8 Things To Know Before Getting a Rottweiler Pitbull Mix

The Pitweiler is a cross between two of the most popular dog breeds in the US, but is the Pitbull Rottweiler mix really the perfect fit for you?

This mix seems like the ultimate cross between two headstrong dog breeds and many potential dog owners around the world like the medium to large height and muscular build.

We’ll dive deeper into the points below to give you a good idea of whether or not you should look further into this mixed breed.

1. Trainability
2. Exercise/Strengths
3. Temperament
4. Leadership
5. Grooming/Coat
6. Size
7. How Much Do Pitweilers Cost?
8. Diet

That being said, it’s important to know that while rescuing a crossbreed is totally fine, I’d generally advise against getting a puppy from a breeder.

Crossbreeds are always a genetic gamble and the temperament might not turn out as expected, not to mention any health risks.

Also, Pitbull is often used as an umbrella term that covers the following breeds:

• American Pit Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Staffordshire Bullterrier

For the purpose of this article, we’ll cover the American Pit Bull Terrier type.

That’s apart from the fact that many people argue that the APBT and the Amstaff are closely related as well as the noticeable physical and sometimes characteristic differences.

Let’s dive in.

Lifespan	8-13 years
Weight	45-110 pounds (20-50 kg)
Height	18–25 inches (46-64 cm)
Activity Level	High

Is The Pitweiler Trainable?

After noticing that the AKC describes the Rottweiler as “agreeable” and that the American Pitbull Terrier is often described as strong-willed, one might not think they’re easy to train.

However, many Rottweilers are used as working dogs on the police force and Pitbulls are known for their clownish and obedient character who love working with and for their handler.

So the resulting Rottweiler Pitbull mix is very strong-willed and at times stubborn but generally agreeable in training.

These breeds are very smart but as always, temperament and whether or not an individual is stubborn often depend on the breeding lines.

How To Exercise a Rottweiler Pitbull Mix

Surely a mix between these two strong and muscular dog breeds needs plenty of exercise.

You’re right, but even though these two dog breeds can come in very high energy states, breeding can definitely achieve milder versions of them.

Some even go as far as to breed in the opposite direction to make working breeds more suitable for families.

However, Pitweiler should never be total couch potatoes (let’s not count all the naps after proper exercise) and giving them a purpose as well as exercising their mind is key to happy and satisfied canine.

The Rottweiler Pitbull mix is quite active and needs extensive physical and mental exercise at least twice a day.

Temperament

Are Pitbull Rottweilers mixes good dogs? Yes, Rottweilers and Pitbulls can be very loving towards humans.

The foundation of everything is responsible breeding (one could argue about this with mixed breeds), training and a healthy bond.

However, if you’re having lots of strangers around or other dogs, you might want to make sure to test these qualities before you bring home a rescue.

Rottweilers are known to be very reserved with strangers although I can attest that my purebred female Rottie is very good with them and she’s only ever really suspicious if there’s really something to be suspicious of.

Pitbulls are known to be high-strung and might not get along with every other dog.

Due to their strong nature, a Rottweiler Pitbull mix is often not the best breed to visit the dog park if your idea of quality time is letting the dog run around off-leash without any supervision.

Like any dog breed, with proper exercise and relationship building, this crossbreed can be a great fit for families though.

Leadership

Living with a headstrong and courageous dog can sometimes entail challenging situations.

Dog owners interested in this breed should have some level of experience with dogs and know how to train them properly.

Disciplining and teaching obedience does not mean harsh punishments by any means.

Rather, this breed needs a loving and understanding handler who understands the intricacies of being a softie in the body of a big boy.

Balanced training with a focus on positive reinforcement is the most common approach but whether you want to train with food, toys, clicker, whatever is totally up to you.

All the little details depend on the furry individual across from you.

Teaching manners and basic behavior patterns applies to all dog breeds though and should be taught early on.

Grooming a Rottweiler Pitbull Mix

Many people love the typical short and stiff coat of the APBT due to how easy it is to maintain.

Not only are there lots colors to choose from but there’s also a wide variety of really shiny coat types.

The Rottweiler has a medium-length coat as well as an undercoat.

Even though the coat is often described as coarse, I’d definitely say it can feel silky smooth at times. Not as smooth as some other fluffy dog breeds though.

Due to the impact of the Rottie’s coat color genetics, the coat color of a Pitweiler will most likely be black and tan with a less vibrant tan color.

The Rottweiler Pitbull mix is relatively easy to groom and only requires regular brushing. Expect this crossbreed to shed more twice a year.

How Big Does A Rottweiler Pitbull Mix Get?

You can expect a Rottweiler Pitbull mix to have the following size and weight: Height: 18–25 in (46-64 cm) | Weight: 45-110 lbs (20-50 kg)

The Pitbull Rottweiler mix is a medium to large mixed breed with a muscular and solid physique.

While the span between males and females is quite large for the Rottweiler, Pitbulls have less of difference in size between the genders.

Here’s the Rottweiler standard:

Male – Height: 24-27 inches (61-69 cm) | Weight: 110-132 lbs (50-60 kg)

Female – Height: 22-25 in (56-63 cm) | Weight: 77-105 lbs (35-48kg)

It’s harder to find size estimates for the American Pitbull Terrier. Since the breed is not recognised by the AKC, we’ll take the estimates by veterinary associations.

Height: 17–21 in (43-53 cm) | Weight: 30-60 lbs (14-27 kg)

As always, males tend to be on the larger and heavier side of these size estimates and while 18 inches might be considered medium for a female, it’s relatively small for a male.

How Much Do Pitweilers Cost?

Since it’s recommend to only get a Rottweiler Pitbull mix from rescue organisations, the cost should be between $100-$300 for a rescue dog.

However, many breeders are demanding unrealistic prices for these dogs who are essentially crossbreeds.

Depending on your location, a purebred Rottweiler can definitely cost $2,000 – $3,000 but that’s with the proper health testing, socialisation, fees for a proper mate, papers approving the heritage, and so on.

Mixed breeds often introduce the health risks from both dog breeds and in terms of temperament, these two dog breeds might not be the absolute best fit for each other.

To avoid getting scammed, only buy from breeders fulfilling these criteria.

Diet

When it comes to diet, I personally prefer a raw diet for my purebred Rottweiler, but it’s also possible to feed a high-quality freeze-fried or dehydrated raw dog food can work.

It’s also possible to feed a high-quality kibble or wet food diet but to make sure it’s really high-quality you can check our resources.

Do you have a Pitweiler? Share with us your experiences in the comments below!

Disclaimer: I’m opposed to deliberate cross-breeding of any glorified designer dog breed. The resulting dog is a genetic gamble in terms of health and temperament and offers no advantage to a health-tested, properly selected purebred puppy.

Check out my article discussing the most relevant scientific study on this topic.

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Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet.