The Rottweiler Maltese mix breed dog is just one of many so-called hybrid or “designer” dog breeds that breeders are working to develop today.
Why develop a new dog breed when so many popular dogs breed already exist? The main issue, as you read more about here in the section on health and longevity, is to strengthen breed health.
Many purebred dog breeds, including the Rottweiler and the Maltese, have some known heritable health conditions that could potentially be eased with greater genetic diversity.
But the only way to get that is to start a hybrid dog breeding program. This is actually how nearly all of today’s registered purebred dog breeds have been developed, but it takes time before the new breed is established.
In this article, meet the Rottweiler Maltese mix and decide if these fluffy, fun, feisty, and keenly intelligent pups might be a good fit for your family.
See a Rottweiler Puppy and a Maltese Adult Dog Playing Together
This cute YouTube video is worth watching to see how a Rottweiler puppy might be socialized with a Maltese adult dog while the Rottie is still young.
As you will see, the Rottweiler puppy is nearly the same size as the fully-grown adult Maltese dog! This type of pairing can be especially helpful so the Rottweiler views the tiny Maltese as a playmate and friend rather than potential prey in adulthood.
Rottweiler Maltese Mix: Dog Breeds History
Because there is no reliable way to figure out in advance which genes a puppy will get from either purebred parent dog, there is always an element of surprise involved when you choose a hybrid dog breed.
But learning more about the history of each parent dog breed can help you get a better sense of what your Rottweiler Maltese dog might be like when they are all grown up.
Rottweiler history
The Rottweiler is an extraordinarily popular companion canine in the United States and around the world. In America, the Rottie is the eighth most popular registered purebred dog – out of nearly 200 breeds!
The American Kennel Club (AKC) explains that the Rottweiler breed may date all the way back to the time of the ancient Roman soldiers who used these dogs in battle and to guard livestock.
Maltese history
The Maltese dog is one of the most recognizable of all the toy dog breeds because of its long human hairlike coat.
But while these dogs look like they are all for show, under all that hair the Maltese is surprisingly athletic and brave.
Maltese dogs are currently ranked as the 37th most popular companion canines by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
They originally come from the island of Malta, where they were bred as companions to royalty. This may be part of the reason why they are nicknamed the Maltese Lion Dog.
Rottweiler Maltese mix history
As you can see, whether your Rottweiler Maltese mix dog takes more after the Rottweiler or the Maltese parent dog, your pup will have a robust personality and the smarts to match.
Rottweiler Maltese Mix Personality & Temperament
Both the Rottweiler and the Maltese have distinctive personalities that fall heavily on the side of smart, devoted, protective, and loving.
The Rottweiler is a top pick for family protection and guard dog, while the Maltese is a top pick as a lap dog and pure companion canine.
Rottweiler Maltese Mix: Size, Height, and Weight
One of the areas where you will have the most guesswork to do is when it comes to figuring out how much your Rottweiler Maltese mix will weigh in adulthood.
After all, the Rottweiler is a sizable pup while the Maltese are truly tiny!
Rottweiler size, height, and weight
As the American Rottweiler Club explains, the Rottweiler dog typically weighs between 80 and 135 pounds, with females weighing 10 to 15 pounds less.
Adult male Rottweilers usually stand 24 to 27 inches tall, which is measured from paw pads to shoulder tops. For adult females, typical measurements are 22 to 25 inches tall.
Maltese size, height, and weight
There is no real discernible difference between the weight and height of male and female adult Maltese dogs.
These dogs typically weigh less than seven pounds and stand seven to nine inches tall when fully grown.
Rottweiler Maltese size, height, and weight
With a potential weight range from seven pounds to 135 pounds and a potential height range from seven inches to 27 inches, you can see how important it is to try to get some sense of how big your puppy may or may not grow up to be.
Luckily, there is a way you can reduce some of the surprise factors, and that is by choosing your puppy from a later-stage hybrid breeder. By later stage, we mean a breeder that specializes in F2, F2b, or F3 generations or later.
This means that the breeder is breeding Rottweiler Maltese dogs together rather than purebred Rottweiler and purebred Maltese dogs together. This is where you start to see more genetic uniformity and a new dog breed taking shape.
It then becomes a lot easier to guesstimate the adult size and height of your hybrid puppy.
Rottweiler Maltese Mix: Training and Exercise Needs
The Rottweiler and Maltese need very different amounts of exercise but the training needs are quite similar.
Rottweiler training and exercise needs
As soon as the Rottweiler is done growing, this is a dog that will require at least a couple of hours of daily exercise and play to be happy as a companion canine.
The Rottie will also need early and ongoing socialization to temper their strong protective instincts so as not to endanger visitors and other pets.
Maltese training and exercise needs
The tiny Maltese is quite happy with a couple of indoor play sessions every day.
Rottweiler Maltese training and exercise needs
Depending on which parent dog your puppy most favors, your schedule of canine care and exercise may look quite different when your dog grows up!
Rottweiler Maltese Mix: Coat Care, Shedding & Grooming
One of the top questions new prospective dog owners tend to have is about coat care. Specifically, many owners want to know if their puppy will shed, and if so how much.
Here, you will notice the Rottweiler and the Maltese are quite different.
Rottweiler coat care, shedding, and grooming
The Rottweiler is a working dog breed with the traditional double layer working dog coat. This means the Rottie will shed year-round and heavily seasonally.
However, the Rottweiler’s coat is short, flat, and neat and doesn’t require much care other than brushing and an occasional bath.
Maltese coat care, shedding, and grooming
The Maltese in a full show coat is a stunning sight. But most owners keep their Maltese in a short puppy clip to keep the coat care manageable, as the American Maltese Association explains.
Maltese don’t shed visibly, but they shed out into the surrounding coat, which makes them prone to tangles and mats. You will want to brush them daily.
Rottweiler Maltese Mix: Longevity & Health Issues
One of the primary benefits of hybrid dog breeding or cross-breeding is that it can introduce much-needed genetic diversity back into the purebred breed line.
This, in turn, can improve the health and longevity outlook of the puppies.
However, the only way this type of genetic strengthening process will work the way it should is if the breeder picks the parent dogs very carefully.
The breeder should be aware of all known genetic health issues that parent dogs could pass along to puppies. By performing recommended health screening tests, only healthy parent dogs will be bred.
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 health issues.
- Cardiac health issues.
- Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis & Polyneuropathy (JLPP).
The Rottweiler has a typical life expectancy of just nine to 10 years.
Maltese longevity and health issues
According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Maltese breed has the following known possible genetic health issues you need to be aware of:
- Cardiac health issues.
- Liver shunt.
- Patellar luxation (trick kneecap).
The Maltese have a typical life span of 12 to 15 years.
Rottweiler Maltese mix: longevity and health issues
As you can see, heart (cardiac) issues are a major concern in both parent dog breeds. Joint issues (knee, elbow, hip) are also a major concern in both breeds.
Rottweiler Maltese Mix: Is This the Right Dog For You?
For the right person, the Rottweiler Maltese mix can be a fabulous family companion.
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