The Rottweiler can sometimes have, a largely underserved, formidable reputation. Their prowess in guard dog and protection duties can lead many to believe they are not an option as a domestic pet.
The Goldendoodle on the other hand was actively bred to be a bundle of love and affection. They are more likely to warmly welcome a potential intruder and happily engage in a game of tug than scare them off.
So what could possibly be the thinking behind crossing these two polar opposites? Never fear, we have done the legwork and gathered the available details to set out just what a Goldendoodle Rotweiller could offer up. So get comfy, grab a hot drink and read on to find out more below.
Table of Contents
Goldendoodle History
The Goldendoodle is a hybrid breed, created by crossing a purebred Poodle with a purebred Golden Retriever.
While there were likely accidental crossings of these two popular breeds many years prior, the first documented intentional breeding of a Goldendoodle was recorded in 1969. At this time the breed was developed to offer up a variation on the Golden Retriever, which was commonly used as a guide dog. Breeders discovered that crossing the Golden with a Poodle made for a curlier, lower shedding coat which was less problematic for those who required a guide dog but who also had sensitivity to dog hair and dander.
It wasn’t until the mid to late 1990s when the internet propelled a whole wealth of new and emerging Doodle hybrids into popularity, that the Goldendoodle really began to take off.
Fast forward to the common day and the Goldendoodle remains a favorite of many dog owners and Doodle fans the world over.[LN1]
Rottweiler History
The Rottweiler has some serious historical credentials. They can trace their roots all the way back to drover dogs marching alongside the armies of the Roman army.
While the specifics of where the breed originates are not 100%, it is widely believed that they come from an offshoot of Asian Mastiffs. The drover dog played a vital part in helping Roman foot soldiers to cover vast distances by protecting and herding the live cattle they were required to bring along.
But how do we get from marching Roman armies to a distinctly Germanic-sounding Rottweiler?
In the decades and centuries following the collapse of the Roman empire, the town of Rottweil in southern Germany, became a hub for livestock and grain markets. The butchers there continued to breed drover dogs for their strength in pulling carts and ability to guard herds which resulted in the development of the breed we recognize as the Rottweiler today.
As the world changed with the rise of railways and the industrial revolution of the 19th century, there was a diminished need for herding dogs like the Rottweiler, resulting in the breed being pushed nearly to extinction. Luckily the 20th century brought renewed demand for the Rottweiler as their strength, intelligence, and guard dog kudos meant they were enlisted into the ranks of police and military dogs. From here they made the jump to domestic companion dogs and have remained consistently popular ever since.
The modern-day Rottweiler often referred to as a “Rottie”, is a large breed that is bright, loyal, and make great guard dogs owing to their tendency to be territorial. They have short coats with distinctive black, tan, and/or liver markings.
What Names are there for a Goldendoodle Rottweiler Mix?
We already have a name for a Rottweiler Poodle cross, it has garnered the terms Rottie Poo or Rottle. Similarly, the Rottweiler has already been crossed with the Golden Retriever alone to create a Golden Rottie Retriever.
Alas, no term has been coined to cover when all three breeds are mixed. Here at Know Your Doodles we have put our thinking caps on and come up with the following possible monikers. We present for consideration the title of “Golden Rottie Doodle” or “Golden Rottie Poo”. Quite a mouthful either way I’m sure you will agree.
Why is this Cross Being Bred?
That is a bit of a challenging question, as our trawl of the available research and the internet suggest by and large this cross is not actively being bred. Forum postings mention occasional litters that appear to have occurred more by accident than by intention.
It is possible though, over time, breeders may turn to consider a Goldendoodle in place of a purebred Poodle when creating a Rottweiler Doodle cross. This could be in part due to the increasing availability of Goldendoodles. In addition, many people may perceive the Goldendoodle to be desirable over the purebred Poodle due to its potential to have a more outgoing nature and the softer variation of the curled Poodle coat.
Those who are considering a Rottweiler crossbreed are often looking to reduce the shedding associated with the Rottweiler and this could be achieved with the addition of either a Poodle or a Goldendoodle.
Is it an Ethical Cross?
In theory, a Goldendoodle Rottweiler mix is not necessarily any less ethical than any other Doodle hybrid. Some people may feel intentional crossing of more than two breeds creates too much variation as some factors such as weight, height, and temperament may be harder to predict.
In reality, there can be significant variation within a first-generation hybrid litter also. As always the biggest factor in ethical crossbreeding is ensuring appropriate treatment and health screening of the parent dogs.
