Although purebred dogs such as the Australian Shepherd and Rottweiler are among the top choices of many pet fanciers, more and more people are taking an interest in designer dog breeds.
An excellent example of this is the offspring of the two purebreds I formerly mentioned which is often addressed as the Australian Shepherd Rottweiler mix.
If this uniquely interesting Aussie Rottweiler mix caught your attention, then I recommend that you continue reading this guide to figure out whether they’re the right dog for you.
What Is an Australian Shepherd Rottweiler Mix?
The Aussie Rottie or Australian Shepherd Rottweiler mix is classified as a designer dog or a hybrid dog. In contrast to mutts, they are a result of deliberately mating an Australian Shepherd and a Rottweiler.
Are they more similar to Aussies or do they match their Rottweiler parent more?
Well, the answer to that lies in understanding each of their parents’ personalities and traits. As is with other mixes, it is quite hard to predict how they will turn out.
But to provide an overview of their major personality and traits, Aussie Rottweiler mixes are known to be fun to have around at home. They can be cunning and protective yet sweet-natured, lively, and hardworking at the same time.
What Does the Australian Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Look Like?
As mentioned a while back, the appearance of this hybrid is not set in stone. In other words, it can vary depending on the more dominant gene.
Since Aussies are medium-sized dogs weighing an average of 40 to 65 pounds while the massive Rottweilers weigh about 85 to 130 pounds, you should expect that their pup would become quite the large dog.
In general, an Aussie Rottie mix could weigh around 50 to 120 pounds and stand at about 20 to 25 inches.
See how much of a similarity they can get from each of their parents by checking out the photos below that are sourced from loving Aussie Rottie mix dog owners.
In these photos, you shall also learn about the possible coat colors that they can have.
Australian Shepherd Rottweiler Mix (Aussie Dominant)
Photo from @skippydoothedog (IG)
Here, you can see that the dog’s face resembles his Australian Shepherd parent more than the other. Also, this variation of the Aussie Rottie mix tends to have lengthier coats that are either straight or wavy.
Australian Shepherd Rottweiler Mix (Rottweiler Dominant)
Photo from @brodie_aussierottie (IG)
The Aussie Rottie mix above is much more identical to Rottweilers than he is with his Aussie parent. As this variation resembles Rottweilers closer, they can have such a distinctly strong and square muzzle and a little shorter mane.
Although some Aussie Rottie mixes could resemble one parent more over the other in terms of their physical appearance, there are more of them that don’t necessarily have dominant features from their parents.
Instead, they almost equally combine the features of both Australian Shepherds and Rottweilers. Commonly, though, they’re double-coated with medium-length coats while some may have lengthier mane if they resemble their Aussie parents more.
Here’s a list of their common coat colors for your review:
Black and Tan Aussie Rottweiler Mix
Photo from @justxxbrutus (IG)
This is the most common coat you’ll see from the Rottweiler Australian Shepherd mix. The base coat is usually black or grey with tan or brown markings which are clearly defined.
These tan/mahogany/rust markings are normally placed at certain parts of their body which include two spots over their eyes, cheeks, legs, and tails, and on their mane around their neck.
Red Aussie Rottweiler Mix
Photo from @lifewithcoda (IG)
Their base coat can either be a light brown to a darker brown and they have faded tan markings all over their body.
You’ll see this color much less frequently among the Aussie Rottie mix due to the recessive genes that are needed for this offspring and they are also more susceptible to more health issues including common eye disorders, hip or joint problems, and heart issues.
Merle Aussie Rottweiler Mix
Photo from @brewer_0518 (IG)
The merle Aussie Rottweiler mix is quite rare and this trait can be traced to their Aussie parents. Their entire coat is usually marbled with around three or more shades between black, grey, tan, and white.
As per their eye color, it can vary easily between the Rottweiler’s usual brown or dark brown eyes and the Aussies’ many possible eye colors including amber, green, pale blue, and hazel.
Some may even develop heterochromia—which is a condition more commonly found among Australian Shepherds.
History and Origin of Australian Shepherd Rottweiler Mix
The history of the Australian Shepherd Rottweiler mix is not that clear since there are no written documents that can prove when they started to exist or who purposefully mated them.
Thus, we are left to look at the history of their parents. Here are they:
Australian Shepherd Breed History
Fun fact! Australian Shepherds didn’t actually originate from Australia; rather, they were developed back in the 1800s in the United States to work as shepherding dogs on ranches.
