Cross between Labrador and Rottweiler: Discover the Labrottie with Us
Cross between Labrador and Rottweiler: Discover the Labrottie with Us
Written by Silvia Capelli
September 8, 2023
In recent years, increasingly unique "breeds" have started to spread. In reality, these are not true breeds, but crosses between dogs to which exotic names are given.
This is the case with the Labrottie, which is a cross between a Labrador and a Rottweiler, two breeds that could not be more different from each other.
The Labrador is the absolute favorite among families with children, while the Rottweiler carries the unfortunate reputation of being the bad guy.
So, what happens when love arises between the two? Can we rest assured that the puppy will just be a clumsy, gentle giant, or is there more we need to know?
Continue reading to learn more about the Labrottie, its characteristics, and how to manage it in the best way.
The Rottweiler
The Rottweiler has not always been a fighting dog: while it's true that it started its career in the arena during Roman times, it's also true that things have changed significantly since then.
This dog was subsequently used as a herding dog, as it knew how to follow herds over long distances, and was tireless and devoted.
Contrary to popular belief, it is a dog with a sweet and calm character, and becomes very attached to the whole family.
It has a courageous and proud temperament, but is quite balanced. If properly socialized, it gets along well with both children and animals.
Training this breed should never be neglected. The fact that after its use as a herdsman it became a defense dog makes it quite dominant by nature.
It's not aggressive, it's simply protective. The development of its character often depends not on the dog, but on the owner's behavior.
Male Rottweiler height at the withers 61-68 cm, indicative weight 50 kg
Female Rottweiler height at the withers 56-63 cm, indicative weight 42 kg
The Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is a medium to large- sized dog originally from Canada, used in the past as a retrieving dog.
It was a valuable helper for fishermen, capable of swimming for hours in icy waters and retrieving fish that escaped the nets.
It's an animal with a lean and robust physique, strong muscles, and powerful limbs. It has a short, shiny coat, which can be yellow, brown, or black.
It's a very intelligent dog, loves to play, and when it moves, it seems a bit clumsy, but in reality, it's a skilled runner and an excellent swimmer.
It also gets along very well with its fellow dogs and is often chosen as a Pet Therapy dog. It's wise, balanced, and very courageous.
Although it needs a lot of exercise (at least an hour a day), it adapts well to living in an apartment. But it still needs to go out very often.
Male Labrador height at the withers 56-57 cm, indicative weight 30-37 kg
Female Labrador height at the withers 54-54 cm, indicative weight 22-32 kg
Cross between Labrador and Rottweiler: Physical Characteristics
As with all crosses, the physical characteristics of the Labrottie are not standardized. Each puppy, once grown, can differ slightly from the others.
Generally, this dog reaches a height at the withers of about 54-68 cm, with an indicative weight varying for males and females between 25 and 50 kg.
The coat can be yellow, black, or brown, and on the muzzle, it may have the classic Rottweiler markings, or not.
The fur is short, shiny, and well-distributed over the body. And it has drooping ears, as the short ears of the Rottweiler are not natural, but are cropped for aesthetic reasons.
The Character of the Labrottie
The character of the Labrottie is very similar to that of the Labrador Retriever: generally, these dogs are playful, affectionate, and have a very high energy level.
But as already specified, we are talking about crosses, and while it's true that each individual has its own personal character, each breed has a more or less defined one, whereas in this case, we have no certainties.
Since even the Rottweiler, if socialized, is not aggressive, we are unlikely to have a puppy with a difficult character, but an educational path with an expert is still recommended.
The Labrottie is very active and needs a lot of exercise: it loves to run and adores swimming, any physical activity is congenial to it.
But it has a strong need to relate to the family, because if left alone for too long it could develop destructive behaviors.
An absolute no to those who adopt it as a guard dog to leave it alone on an isolated property, as it needs a lot of company. And it's better to adopt it as a first dog.
Diseases of the Labrador Rottweiler Mix
Crossbreeds generally enjoy good health, but in this case, the puppy might suffer from some genetic diseases typical of its parent breeds:
Gastroenteritis
Aortic Stenosis, a disease that causes narrowing of the aorta
Hypothyroidism
Addison's Disease, a dysfunction of the adrenal gland
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia, bone malformations that cause lameness and joint pain
Von Willebrand Disease, a condition that slows blood clotting
Gastric Torsion, which if not surgically treated urgently can be fatal
Osteosarcoma, a type of cancer that affects bones
Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis, a condition that affects the nose of the Labrador, giving it an abnormal appearance and thickness
Muscular Dystrophy, which causes weakness, muscle spasms, and respiratory difficulties
Grooming the Labrottie
The parents do not require much effort for coat maintenance, and consequently, neither does the Labrottie.
Both have short fur, which they shed throughout the year: to counteract this inconvenience, it's necessary to keep the coat well brushed, and do so frequently.
Then, just give Fido a nice bath when needed (no overdoing it!) and he will always look perfect.
It's better to trim the nails often: being a playful dog and quite lively, it might accidentally scratch someone.
Feeding the Rottweiler-Labrador Cross
Kibble is the simplest option, easy to dose and long-lasting.
An adult Labrottie should have two meals a day, served in the right amounts for weight, level of exercise, and age.
For those who prefer a more controlled diet, cooking for the dog is not difficult. Generally, it's enough to choose simple primary products to be consumed raw or boiled, and divided as follows:
At least 50% protein
25% carbohydrates
25% vegetables
To learn more about dog nutrition, read our helpful guide:
“Homemade Diet for the Dog”
Lifespan of a Labrottie
Like its parents, this dog has a life expectancy of about 10-14 years.
Who is the Rottweiler Labrador Mix Recommended For?
Certainly, for those who have experience with dog breeds that are considered difficult (yes, you will have to manage not only the dog but also people who are afraid of the dog when it approaches!).
For those who have a lot of time to dedicate to it, and the right space for it to run and release all the energy typical of this cross.
Perfect also for those who live near water, as this dog loves it. If you have other pets, it's better to test it before signing for adoption, especially if it's an adult specimen adopted from a shelter.
This breed is uncommon in Italy, but if you like it, you might also consider the Labrabull. Discover these breeds and many others on khani.it
Author's Note
The dog described in this Blog Post is a crossbreed, it does not have breed standards and consequently, the characteristics of the puppies can vary from what is described.
For this reason, the photos in this article that represent a cross between a Labrador and a Rottweiler may differ from others found online.
If you intend to adopt one, know that as an adult it might not resemble its siblings, and that each puppy could be unique and different.
