The Pomeranian Rottweiler hails from the new trend of hybrid dog breeding. This is not quite the same as mixed breeding, although many people get the two confused.
When you have a hybrid dog breeding program, each parent dog is a purebred dog. So there are only two genetic lines represented in each puppy.
This helps breeders closely control for any health issues and produce healthier puppies with specific traits and qualities.
With the Pomeranian Rottweiler mix dog, one goal is to breed a dog that is smaller in size. With so many people and families living in small spaces today, this can help you enjoy the great traits of the Rottweiler dog in a smaller package.
By the time you finish reading this article, you will have learned everything you need to know about the Pomeranian Rottweiler mix dog.
A Brief History of the Pomeranian and the Rottweiler
Did you know there are nearly 200 registered purebred dog breeds in the United States? What this means is that there are a lot of different dogs with a lot of different traits.
Of these purebred dog breeds, the Rottweiler and Pomeranian are two of the most popular. The Rottweiler is the eighth most popular and the Pomeranian is the 23rd most popular pet dog in the United States.
So no matter how you look at it, your Pomeranian Rottweiler mix is going to have a lot of great traits and qualities!
The best way to get acquainted with this unique hybrid dog breed is to learn more about each parent dog breed’s background in history. So that is what we will look at first.
Meet the Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is a whole lot of dogs in a pint-sized package. These dogs might look tiny and fancy, but they are descended from ancient arctic spitz-type dogs – powerful endurance runners of legendary speed and skill.
The Pomeranian is also known as the Zwergspitz and is the smallest of the spitz family of dog breeds.
This dog gets its breed name from its birthplace, Pomerania (Poland for modern-day geography). The Pomeranian might not have risen to become so popular if it wasn’t for this dog’s most famous patron – Queen Victoria of England.
The Queen also became the most famous Pomeranian breeder of modern day time. She spearheaded the effort to breed Pomeranians of extremely small size.
Meet the Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is like the Pomeranian’s enormous seeming opposite in every way. As this YouTube video highlights, these two dogs could not look (or sound) more different on the outside!
Rottweiler dogs are descended from the ancient military and working dogs of the Roman Empire.
Rottweilers have a reputation today for being fearless. In their early breed formation, they had to be – they were tasked with herding, guarding, and moving enormous herds of livestock as the Roman armies moved continuously under extremely difficult conditions.
Rottweilers took their breed name from the small German town of Rottweil, where they became the dog of choice for herding cattle and protecting the herds and their people from bandits, marauders, and predators of all kinds.
Pomeranian Rottweiler Mix Health and Longevity
One of the biggest concerns dog owners have when picking out a puppy is healthy. You just want to know you are picking out the healthiest dog that will be with you for many years to come.
It can be hard to answer that question in advance. But there are ways to make sure you are selecting a puppy that is more likely to have robust health. One of the best ways is to learn everything you can about the health of each parent dog.
Interestingly, one of the main reasons hybrid breeding programs are so popular today is because adding diversity to any purebred dog breed can strengthen that breed’s health. This is a great reason to consider a Pomeranian Rottweiler mix, as you will see.
The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database is a go-to resource for responsible, reputable dog breeders. The database offers information about all known genetic health issues by breed.
For Pomeranian purebred dogs, the main health problems to watch for include these:
- Patellar luxation (“trick knee”).
- Hip dysplasia (Legg-Calve-Perthes disease).
- Cardiac issues.
- Eye issues.
- Autoimmune thyroiditis.
According to the American Pomeranian Club (APC), this breed has some additional health issues you may want to be aware of.
Along with the Pomeranian dog’s very small size can come some problems with hypoglycemia. Another size-related known health issue is the collapsing trachea. Some Pomeranian dogs also suffer from seizures (idiopathic epilepsy).
Crossing the Pomeranian with a larger size, more robust dog like the Rottweiler is one ideal goal for hybrid dog breeding programs today.
For Rottweiler purebred dogs, the CHIC database notes that these are the main health problems to watch for:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia.
- Cardiac issues.
- Eye issues.
- Juvenile laryngeal paralysis & polyneuropathy (JLPP).
Also, it is important to research other known health issues for which no genetic testing exists. For Rottweiler purebred dogs, the main issue is canine cancer.
As the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) explains, Rottweiler dogs are particularly prone to developing a type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma.
This cancer causes tumors to form in the bones. The average age of onset is eight years and it affects up to 12 percent of Rottweilers. This cancer is extremely deadly. It is one of the major health issues that hybrid breeding programs may help to address.
Pomeranian Rottweiler Mix Personality and Temperament
With two such different dogs as the Pomeranian and the Rottweiler, the question of what to expect in your puppy’s personality and temperament is a very interesting one!
