If you have an active lifestyle and are looking for a big dog that will match your energy, a good option is to get yourself the Labrador Rottweiler Mix. So, what is a Labrador Rottweiler Mix?
A Labrador Rottweiler Mix is what you get from crossbreeding the highly protective Rottweiler with the friendly and free-spirited Labrador Retriever. The Labrador Rottweiler Mix is also known as a Rottador, Labweiler, Rottwador, Rott’n Lab, or Rotten Lab.
As cute as its alternate names can sound, the Labrador Rottweiler Mix can be a bit of a demanding dog. Therefore, it is important to know all you can about this dog breed before making the decision to bring this pooch into your life. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you can expect from the Labrador Rottweiler Mix, including how much they cost, how to take care of them, their personality, and so on. But first, it’s important to know if the size of this doggie is suitable for you.
How Big Do Lab Rottweiler Mixes Get?
Size
The Rottweiler Lab Mix, also called a Labrottie, is a generally big dog, since it comes from big parents as well.
An adult Rottweiler Lab Mix can weigh between 65 and 110 lbs, and has a shoulder height of 24 to 27 inches.
While most Rottweiler Lab Mixes will fall near the middle of this spectrum, you can’t tell how big your Labrottie will get till they reach adulthood, which would be too late. This makes the Labrottie suitable for people who are comfortable with big dogs.
Appearance
The appearance of the Labrador Rottweiler Mix will largely depend on the parent that it takes after the most.
However, it is common for a lot of Labrotties to have the stocky, muscular body of the Rottweiler, coupled with the Lab’s lovely face, long muzzle, and cute, floppy ears. Your Labrottie puppy will typically have brown, amber, or hazel eyes and a black or brown nose.
Coat
Both the Lab and the Rottie have double coats, and therefore, the Rottie Lab Mix will also have a double coat with smooth and soft furs of short to medium length. Fortunately, their short coats do not require lots of maintenance.
The coat color of your Rottweiler Lab Mix puppy will also depend on the color of the parents. Whereas Rotties are usually black or tan in color, Labs can be black, yellow, or chocolate. A Labrador Rottweiler Mix puppy will typically have a bi-colored coat with a combination of these colors.
How Long Do Rottweiler Lab Mixes Live?
Lifespan
Before committing to a new pet, you definitely want to know how long they’re going to be part of your life. So, how long do Labrador Rottweilers live?
Both parents of the Rottweiler Lab Mix do not have a very long lifespan, which means you can expect the same of the Labrottie. Rottie’s live for about 8 to 9 years. Labrador Retrievers, on the other hand, will live for about 10 to 12 years.
Depending on how healthy your pooch is, you can expect your Rottie Lab Mix to have a lifespan of about 9 to 12 years.
While the Lab Rottweiler Mix is definitely healthier than its pedigree parents, there is still a slight risk that some of the health issues of its parents could be passed on to the Labrottie. Some of the common health problems that affect the Labweiler include:
Hip Dysplasia
Being big dogs, it is not surprising that hip dysplasia is common to both the Rottie and the Lab. Hip dysplasia is a condition that results in partial dislocation of the hip joint. It is also commonly caused by genetics, though it can also be caused by obesity.
Exercise-Induced Collapse
Exercise-induced collapse is a condition that results in your dog collapsing while engaging in intense physical activity. This condition is common among Labs, and can sometimes be passed to Labrotties.
Other Common Health Conditions
Other health concerns for Labrotties include bloat, neuroaxonal dystrophy, skin allergies, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, ear infections, obesity, and elbow dysplasia.
How Much Is A Labrador Rottweiler?
Another important thing you need to know is how much Labrotties cost. The costs of owning a Rottie Lab Mix can be broken down into three categories.
Puppy Price
If you purchase your pup from a reputable breeder, the Rottweiler Lab Mix price will range anywhere from as low as $350 to as high as $800.
Sometimes, the price of a Rottweiler Lab Mix puppy could get to $1,000, though this is very uncommon.
It is possible to minimize your costs by acquiring an adult Rottie Lab Mix from a dog shelter or rescue center. With this option, however, you have no way of knowing whether the pooch was properly socialized or trained, which is very important with this dog breed, especially if you have children.
