create a cute, teacup designer dog. Instead, they wanted to give life to a helpful, mild-mannered, and friendly family or working dog, and they definitely succeeded with the Labrottie.
The Labrottie is famous for being one of the most popular mixed breeds around, and it is easy to understand why. He retains the best qualities of both his purebred parents, which makes him a winning combination of strength, empathy, and playfulness.
But before adopting or purchasing a Rottweiler-Lab mix, there are a few things that you should know about this popular crossbreed.
Here we go, folks!
You won’t be able to know how big your Rottweiler Lab mix will be until he is fully grown
Sure, you can always try and guess the size of a Rottweiler-Lab mix is going to be. But you will never truly be able to know how big or how small your mixed breed dog is going to be. At least, not until he has reached adulthood. It doesn't hurt to look at the stats though.
As you might already know, the Rottweiler and the Labrador Retriever are completely different dogs with different sizes. While the Rottweiler is considered a big dog breed (he is massive, usually weighing up to 110 pounds and being as tall as 27 inches), the Labrador Retriever is considered a medium-sized one (usually weighing between 65 and 80 pounds with a height up to 24 inches).
This means that your Rottweiler Lab mix could be either big, medium-sized, or somewhere in between the two. So, if you are not looking for a big dog breed, it might be better to avoid this mixed breed. Most Labrotties, though, fall somewhere in the middle, just big enough to be considered medium-sized.
The Rottweiler Lab mix’s coat might come in different colorings
Just like every other cross breed, Your Labrottie’s coat is not a sure thing. His fur’s color might change as he grows up and becomes an adult, getting darker or lighter. Usually, it is easy to guess what your Rottweiler Lab mix’s color will be if you have met the purebred parents before. Your Labrottie will either have the same coat color as his Rottweiler parent or as his Labrador parent, or he can even have a mix of both.
Usually, though, the Rottweiler Lab mix’s coat comes in a number of colors: black with markings, chocolate, and yellow. It all depends on the purebred parents’ coats.
The Rottweiler Lab mix’s coat is quite easy to maintain
Since both the purebred parents have low maintenance coats, it is only fair to guess that the Labrottie’s coat will be easy to take care of as well.
Both the Labrador Retriever and the Rottweiler have short coats that can be groomed easily. As a result, the Rottweiler Lab mix has a short coat that is fairly easy to take care of as well. This means that this mixed breed’s coat only needs to be brushed once a week.
But, you should keep in mind that Labrador Retrievers do shed a lot, especially during certain times of the year. So, always have a vacuum in hand, just in case. This also means that for a few weeks, you will need to brush your Labrottie’s coat more regularly, to keep shedding minimal.
This little detail also means that the Rottweiler Lab mix is not a hypoallergenic dog. So, if you can’t be around dog hair without sneezing fifty times every ten seconds, it would be better to adopt another mixed breed (such as the Chorkie).
Your Rottweiler Lab mix has to be bathed once a month
When well-trained, the Rottweiler Lab mix can be the perfect family dog.
Credit: Justin P Lambert / CC BY
The Rottweiler Lab mix is a curious and active dog, so he will always find a way to get himself dirty. He might play with mud or just run so much that his whole body will be reeking of sweat. So, make sure to bathe your Labrottie monthly, using a special shampoo for dogs (this is especially important for this crossbreed, as your Labrottie might inherit his Rottweiler parent’s sensitive skin). If you are not sure what kind of shampoo you need, you can check out our review of the best dog shampoos on the market here. This is bound to give you an idea about the products out there.
Make sure to trim your dog’s nails if they do not get worn out naturally (usually, with this mixed breed, they do). You can either do it yourself using a nail trimmer made for dogs or use the services of a professional.
As for the teeth, it is recommended to brush them at least once a week. This is not only to prevent bad odors but also to keep your dog's teeth protected from some health issues. You can either use dog toothpaste that you can buy online or in any pet store or make your own DIY toothpaste.