Let’s take a look at what each breed is known for in terms of personality and temperament. This can offer more insight into some of the traits a Pomeranian Rottweiler mix puppy may inherit from each parent dog.
It is also worth noting here that if you have specific goals for personality and temperament, height or weight, and overall size, working with a breeder who breeds later generation (not F1, but F1b or later) may help you get closer to your goals.
The Pomeranian purebred dog might be very small in size, but this dog is huge in personality. Many Pomeranian owners say this dog doesn’t seem to know he is small. The American Kennel Club (AKC) states that Pomeranians have a “big dog demeanor.”
Pomeranians, or “Poms” as owners like to call them, have a long lineage as guard dogs as well as lapdogs to royalty. Poms make great watchdogs. They are also very smart and can easily learn to do tricks.
However, these dogs are so tiny that they aren’t recommended for families with very small children whose play might be too rough and cause injury. Older children who know how to be gentle with a pet dog do fine with a Pomeranian in the household.
Rottweiler purebred dogs also have a big dog temperament and they have the size to match. These dogs are vigilant guard dogs and are extremely loyal and affectionate with “their” people. However, they are naturally aloof and wary when strangers appear.
“Rotties,” as their owners like to call them, often say that these dogs don’t realize how big they are. As the American Kennel Club (AKC) explains, many Rottie owners have to contend with their enormous pup wanting to climb into their laps to cuddle!
From examining the personality and temperament of each parent dog, you can see that your Pomeranian Rottweiler mix dog is likely to be very loyal and loving towards you and quick to alert you to the presence of strangers (whether animals or people).
These dogs are likely going to be very playful and affectionate as well as naturally intelligent and quite trainable, as long as you use positive training methods.
Pomeranian Rottweiler Mix Height, Weight, and Size
The area where Pomeranians and Rottweiler dogs differ the most is when it comes to height, weight, and size.
The purebred Pomeranian dog typically tops out at seven pounds. Standing just six or seven inches (paw pad to shoulder) in adulthood, these are truly toy-sized pups.
The Rottweiler dog is a true heavyweight in the canine world. The average weight for adult Rottweilers ranges from 95 to 135 pounds. Most adult dogs stand 22 to 27 inches, with males slightly taller and heavier than females.
Because of the great disparity in height, weight, and overall size, you really cannot predict in puppyhood how big your adult Pomeranian Rottweiler is going to be.
If you need a smaller size dog, working with a breeder that specializes in later generation breeding (F1b or later) is the best way to control against size surprises in adulthood.
Pomeranian Rottweiler Mix Exercise and Training Needs
Despite appearing quite different on the outside, both Pomeranians and Rottweilers are active dogs.
Pomeranians are little but can have very forceful personalities. They are extremely smart and can easily learn to do tricks. But Pomeranians have centuries of experience getting their way, so you will need to use only positive and firm training methods.
These dogs are little enough that indoor play is typically sufficient in terms of daily exercise.
Rottweilers are large, powerful working dogs that are used to getting a lot of daily exercise. They are extremely people-focused, which makes them easy to train using positive training methods.
You should find that your Pomeranian Rottweiler is readily trainable, but you may need to adjust daily activity depending on which parent dog your pup most takes after.
Pomeranian Rottweiler Mix Coat, Shedding and Grooming Needs
Pomeranians and Rottweilers have very different coat types, which can make choosing a hybrid puppy feel like a bit of a gamble!
Pomeranian dogs are very fluffy and distinctive. It also requires a great deal of brushing and grooming to avoid tangles and mats that could harm your dog’s skin.
Pomeranians do shed, but not as visibly. This is because the shed hair often gets trapped in their profuse coat and causes tangles.
Many Pomeranian owners schedule regular professional grooming appointments for nail and coat maintenance to keep their dogs looking their best.
The Rottweiler dog is far closer to “wash and wear,” with a dense, double-layer, medium-length coat that sheds year-round and more heavily with the changing of the seasons.
These dogs don’t need a lot of grooming – a weekly brush and occasional bath usually suffice. But you may want to invest in a vacuum cleaner when the winter coat starts to shed out.
Because hybrid breeding programs can only partially control which genes each puppy inherits from each parent dog, it can be hard to know for sure what type of coat your Pomeranian Rottweiler puppy may have as an adult.
However, based on what your puppy is likely to inherit from the Pomeranian or Rottweiler parent, you can expect at least some shedding and moderate coat maintenance overall.
Is a Pomeranian Rottweiler Mix in Your Future?
Is a Pomeranian Rottweiler mix puppy or rescue dog in your future? Share your stories in the comments section below.
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