How did this happen exactly? Let me start at the very beginning.
The Aussies’ progenitors are originally the Pyrenean Shepherd which has European origins. They are owned by the Basques or the indigenous people between Spain and France.
When this indigenous group reached the Australian continent, the herding dog they came with were crossed with Border Collies and other British imports. And so, when the Basques traveled to California, the ranchers thought that their dog is an Australian breed.
The Australian Shepherd we know today is perfected and refined in the United States.
They mostly work as herding animals serving as police dogs and guide dogs. Given their high energy levels and friendliness, Aussies also tend to be one of the best family dogs out there.
Rottweiler Breed History
Historically, Rottweilers were bred for protection and guarding work for the Romans as they traveled through Germany. Since they need tough and durable dogs, they utilized the Asian Mastiff in breeding the Rottweiler.
After their empire’s collapse, their dogs found themselves in Rottweil’s cattle town. Here they found a new role that is far different from being protectors.
They became responsible for moving herds from the people’s pasture to the market, so they were tagged as the “Butcher’s Dog of Rottweil.”
When railroad cattle cars were invented in the 1800s, Rottie’s role in livestock ended. They shifted to police work and being personal protectors. Some even use them as guide dogs for those who are visually impaired.
Considering the different jobs that the Rottie has played over time, its form doesn’t change much and it is still adhering to the breed’s standard which was drafted a long time ago.
Rottweilers stand massively at about 26 inches and weigh around 80 to 135 pounds. There could be a slight difference in their appearance depending on whether they’re American or German Rottweiler.
Size and Weight: How Big Does a Rottweiler Australian Shepherd Mix Get When Fully Grown?
With the Rottweiler’s massive stature and Australian Shepherd’s medium size, you should expect an Aussie Rottie when fully grown would probably take a huge space.
This is why it’s still recommended that you only get this crossbreed when you have enough space at your home such as a backyard or farmland.
To have a better illustration of how big the Rottweiler Australian Shepherd mix can get, here’s a table that you can use as a guide:
Aussie Rottweiler Mix Temperament: Do Aussie Rotties Make Good Family Dogs?
Photo from @brodie_aussierottie (IG)
Although some cases of crossbreeds have shown that they take more traits from one parent than the other, there isn’t really any bad trait that an Aussie Rottie mix can inherit.
As mentioned earlier, both Aussies and Rotties have pleasant personalities—from their charming yet protective nature. They’re also quite hardworking, smart, and curious dogs.
If the Rottweiler’s confident nature might throw you off a little bit, don’t worry because it’s likely that they inherit the Aussies’ friendliness too.
With these traits matching perfectly, Aussie Rottweiler mixes do make great family pets. However, note that they can be quite fun-loving, so they’re perfect for owners who have such an active lifestyle.
In any case, their temperament just like any other dogs will still highly depend on many factors including how you treat them, how they learn to socialize with others, and their genetic traits.
Australian Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Lifespan and Health Issues
Similar to many crossbreeds, a hybrid dog’s lifespan and possible health issues would always be a major concern. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get a perfectly healthy dog.
Since you’re breeding two different dogs, you should be aware that there could be a higher chance that they develop various health problems due to genetic abnormalities.
Here are some of the most common health issues that an Australian Shepherd Rottweiler mix could experience:
Hip Dysplasia: This is a common genetic health condition developed by energetic dogs where the socket and ball of the hip joints didn’t grow equally.
Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD): Usually inherited from their Rottweiler parent, this health issue involves deficient bone growth due to excess cartilage.
Hyperthyroidism: Although Aussie Rottweilers can be quite energetic, those with this condition tend to develop slower metabolic rates. When the immune system becomes abnormal due to this, it’s likely that your dog may even develop thyroid cancer.
Eye Problems: Among many eye problems that dogs may develop, cataract is the most common one for Aussierotties where their eyes turn cloudy and may result in blindness. Other possible eye problems may include colobomas, eyelid ectropion, progressive retinal atrophy, and collie eye anomaly.
Cardiovascular Problems: Heart issues are commonly inherited from both parents with the most common being aortic stenosis where a narrowing at the aortic valve may develop. Other common heart problems may include cardiomyopathy and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).
Canine Cancer: The most common cancer issues that an Aussie Rottweiler mix can develop include hemangiosarcoma—a cancer of the blood vessel walls—and lymphosarcoma caused by a harmful growth of lymphocytes in their body.
Thankfully, if you get your Aussie Rottie from a reputable breeder, their lifespan could stretch as much as 15 years.
Make sure that you only get your mixed dog from a professional breeder who offers health guarantees on puppies so that you can avoid expensive vet-related bills in the future.
How to Care for Your Rottweiler Australian Shepherd Mix’s Basic Needs?
Photo from @justxxbrutus (IG)
Since the Australian Shepherd Rottweiler mix is such a unique breed, there are ways to care for them that you should be aware of. Here are some of the basic needs that you can use as a guide:
Feeding and Diet
Aussie Rotties are quite a high-maintenance type of dog. It’s recommended that you feed them only high-quality dog food.
If you’re planning to cook for them, make sure that your home-cooked meal uses safe and healthy ingredients such as fish, blueberries, bread, cooked eggs, watermelon, etc. Here is a sample food guide on what dogs such as Aussies can and can’t eat.
Please note that it’s common for Rottweilers to get bloated which could easily be inherited by an Aussie Rottie so keep away from overfeeding your dog.
Drinking water and having a meal before or after strenuous playtime or exercise should also be avoided. Bring your dog to the vet immediately as soon as symptoms of severe bloating appear—retching without vomiting, pacing, and excessive drooling.
Cleaning and Grooming
In terms of cleaning and grooming, this can vary depending on which parent your Aussie Rottweiler has inherited their physical traits.
For instance, if your dog resembles their Aussie Shepherd parent more, then bathing is only necessary when they get dirty while brushing can be done once a week. With their medium-length coat, shedding is much less frequent because of their only one shedding season.
On the other hand, if your dog resembles their Rottweiler parent, then bathing should be done regularly accompanied by a weekly brushing.
During the spring and fall, it’s also more likely that they shed twice a year so it’s recommended that they get groomed regularly to keep the shedding under control.
Training and Exercise
Similar to any other dog, socializing them early on in life is crucial in training your pet. With Aussie Rottie’s strong prey drive and dominating nature, training is highly important to teach them to interact with others better and keep them in check at all times.
Since it can be trouble to train them, you can either hire a professional to do it for you or utilize a positive reinforcement technique to help with the training.
If you’re interested to see an Aussie Rottweiler that’s being trained by a professional K9 trainer, then check out this video:
1.5 yo Australian Shepherd/Rottweiler (Brody) | Best Va Dog Trainers | Off Leash K9 Training<a href="https://youtu.be/p0k1RvWoOyk" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fp0k1RvWoOyk%2F0.jpg" alt="1.5 yo Australian Shepherd/Rottweiler (Brody) | Best Va Dog Trainers | Off Leash K9 Training" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
Both parents of an Aussie Rottweiler are known for their active personalities, so you should also expect that your dog would inherit this trait too.
Aussie Rotties will need a fair amount of exercise including tasks such as walking and playtime. When playing with them, you can try teaching them new tricks at the same time.
How Much Does an Australian Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Cost? Puppy Prices and Expenses
The average cost of an Australian Shepherd Rottweiler mix puppy ranges from $1,000 to $2,000. However, depending on many factors such as breeder reputation, quality of parent breed, coat color, training received, etc., prices can still go up.
It’s also possible to get them for a lower price at around $700 if you’re able to find one from animal shelters or rescue homes that’s up for adoption.
You’ll only have to pay for adoption fees that generally include spaying, vaccinations, a vet wellness check, deworming, and other basic treatments.
Purchasing an Australian Shepherd Rottweiler mix is not cheap and so are the costs for raising them. Similar to raising a baby, you should always think about whether you’re fully ready to welcome a dog into your life.
Although it can be rewarding and warm most of the time, there are costs that you should take into consideration to make sure that they’re well-cared for.
The three expenses that you should prepare for include first-year expenses, lifetime monthly expenses, and other potential expenses. First-year expenses are always the most expensive which could range between $2,500 to $4,000.
Note that initial costs that cover basic necessary items for owning a dog are included in the first-year expenses as well.
Other potential costs that may arise from time to time due to various reasons include daycare services, pet walking services, pet grooming services, professional training fees, and emergency medical treatment fees.
Places to Find Australian Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Puppies for Sale and Adoption
There are multiple ways to own an Aussie Rottie puppy. You can either get them through adoption from animal rescues and shelters or purchase them from reputable breeders.