The Benefits of a Goldendoodle Rottweiler Mix
The primary benefit of a Goldendoodle Rottweiler is creating a pup with the desired loyalty and watchdog credentials of a Rottweiler with significantly less shedding due to the addition of a Poodle cross coat type.
Choosing a Goldendoodle to cross over a Standard Poodle also affords the opportunity to select one that already displays the favored soft and gentle nature achieved in this cross. The blend of the loving and loyal Goldendoodle can soften some of the harsher temperament aspects of the Rottweiler.
The Cons of a Goldendoodle Rottweiler Mix
There is a potential that a Goldendoodle Rottweiler could experience health complications if a breeder chooses a much smaller Goldendoodle than the Rottweiler parent. Furthermore, as mentioned previously this cross is not being widely bred which reduces the opportunity to find an established and reputable breeder.
As there is limited information available on the cross some prospective owners may find the number of potential unknowns off-putting.
Golden Rottie Poo Size and Weight
We don’t have the luxury of being able to pull statistics on a breadth of fully grown Goldendoodle Rottweiler mixes as they just do not exist in any great number to date.
To give an idea of potential adult height and weight we can look to the parent breeds and give a general range.
The Rottweiler comes in one size only and is considered a large breed dog they can be between 23″ and 27″ tall and weigh a hefty 90lbs to 130lbs. Males are generally up to 15% bigger than females.
The Goldendoodle by comparison comes in three size variations dependent on the size of the Poodle used in the hybrid.
- Toy Goldendoodle: Less than 15″ and 10lbs to 25lbs
- Miniature Goldendoodle: 15″ to 20″ and 25lbs to 50lbs
- Standard Goldendoodle: 20″ to 26″ and 50lbs to 90lbs
With this in mind, it is indicated that a larger Standard Goldendoodle would make the best candidate for crossing with the Rottweiler. It would be anticipated that the resultant offspring would be in the region of 22″ to 27″ tall and could weigh in at up to the top end of the Rottweiler range of 130lbs when fully grown.
So not a pooch for compact apartment-style living.
Golden Rottle Color and Coat Types
A hybrid has the potential to take on the coloring of either of its parent breeds. The Rottweiler comes in rich variations of black and tan while the Goldendoodle comes in much more than just a golden tone. The addition of the Poodle line in the Goldendoodle opens up the full plethora of Poodle colors and markings. Realistically it is near impossible to resolutely predict the color of a Goldendoodle Rottweiler puppy.
There is a little more certainty in advising that the resultant offspring will display at least some variation on the curled, wavy low shedding coat associated with the Goldendoodle. Whereas a purebred Rottweiler coat type is very low maintenance requiring minimal brushing, the Goldendoodle Rottweiler mix will need regular brushing and an established grooming schedule.
Golden Rottle Health
For the most part, Doodle crosses have shown themselves to be a largely healthy dog line and there is nothing to suggest a Goldendoodle Rottweiler mix would differ. That being said there are some conditions common to both the Goldendoodle and Rottweiler which have the potential to be passed on. A few of the main ones:
- Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (bloat)
- Some eye problems (cataracts and retinal atrophy)
- Hip dysplasia
The good news is health screening of the parents can reduce the risk of some of these conditions and they are only possibilities not guarantees the resultant puppies will inherit the faulty genes.
Temperament of the Golden Rottie Poo
I like to think of a Goldendoodle Rottweiler mix as having a lovely balance of Rottweiler toughness and grit with a soppy Goldendoodle center.
Rottweilers by nature are more independent than the Goldendoodle and may not show affection as freely. Adding the Goldendoodle has the potential to temper this while adding Rottweiler to Goldendoodle has the potential to lessen some of the hyperactivity common in the Goldendoodle.
Sounds like a match made in heaven to me.
Exercise Needs of the Golden Rottle
This is not a breed for those who cannot commit to regular exercise. As both parent breeds are energetic and of larger build, this cross will require plenty of opportunities to burn off some energy.
It is reasonable to expect that a Goldendoodle Rottweiler cross will more than hold their own on a hiking trail and will enjoy the opportunity for play and agility type training. As a big breed, access to a fenced-in yard would be considered essential.
Feeding Requirements of the Goldendoodle Rotweiller Mix
It will come as no surprise but big dogs come with big appetites and a Goldendoodle Rottweiler cross will be no exception. While specific feeding requirements will vary in accordance with age, size, and activity levels, as a guide you can expect them to require between 2.5 and 3 cups of good quality dry dog food a day.