Great Pyrenees Rottweiler Mix: All Things You Should Know

Are you a Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix owner, or are you just thinking about bringing a new one home? Take a look at this beautiful dog's qualities and determine if it is the right dog for you or not.

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Parent Breeds of Great Pyrenees Rottweiler Mix

The Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix, also known as the Great Weilernees or the Greatweiler, is a cross between two famous purebred dog breeds: the Great Pyrenees and the Rottweiler.

The Great Pyrenees

Majestic and muscular, the Great Pyrenees is a large purebred dog native to France. In the past, it was used to herd livestock because of its extraordinary strength and agility. This breed is famous for its noble appearance, ideal body shape, and thick, double coat. The undercoat is dense, soft, and woolly, while the outer coat is long, thick, straight and coarse. They most commonly come in white with grey, badger, and sometimes reddish-brown markings.

Most male Pyrenees will achieve their full height, around 27 to 32 inches tall from paw to shoulder, and weigh between 100 to 120 pounds, while the adult females are slightly smaller, standing approximately 25 to 29 inches tall at the withers and weighing about 85 to 100 pounds. The Pyrenean Mountain dog is calm and well-mannered most of the time and spends his whole life devoted to the owner's family. The Pyrenees makes a great guardian dog.

The Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is a large, muscular dog breed known for its strength and energy. Like the Great Pyrenees, the Rottweiler was originally bred as a livestock guardian dog, a role they continue to play these days. Due to its versatility and intelligence, this breed is also used as a police dog, guide dog, rescue dog, or service dog. This robust working breed possesses a confident and calm demeanor.

The Rottweilers are famous for their broad heads, large frames, well-developed muscles, and a distinctive short double coat. The outer layer is straight and coarse, while the undercoat is soft and dense. The Rottweiler is usually black with rich tan markings on its face, muzzle, chest, and legs. The standard male Rottweiler can reach 24 to 27 inches tall and weigh roughly 95 to 135 pounds. In comparison, the female Rottweiler is smaller, with a height of 22 to 25 inches, and weighs between 80 and 100 pounds.

Overview of Great Pyrenees Rottweiler Mix

History

Since the Great Weilernees doesn't have a detailed historical background, we can gain insights by reviewing the histories of its parent breeds. It is commonly believed that Rottweilers originated from Rottweil, Germany and they were bred to herd and guard livestock for long periods. The Great Pyrenees is an ancient breed that originated from the Pyrenees Mountains, which form the border between France and Spain. This Pyrenean Dog was bred to guard flocks of sheep from wild animals.

Both the Great Pyrenees and Rottweiler share the same history. They are the oldest breeds capable of herding and guarding cattle. This herding ability was then inherited by the Great Weilernees mix, which makes it a perfect choice for service or farm assistance.

Appearance

The physical characteristics of the Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix completely depend on which parent breed is more dominant. Thanks to the excellent combination of strength and muscular shape of both parent breeds, the Greatweiler is expected to be large, strong, and athletic. This crossbreed will inherit the double, dense coat, muscular body, as well as a wedge-shaped head and a massive chest from its parents. They also tend to have droopy ears, brown eyes, and distinctive muzzles. The most common coat colors for this hybrid dog are a mixture of black and white, black and tan, yellow or fawn, and tricolor.

Most Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mixed-breed dogs are visually appealing with proportional physical traits and ideal body type.

Size and Weight

Hailing from two giant dog breeds, the Great Pyrenees Rottweiler Mix will most likely be massive in stature like its parents. They can weigh up from 85 to 135 pounds at maturity and reach a height at the withers of 22 to 32 inches when fully grown up if it is provided with a proper diet.

How Long Can a Great Pyrenees Rottweiler Mix Live?

The average lifespan for a Great Pyrenees is 10-12 years, while the Rottweiler has a life expectancy of around 9 to 12 years. Since this dog is half Great Pyrenees and half-Rottweiler, the lifespan of the Greatweiler will fall between 9 and 12 years. Since mixed-breed dogs tend to live longer than purebreds, some Greatweilers can live up to 16 years.

