Rottweiler Mastiff Mix – A Larger Than Life Crossbred Dog!

Rottweiler Mastiff mix owners need to be confident, great at positive reinforcement training and devoted to spending time with their dog. This is an enticing hybrid for any dog lover who adores giant breeds!

Combining the powerful Rottweiler with the impressive Mastiff, it’s no wonder a lot of people are being drawn to this new mix.

But would this large designer dog make the right pet for you?

Hopefully, by the time you’re through with this article, you will have a better idea of what this crossbreed entails and if he would make an appropriate addition to your household.

Rottweiler Mastiff Mix – What Is He?

The Mastiff and Rottweiler mix is a bit of a broad concept, considering there are a number of mastiff-type dogs to cross with a Rottweiler.

However, to keep it simple, the Rottie Mastiff is a mix between a purebred Rottweiler and a purebred Mastiff.

And being a cross between purebreds makes the Rottweiler Mastiff a crossbreed, which unfortunately comes with its share of controversy.

Covering the Crossbreed Controversy

Also known as a hybrid dog or designer dog, the crossbreed has found itself at the center of the debate.

For instance, what makes a crossbreed any different from a mutt?

To be honest, this is one of the issues at hand, with some experts insisting there is no difference at all!

However, supporters of crossbreeds claim that while mutts have a score of different breeds in their bloodline, crossbreeds are the specifically “designed” offspring of two purebred parents.

For a more comprehensive conversation regarding crossbreeds and mutts, visit us here.

But there is more than just the name that has experts up in arms.

There is also the matter of health.

Health of Crossbreeds

Dog enthusiasts and experts alike agree that purebreds tend to be more prone to inheritable health issues as a result of centuries of overbreeding in progressively shrinking gene pools.

Some experts hope that crossbreeding will help to widen the gene pool.

This would reduce the number of inheritable health issues in these dogs.

However, others disagree and say that crossbreed dogs are just as susceptible to the same health issues as their purebred counterparts, if not more so.

To learn more about the designer dog controversy, click here.

And while the experts sort it all out, we can move on to learning more about the amazing and gigantic Rottweiler Mastiff Mix.

Where Does the Rottweiler Mastiff Mix Come From?

Since the Rottweiler Mix is a new generation crossbreed, there is still a lot of mystery surrounding his true origin.

Not to mention there are a number of Mastiff breeds available to cross with a Rottweiler!

So how do you learn about the origin of this huge crossbreed?

Why, you look into the histories of his parent breeds, of course!

Let’s see where the Rottweiler and the Mastiff types come from.

History of the Rottweiler

Rottie enthusiasts believe the Rottweiler’s story can be traced back to the Roman Empire.

This is where their likely ancestors, the ancient drover dogs, began.

Named after a Roman town called Rottweil, the Rottweiler was best known for herding livestock and guarding property.

Legend says that he would travel to and from the market with a bag of money around his neck.

Brave Dogs

During World War I and World War II, the Rottweiler made an excellent war dog.

They took on several important jobs and played a vital role for fighters in need of their services.

Despite this being such an ancient breed, the Rottweiler’s breed standards have hardly changed since they were created in 1901.

With his loyal nature and courageous spirit, the Rottweiler also made a wonderful police dog.

And while the Rottie still finds work with the military and the police, he is also a favorite pet amongst dog enthusiasts, ranking at number 8 out of 193 on the American Kennel Club’s list of America’s most popular dog breeds!

History of the Mastiff

According to the AKC, Mastiff breeds are not only some of the world’s largest breeds but also some of the world’s oldest breeds.

Mastiffs are known for their muscular frame and massive size.

The breeds come with a set of unique personality traits, needs, health issues, and exercise requirements.

Similar Historical Use

And just like his Rottie counterpart, the Mastiff found many uses throughout history.

In fact, Mastiff dogs performed in wars, were used for fighting, and also showed excellent success as guard dogs.

In spite of their excellent work ethic, most Mastiff breeds live comfortably alongside their human counterparts as adored family pets.

However, that doesn’t mean they have lost their protective instincts that made them so useful in the past.

A popular family pet in America, the Mastiff ranks in at 28 out of 194 on the AKC’s list of America’s most popular dog breeds!

So what will the personality traits of a cross between the ancient Mastiff and the protective Rottweiler be?

Let’s find out.

Rottweiler Mastiff Mix Temperament

It is impossible to know the temperament of your Rottie Mastiff pup’s temperament, since he is a mix.

He might take after one parent more than the other, or he might be a combination of the two.

When considering the Mastiff Rottweiler mix temperament, it’s important to consider what the Mastiff and Rottweiler were bred for.