Here are some places where you can purchase an Australian Shepherd Rottweiler mix pup from breeders online:
Greenfield Puppies – Aussie Rottie pups purchased from this site are covered by a 30-day health guarantee and extended guarantees are offered by some breeders within their database. Greenfield Puppies strongly condemn puppy mills and make sure that their breeders follow standard laws and guidelines for safe cross-breeding.
PuppyFinder – Another online searchable database with puppies that are up for sale or adoption. Prices can vary widely on this website and remember to be wary of backyard breeders or puppy mills that usually sell unhealthy pups for almost half the price when searching.
If you’re planning to give a homeless Aussie Rottweiler mix a new home, then you can opt to adopt through these institutions instead:
Adopt-a-Pet – This is a non-profit adoption online advertising charity that helps dogs find their home through adoption.
Petfinder – This is an online searchable database for dogs and other animals up for adoption. They’re affiliated with a number of pet organizations and animal shelters across the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Dog Mixes and Breeds That Are Similar to Aussie Rottie
Since both Australian Shepherds and Rottweilers are pretty popular breeds, it’s common that they’re mated with other purebreds.
Many of these two parent breeds’ mixed offspring looked alike due to their similar physical traits such as coat length, color, facial structure, and body size.
For example, Aussie-related dog mixes such as Australian Retriever and Aussie German look so much alike to Aussie Rottweilers who resemble their Aussie parents more. Let’s look closely at these mixed breeds below:
Australian Retriever: This mixed breed originated from these two parent breeds: Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever. They’re known to be friendly and excellent family dogs. Similar to the Aussie Rottweiler mix, they also have quite a massive body and require an active lifestyle.
Aussie German: The German Australian Shepherd is a mixed breed between the two popular breeds, Australian Shepherd and German Shepherd. Similar to Aussie Rottweilers, their physical appearance is not the only trait that they share quite closely but also some of their personalities are the same such as their loyal and protective nature. They also require lots of exercise because of their active personality.
Whereas, Rottie-related dog mixes such as Rottsky and Golden Rottie tend to look extremely similar to Aussie Rottie mix dogs that resemble their Rottweiler parent more as seen in the photos below.
Rottsky: You’ll get this hybrid dog breed by mating a Rottweiler and a Husky. They’re known to be intelligent, energetic, independent, and loyal, which are common characteristics that you can find in Aussie Rottweilers as well.
Golden Rottie: Similar to Australian Retrievers, Golden Rotties are quite popular among hybrid dog fanciers. This mixed breed resulted from mating a Golden Retriever and a Rottweiler. They have strong guarding instincts and they’re quite massive in stature.
Commonly Asked Questions
Do Australian Shepherd Rottweiler Mixes Shed?
This adorable dog mix may be a moderate or heavy shedder depending on which parent they resemble more. Those who resemble their Rottweiler parents may shed less than those who take after their Aussie parents more.
Do Australian Shepherd Rottweiler Mixes Bark a Lot?
Depending on which trait they inherit, your Aussie Rottie mix can bark a lot or not.
Keep in mind that their Rottweiler parents are much calmer than Australian Shepherds, so if your dog inherited this trait from their Rottie parent, then they’ll probably be less inclined to bark.
Are Rottweiler Aussie Mixes Easy to Train?
As mentioned earlier, it can be quite a challenge to train an Aussie Rottweiler mix due to its dominant and stubborn nature.
However, they’re really smart so if you’re patient enough and use positive reinforcement techniques well, then it’s likely that you’ll have a fun time training them.
Final Thoughts: Is the Australian Shepherd Rottweiler Mix the Right Dog for You?
Australian Shepherd Rottweiler mix dogs are very intelligent and charming. They could be the right dog for you if you have an active lifestyle and adequate space for them to live.
Remember, this dog mix can be quite massive since their parents usually range between medium to large sizes.
In terms of appearance and personality traits, these will always depend on whether they inherit that particular trait from their Aussie or Rottweiler parent.
No matter what, Aussies and Rotties are quite a match, making them perfect as familial and guarding dogs. They tend to get their friendly nature from their Aussie parent whereas their confident nature comes from their Rottweiler parent.
In any case, if you’re interested in owning an Aussie Rottweiler mix pup, then you should opt to get it from a reputable breeder to make sure that they’re completely healthy since genetic abnormalities are more common for mating two different dog breeds such as an Aussie and Rottie.
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