Great Pyrenees Rottweiler Mix Temperament

The Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix has a protective, loyal, and playful temperament, as well as vigilance. Since both parent breeds of this crossbreed are famous for high intelligence, courage, and independence, their offspring might also carry these character traits. The Great Weilernees tend to be gentle with their family and children if they are socialized and trained properly.

However, due to their big size and dominant personality, it would be better to keep them away from smaller pets and babies as they might accidentally scratch, bite, or even attack them. In some cases, the Greatweiler can be aggressive towards strangers, children, and other pets in your house.

Although the Greatweiler has a stubborn nature, it is still highly trainable and eager to please. That's why this breed makes a great companion for a family if you train them properly to help them develop their interaction skills.

Great Pyrenees Rottweiler Mix Care Concerns

Trainability

Most mixed-breed dogs tend to be aggressive and active. The Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix is an alpha breed that requires a strong-minded owner with consistency to be trained correctly. If you are thinking about adopting a Greatweiler, you have to prepare training sessions for your four-legged friend. The Greatweiler can be stubborn towards training due to its natural independent tendencies. Here are some training tips for a Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix:

• You should start training this dog as early as possible, especially during puppyhood. Let them interact with various people, environments, and situations that shape their personality and behavior when they grow older.

• Use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats, praise, and toys to reward when they do the right thing. This approach will keep them motivated and form a strong bond between you and your dog.
• Teach basic commands like sit, stay, down, come, and heel. These commands are not only practical for everyday life but also contribute to your dog's development.
• Avoid excessive training; otherwise, the Great Weilernees will be bored and unresponsive. They may also suffer from muscular pain and stiffness and become aggressive.

Exercise Needs

Both parent breeds of Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix are relatively large and active, so the mix needs a great deal of exercise to keep it healthy and happy. For that reason, you should take the Greatweiler out for at least one hour of walking every day or half an hour of running or fetching to ensure its well-being. Nature-oriented, this mixed breed loves outdoor activities to feel a sense of hereditary freedom.

Grooming Needs

Just like its parents, the Great Pyrenees Rottweiler sheds a lot throughout the year because of their thick, double coat. You should brush this dog's coat every day to prevent mats and reduce shedding. Although the Greatweiler doesn’t require frequent baths, you should clean its ears frequently to avoid infections.

Nutritional Needs

The Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix's nutritional requirements will depend on various factors such as age, size, life stage, and activity level. Greatweilers require a balanced, high-protein diet due to their large body and high energy levels. High-quality kibble rich in protein is the best choice for Greatweiler's muscle development and maintenance if you are too busy to prepare a homemade diet of fresh meat, poultry, fish, and eggs for your dog. Make sure that you provide them with the essential vitamins, minerals, and fresh water.

Great Pyrenees Rottweiler Mix Health Issues

The Great Pyrenees Rottweiler is generally a healthy hybrid breed. However, it can still be prone to certain health issues commonly associated with its parent breeds, like hip dysplasia, cardiac disease, diabetes, and cataracts.

Pros and Cons of Having a Great Pyrenees Rottweiler Mix

Pros:

• The Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix makes an excellent guard dog.
• This hybrid dog does not require much grooming.
• The Great Weilernees is smart and protective.

Cons:

• The Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix is not a good first-time dog owner. Only experienced owners can handle such giant dogs and train them properly.
• The Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix can be aggressive towards other pets if they don't grow up together.
• This hybrid dog sheds all year round.
• The Greatweiler is extremely loud and wary of strangers.

Is a Great Pyrenees Rottweiler Mix Friendly?

This crossbreed is loyal and affectionate towards its family. It can be reserved for other animals or strangers, which is why it needs to be at an early age. If your family has a baby or lives in a small apartment, the Greatweiler is not highly suitable. However, if you are seeking a big, loyal dog with an active temperament who can watch over and guard your family, the Great Pyrenees Rottweiler mix may be the right one for you.

Conclusion

The Great Pyrenees Rottweiler Mix is the cross between two well-known and beautiful purebred dog breeds in the world. Lovable, loyal, protective, and independent, this hybrid dog would be an excellent choice for families with large living spaces and sufficient time.