Other Initial Costs
On top of the Rottweiler Lab Mix puppy price, you should also be ready to spend about $500 on other initial costs, such as getting your new four-legged buddy vaccinated and dewormed, as well as purchasing requirements like a leash and collar, bowls, a crate, and so on.
Annual Medical Costs
Every year, you should also expect to spend about $480 to $600 on medical expenses, such as annual shots, flea prevention, regular medical checkups, buying pet insurance, and so on.
Annual Non-Medical Costs
You will also need to factor in the non-medical costs associated with owning a dog. They include license costs, food costs, cost of toys and treats, training costs, and other such costs. You can expect to spend between $500 and $600 on these costs every year.
Are Labrotties Dangerous? Temperaments Of Labrador Rottweiler Mixes
Rotties have a bit of a bad reputation as very aggressive dogs, so something you are definitely asking yourself is, “are Rottweiler Lab Mix good dogs?” Let’s check out their temperament.
Loyal And Protective
The temperament of the Rottweiler Lab Mix is a combination of the temperaments of its parents. Labrotties will have the loyal personality of the Lab, combined with the protectiveness of the Rottweiler.
It’s good to note that Rottweilers were bred as herding and guard dogs, and if your Labrottie inherits much of its temperament from the Rottie side of the family, the pooch can have the tendency to show aggression. This is especially true if your Labrottie was not properly socialized.
Unfortunately, this tendency to show aggression means that Rottweiler Lab Mixes are not very suitable for families with children. While it is possible to tame the aggression through early socialization, if you want a fido that is good with young kids, it is better to go for a different breed.
Intelligent
One of the key reasons behind the popularity of the Lab and the Rottie is their high intelligence as illustrated on Stanley Coren’s list. This intelligence, combined with the Lab’s eager-to-please personality, makes Labrotties very easy to train.
Ideally, you should train and socialize your Labrottie from a very young age. The older they get, the harder it will become to train them.
Attention Loving
Labrotties also love lots of attention. They don’t like being left alone. Being left alone triggers boredom and separation anxiety, which can manifest themselves through destructive behavior.
Does Labrottie Shed? Grooming Tips For Labrador Rottweiler Mixes
Shedding
The Rottweiler Lab Mix is not a hypoallergenic breed. They are moderate shedders without a lot of grooming requirements. Brushing your dear fido once a week should be enough.
The best tool to use for this is the FURminator Undercoat Tool, which is great for reaching through to the undercoat and ensuring that the natural oils are properly distributed all over your canine buddy’s coat.
When your furry buddy is shedding, you’ll find furs all over your house, so it is important to have a vacuum to help rid your house of the furs. I recommend that you go for the iRobot Roomba i3+, which is purposely designed for homes with pets.
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Bathing
Bathing can deplete the natural oils on your doggie’s coat and dry out their skin, so baths should not be given frequently. Giving your canine buddy a bath every two months is okay.
To avoid damaging your fido’s skin, use pet-specific shampoos like the Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner, which helps preserve the natural oils on your pooch’s coat.
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Other Grooming Tips
Other things that you can do to keep your four-legged buddy clean are to brush their teeth several times a week to prevent infections and bad odor, regularly clean the ears to prevent infections, and have a pet groomer clip your doggie’s nails once in a while.
If you decide to trim the nails yourself, don’t cut them too short, since this could be painful for your furry friend.
Related Questions
Do Rottweilers Get Along With Labradors? Yes. Rottweilers will get along perfectly with Labradors, particularly if both were properly socialized and trained from a young age. Labs make good companions for Rottweilers because they are intelligent and friendly, they have high energy levels to match those of the Rottweiler, and they are relatively big in size.
Do Rottweilers Shed More Than Labs? No, Rottweilers do not shed more than Labs. However, none of the two breeds is hypoallergenic. Labrador Retrievers are known to be heavy shedders, particularly during shedding season. This is because of their thick double coats. Rottweilers, on the other hand, are moderate shedders, despite having a double coat.
Which Is Better Rottweiler Or Labrador? If you want a low-maintenance dog that is super friendly and is good with kids, you should go for the Labrador. You will also love their ease of training. If, on the other hand, you want a big and highly active dog that will make a good guard dog, you should go for the Rottweiler.