Guarding and herding were two of these breeds top jobs.

So it goes without saying that the Rottweiler Mastiff Mix is going to be incredibly loyal and also a bit protective of his family and his domain.

Let’s take a look at some other temperamental traits you could be getting with the Rottweiler Mastiff crossbreed.

From the Rottie

If the Rottie Mastiff mix takes after his Rottweiler parent, you can expect him to be incredibly loyal, very friendly, and rather intelligent.

Despite working in military settings and as guard dogs, Rotties make wonderful family pets and do very well with children.

They are gentle, easy-going, and very playful!

Rottweilers also love being around their family members and getting in on all the action!

However, Rottweilers can become overprotective of their family, and while this makes them excellent guard dogs, it could also pose a problem if they are not properly socialized.

But what if your Rottweiler Mastiff mix is more like his Mastiff parent?

From the Mastiff

Although many Mastiff types were bred for fighting and guarding, they have changed a lot in the past 500 years or so.

Today, Mastiff breeds are known for their patience and intelligence, as well as their nurturing nature and “lap dog” mentality!

Mastiff types are said to rarely show aggression and are excellent with kiddos!

However, it is important to keep in mind that since both of these breeds have guarding instincts and can be overly protective, early socialization is of the utmost importance.

We also recommend obedience training for your Rottweiler Mastiff mix.

Remember, this is a large and powerful crossbreed who, without proper training, will not be easy to control!

Rottweiler Mastiff Size and Weight

When dealing with any crossbreed, keep in mind that pinpointing certain aspects of your hybrid dog’s characteristics will depend on whatever purebred parent he takes after most.

For example, if your Rottweiler Mastiff mix takes after his Rottie parent, you can expect him to be anywhere from 22 to 27 inches tall and weigh between 80 to 135 pounds.

A Mastiff, on the other hand, can grow to be 30 inches or taller and weigh over 230 pounds!

So with that in mind, your Rottweiler Mastiff cross could be anywhere from 22 to 30 plus inches tall and weigh 80 to over 230 pounds.

But What Does a Rottweiler Mastiff Look Like?

If you think the Rottweiler Mastiff mix is a broad term, the possible look of a Rottweiler Mastiff mix is even broader!

What if you have an English Mastiff Rottie mix?

What if you have a French Mastiff cross Rottweiler?

Whether you have a French Mastiff Rottweiler mix, an English Mastiff Rottweiler mix, a Bull Mastiff Rottweiler mix, or any other number of Mastiff Rottweiler mix possibilities out there, the look of the breed is going to vary.

Let’s take a look at the list of combinations you could get with this unique crossbreed.

Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is known for his black, shiny coat with patches of brown or caramel on his chest, muzzle, and paws, as well as his docked tail, and floppy ears.

His coat can come in four color combinations, including

• Black
• Blue
• Tan
• Mahogany

And occasionally Rottweiler puppies are born with an unusual red coat.

Mastiff

Mastiffs also have a short, thick coat and floppy ears, but they usually have a longer tail.

And perhaps one of their most notable features is their hanging jowls, in which loads of drool dribble daily!

A Mastiff’s coat can come in a number of colors depending on the specific breed, including but not limited to

• Brindle
• Fawn
• Apricot
• Black
• Tawny
• Mahogany
• Blue

Keep in mind that your Rottweiler Mastiff Mix’s coat could be a number of colors.

However since the parent breeds have similar coats texturally, you’ll likely have a short-haired crossbreed who sheds seasonally.

Rottweiler Mastiff Mix Lifespan and Health Problems

The Rottweiler cross Mastiff could be prone to the same health issues as his parent breeds.

For that reason, we like to recommend early health screening and plenty of research so prospective owners know what they could be facing in the future with their Rottweiler x Mastiff.

Rottweiler

With a life expectancy of 9 to 10 years, the Rottie is prone to aortic stenosis, hip and elbow dysplasia, entropion, ectropion, cruciate ligament rupture, osteochondritis dissecans, cancer, wet eczema, cold water tail, and juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy.

Mastiff

The Mastiff’s lifespan is generally shorter, which is unfortunately standard for such large breeds.

Something else to note is that since Mastiffs are so large, they are more likely than many other breeds to suffer joint and skeletal problems.

With a life expectancy of 6–10 years, most Mastiff dogs are also prone to

• hip and elbow dysplasia
• progressive retinal atrophy
• degenerative myelopathy
• heart disease
• cranial cruciate ligament rupture
• panosteitis
• cancer
• urolithiasis
• cherry eye
• persistent papillary membranes
• ectropion

As previously mentioned, early health screening in your Rottweiler Mastiff mix could help you to prepare for or even prevent certain health issues that may present themselves in your dog’s future.