The Rottweiler Lab mix can be a sweetheart
Usually, the Rottweiler Lab mix is an outgoing, kind, and pleasant dog. Protective and loyal, he will do anything to keep you and your family safe. He is extremely smart, due to the fact that both his purebred parents are intelligent dogs. When it comes to strangers, he could either be friendly (if he’s more of a Lab than a Rottweiler) or aloof to them (if he’s more of a Rottweiler). With mixed breeds, you can never really know what kind of temperament they will have. Keep in mind, though, that dogs, just like people, are unique and have their own personality.
One thing is sure though: the Labrottie is a wonderful companion. But, he does need a lot of care and might develop separation anxiety if he is left alone for too long or not given enough attention.
The Rottweiler Lab mix might not fare well with other pets or people
Despite his sweet and easy-going personality, the Rottweiler Lab mix does not really get along with other pets or strangers. For this reason, it is important to start training and socializing your Labrottie as soon as you welcome him into your house.
The Rottweiler Lab mix could be dangerous to children
The Rottweiler Lab mix is not a vicious dog, but he is still quite aggressive, especially if he is not properly trained. It is quite famous that Rottweilers have been responsible for a lot of dog attacks during these last years. This is mostly because these dogs were not well-trained and socialized.
Since your Rottweiler Lab mix might inherit his Rottweiler’s parent temperament, you should keep him at bay from small children.
Socializing and training a Rottweiler-Lab mix might be easier than you thought
The Rottweiler Lab mix is a smart, loving, loyal dog. When raised properly, he can be the perfect family dog. But, this dog needs a veteran and not a first-time dog owner.
The best way to train your Rottweiler Lab mix would be by using positive reinforcement, treats, and praise. This helps minimize your pooch’s aggressiveness.
As for socialization, make sure to introduce your Rottweiler Lab mix to as many dogs and people as possible at a very young age. This helps your dog learn that not everyone else is a threat, and thus, makes him less likely to attack a stranger just because he’s afraid of them.
Having new visitors at home every day when your dog is still a puppy can be a good way to socialize him. All in all, the more a dog is used to being around strangers and other pets, the better it is.
Here is a helpful video that shows you how you can start training your puppy:
The Rottweiler Lab mix needs a lot of exercise
Because this mixed breed has a high potential for obesity, exercising is important for it. Never forget to take your Rottweiler Lab mix on at least two long walks every day (for a minimum of 30 minutes for each walk). The Labrottie is very energetic and will need something to spend that energy on. Playing games such as fetch and catch will keep him occupied. This is also why this dog doesn’t fare well in small apartments or houses, he needs at least a backyard where he can run around and play. So, if you live in a small place, maybe adopt a dog breed that’s better suited for it.
The Rottweiler Lab mix loves to eat
First of all, you should know that you absolutely cannot indulge your Rottweiler Lab mix’s food cravings. As I have already stated before, this mixed breed gains weight easily, which is why it is primordial to monitor his food intake.
A diet of high-quality dog food, as well as fruits and vegetables, is perfect to keep your pooch perfectly healthy and happy. 4 or 5 cups of dry food a day is the way to go, and make sure to split this amount into three feedings per day.
The Rottweiler Lab mix can suffer from some health issues
Despite the fact that mix dog breeds are usually healthier than purebred ones, it is still possible for your Rottweiler Lab mix to inherit some health issues from his parents. Here are some common health issues that you will need to keep an eye on:
All in all, if you give your Rottweiler Lab mix a healthy diet and a good amount of exercise, he will get to live a long and healthy life. Of course, never skip his visits to the vet, and always make sure his shots are up to date.
Finally, the Rottweiler Lab mix isn’t really cheap
Adopting a dog is always cheaper than purchasing a puppy, and you are always sure that you are saving a pooch who actually needs a home. Though, if you still want to purchase a Rottweiler-Lab mix puppy from a breeder, make sure to go to a reputable one. Usually, a Labrottie puppy would cost between 350$ and 600$.
Conclusion
The Rottweiler Lab mix is a massive and majestic dog. Loyal, protective, and loving, he will do everything for you and your family, as long as you treat him well. When he is properly trained and socialized, the Labrottie can be the perfect house dog.
About the Author Houda Laabadi
A dog lover!
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