The Greyhound Rottweiler mix is a newer hybrid or designer dog breed with some interesting traits and characteristics.
Hybrid dog breeding is becoming more popular and common today. There is a specific reason for this.
Many purebred dog breeds, including both the beloved Rottweiler and the Greyhound, are developing genetic health issues that only genetic diversity can alleviate.
But when you make a commitment to a hybrid dog breed, it is important to learn as much about each dog breed as you can and how to choose your breeder wisely.
In this article, we introduce the Greyhound Rottweiler mix dog and help guide you to find the healthiest, happiest pup to add to your family.
Watch Greyhound Puppies With an Adult Rottweiler Dog
This interesting YouTube video highlights how the Greyhound and the Rottweiler can both have very strong and dominant personalities.
Even though the Greyhounds in this video are still puppies, they are already sizable and confident in how they approach the Rottweiler guarding the ball toy they want.
The video highlights the importance of early and ongoing socialization and training for both dog breeds.
Greyhound Rottweiler Mix: Dog Breeds History
The hands-down best way to learn more about a new, still-developing, hybrid dog breed is to learn more about the history and development of each parent dog breed.
Greyhound history
Greyhounds literally live to race and run and this is what they have been bred for since the time of ancient Egypt, where prehistoric artwork depicts these dogs doing what they still do the best today – chasing.
They were once employed as hunting dogs before dog racing and coursing became popular.
Rottweiler history
Rottweilers began as a herding dog breed and transitioned to become a world-renowned guarding and protection dog.
Today, Rottweilers are highly prized in K-9 military, police, and private protection and security roles as well as family guard dogs. Rottweilers also make excellent service dogs and search and rescue dogs.
Greyhound Rottweiler Mix Personality & Temperament
Interestingly, these two dog breeds couldn’t be ranked more different in terms of pet dog popularity.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) reports that the Rottweiler breed is the eighth most popular pet dog in the United States (out of 196 registered dog breeds).
In contrast, the Greyhound breed is ranked as 145th most popular (out of 196 breeds).
Greyhound personality and temperament
The Greyhound is described as a gentle dog with a noble yet independent personality.
These dogs are considered to be the cheetahs of the canine world – they are the fastest dog breed in the world according to World Atlas.
Greyhounds can run up to 45 miles per hour!
Rottweiler personality and temperament
The Rottweiler is an incredibly popular guard and protection dog with a fierce loyalty to “their” people.
Where the Greyhound makes an impact in sheer speed, the Rottweiler is all about strength.
Greyhound Rottweiler mix personality and temperament
The combination of speed and strength could make for an interesting mix in terms of your Greyhound Rottweiler’s personality and temperament.
Greyhound Rottweiler Mix: Size, Height, and Weight
One big concern many dog owners have is whether they will have a room indoors and outdoors to meet their new dog’s needs.
Greyhound size, height, and weight
The Greyhound typically weighs 60 to 70 pounds and stands 27 to 30 inches tall (paw pads to shoulder girdles).
Males tend to be slightly heavier and taller than females in adulthood.
Rottweiler size, height, and weight
Adult Rottweilers typically weigh between 80 and 135 pounds and stand 22 to 27 inches tall (paw pads to shoulder girdles).
With this breed, male Rotties can weigh between 15 and 35 pounds more than females in adulthood and stand a full two inches taller.
Greyhound Rottweiler size, height, and weight
With such a size and height difference, it can be hard to predict in puppyhood how big and tall your Greyhound Rottweiler is likely to be.
By learning about the specific weight and height of your puppy’s parents, you can get a better idea of your dog’s adult size.
Greyhound Rottweiler Mix: Training and Exercise Needs
One of the biggest responsibilities you will have when choosing a Greyhound Rottweiler mix dog will be the amount of daily training and exercise you need to provide.
Greyhound training and exercise needs
Greyhounds are coursing sighthounds. This means they are not considered to be suitable pet dogs for first-time dog owners or inexperienced dog trainers.
They tend to be stubborn and independent and become bored or distracted easily. You can never let a Greyhound out into an open area without a leash because the instinct to run and the race is so strong in these dogs.
Rottweiler training and exercise needs
The Rottweiler needs a lot of early and ongoing training and socialization to be able to manage their instincts to guard and chase effectively and safely.
Rotties will become very destructive if left alone or not given enough exercise and daily playtime. They need to be with their people and be the center of daily life.
Rottweilers that don’t get enough early socialization may become aggressive because they don’t know how to tell the difference between a friendly visitor and a potential threat.
Greyhound Rottweiler training and exercise needs
Whenever you are training and socializing a smart, independent, and strong dog like the Greyhound Rottweiler, you only want to use positive training methods that favor praise, treats, and high-value rewards like playtime with you.
These dogs will be naturally reserved around strangers even when fully grown and completely socialized.
A Greyhound Rottweiler dog will really enjoy getting involved in canine athletics events like rally, agility, lure coursing, dock diving, and similar sports. This can be a great way to give your dog plenty of exercise for both mind and body.
Greyhound Rottweiler Mix: Coat Care, Shedding & Grooming
Another common question many aspiring dog owners have relates to how much time they will have to spend grooming, brushing, and bathing their new dog.
Greyhound coat care, shedding, and grooming
As James River Greyhounds breeder points out, Greyhounds have a single layer coat. This means the Greyhound won’t shed as much year-round and won’t have the seasonal “coat blow” shed that double-coated dogs go through.
These dogs need only occasional baths and minimal brushing.
Rottweiler coat care, shedding, and grooming
Rottweilers are working dogs and have the double layer coat to match. The Rottie will shed year-round and seasonally.
The Rottweiler’s coat is medium in length so it will need more brushing than a short-coated dog, although these dogs don’t tend to need bathing too often.
Greyhound Rottweiler mix coat care, shedding, and grooming
Depending on which parent your Greyhound Rottweiler mix puppy most takes after, your dog may grow up to have a single or double-layer coat that is short to medium in length.
The biggest difference for you will be the amount of shedding you have to deal with. If you really need a low-shedding pup, working with a later-generation hybrid dog breeder (F2 or later) is your best chance of choosing a puppy with a short, single-layer coat.
Greyhound Rottweiler Mix: Longevity & Health Issues
One of the primary drivers for modern hybrid dog breeding programs is to add back genetic diversity to health-compromised purebred breed lines.
The Rottweiler in particular has been greatly impacted by inbreeding to a particular appearance standard. This has led to a number of health issues that can be passed from parent dogs to puppies.
Greyhound longevity and health issues
According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Greyhound breed has the following known possible genetic health issues you need to be aware of:
- Cardiac issues.
The Greyhound has a typical life expectancy of 10 to 13 years.
Rottweiler longevity and health issues
According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Rottweiler breed has the following known possible genetic health issues you need to be aware of:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Elbow dysplasia.
- Eye issues.
- Heart (cardiac) issues.
- Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis & Polyneuropathy (JLPP).
The Rottweiler has a typical life span of nine to 10 years.
Greyhound Rottweiler mix: longevity and health issues
As you can see from this genetic health overview, the Rottweiler has a far greater number of known heritable genetic health issues than does the Greyhound.
However, there is no way to know which parent dog’s genes will most influence a given puppy even within a single litter.
Greyhound Rottweiler Mix: Is This the Right Dog For You?
If you have the time and interest in socializing, training, and exercising a high-energy dog like the Greyhound Rottweiler, this might be a great pick!
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