Caring for and Grooming My Rottweiler Mastiff Mix

Despite both the Rottweiler and the Mastiff being larger breeds, grooming them is actually quite easy.

They are relatively clean dogs who only require occasional brushing and bathing.

However, if your cross inherits his Mastiff parent’s skin folds, extra care should be taken to ensure moisture and other contaminants don’t cause skin issues.

Your dog should also have his nails trimmed regularly to keep them from splitting or cracking and his ears cleaned often to avoid infection.

As far as dietary needs, your Rottweiler Mastiff Mix will need a high-quality dog food specifically geared towards larger breed dogs.

Since this is a crossbreed who is susceptible to skeletal issues, a dog food high in protein and low in grain is an excellent choice for this breed.

You may also want to consider some specialty dog foods specified for any inheritable health conditions your Rottweiler Mastiff mix is prone to.

Rottweiler Mastiff Mix Exercise and Training Requirements

Both the Rottweiler and the Mastiff are intelligent breeds who aim to please.

For this reason, training your Rottweiler Mastiff mix should be easy and fun!

However, keep in mind that that the Mastiff could become bored and tire easily.

He may simply lay down in the middle of a training session and fall asleep!

While this can be frustrating, it is important to remember that the Mastiff and the Rottweiler are sensitive breeds, and you can hurt their feelings if you are too harsh.

Always use positive reinforcement and a treat-based reward system, and be patient and loving when training your Rottweiler Mastiff cross.

Exercise

And while the Rottweiler is an active dog who requires daily exercise, his Mastiff counterpart can be quite lazy.

Still, both breeds should be exercised daily to keep them active and healthy.

So we recommend you exercise your Rottweiler Mastiff mix daily as well.

Daily walks, playtime in the yard, and romps at the dog park will all suit this playful crossbreed!

And, as previously mentioned, early socialization and obedience training are going to be key in ensuring this crossbreed is adaptable and well-rounded for any setting.

How Do I Know if a Rottweiler Mastiff Mix Is Right for Me?

If you are considering a Rottweiler Mastiff mix, make sure you are ready for a large and cumbersome dog who may have no idea just how big he is!

Also keep in mind that this crossbreed could be prone to a number of serious health issues.

This shouldn’t be taken lightly, as it can not only prove devastating but also financially trying.

However, if you are in the market for a loyal, loving dog who enjoys family time and wants nothing more than to please you, then the Rottweiler Mastiff mix should fit right in.

How Do I Find a Rottweiler Mastiff Mix Puppy?

When looking for a Rottweiler Mastiff, you have a few options.

Whether you want a French Mastiff x Rottweiler, an English Mastiff Rottie mix, or any other number of mixes out there, we recommend doing lots of research and making sure you get your dog from a responsible source.

You may be able to find your Rottie x Mastiff in a shelter, and if so one of the benefits would be the price!

However, finding Rottweiler x Mastiff puppies in a shelter could be hit or miss, depending on when you are looking.

Still, if you are willing to exercise some patience, you could be looking at adoption fees for the Rottie cross Mastiff that are as low as $50 to $100!

And shelters will usually cover the initial vet fee as well.

Breeders

On the other hand, if you want to purchase your Rottweiler Mastiff puppies from a breeder, you can expect to spend anywhere from $400 to over $1000.

This goes for any cross, whether French Mastiff cross Rottweiler puppies or another type.

Also, keep in mind that the price for Mastiff Rottweiler mix puppies will be more if the parent breeds are show quality.

If you are still unsure of where to go to find Rottweiler cross Mastiff puppies, you can always check out local dog shows in your area.

To find out more about dog shows or to find a local breeder, check out the American Kennel Club’s website.

Don’t forget to let us know what you love about this mix in the comments below!

References

Borbala Turcsan, Adam Miklosi, Eniko Kubinyi, Owner Perceived Differences Between Mixed-Breed and Purebred Dogs

Tiffani J Howell, Tammie King, Pauleen C Bennett, Puppy Parties and Beyond: the role of early age socialization practices on adult dog behavior, Volume 6, pages 143-153

Nathan B Sutter and Elaine A Ostrander, Dog Star Rising: The Canine Genetic System, Nature Reviews Genetics, Volume 5, pages 900-910

Lowell Acumen DVM, DACVD, MBA, MOA, The Genetic Connection; a Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs, Second Edition, 2011

Purebred Vs Mutt-Common Objections to Mixed Breed Dogs

Carol Beuchat Ph.D., The Myth of Hybrid Vigor in Dogs…Is A Myth