If ever there was to be a truly unlikely pair of canine parents, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Rottweiler might be that pair.
Yet the Yorkie Rottweiler mix is a hybrid dog breed that is becoming more popular today. This strange pairing works well for reasons that have nothing to do with each dog’s physical size, as the remainder of this article will explain.
So now, read on to start learning all about the Yorkie Rottweiler mix dog.
See a Yorkie and a Rottweiler Playing Together
This YouTube video gives you the clearest possible vision of the sheer size differences between the Rottweiler and the Yorkshire Terrier, aka the “Yorkie.”
However, it won’t take you long to notice something else these two unlikely playmates share in common – they both have very outgoing personalities! In particular, the Yorkie doesn’t seem to in any way realize she is a very small dog.
The best part about this video is how the smart owner supervises both dogs while playing.
Because the Rottweiler breed is known for their high prey drive and chase instinct, it is smart to supervise a pair like this for quite a while before ever allowing them to be in each other’s company unsupervised.
Yorkie Rottweiler Mix: Dog Breeds History
Whenever you are interested in a hybrid dog breed – a developing breed that has a mix of genes from two different purebred dog parents – it can be challenging to predict what specific mix of genes each puppy will inherit.
In other words, often it is hard to plan ahead with a hybrid puppy! You don’t know how large the puppy will grow up to be, what that puppy will look like, their adult coat type, temperament, personality, or health issues.
Here, the best place to start researching the possible outcomes is with a study of each parent dog breed’s history.
Yorkie history
The Yorkshire Terrier is the 10th most popular dog breed registered through the American Kennel Club (AKC) – which is saying a lot since there are nearly 200 breeds registered!
The Yorkie may look like a dainty doll, but these long-haired pups are all dogs underneath all that hair. The Yorkshire Terrier is a terrier first and foremost, and a fierce one at that.
Yorkie were originally bred and kept to hunt and kill rodents, which they excel at. It wasn’t until much later that Yorkies became more popular as lap dogs.
Rottweiler history
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Rottweiler is even more popular than the Yorkie, sitting at number eight on a list of 196 registered purebred dog breeds.
Rottweilers got their start guarding livestock and people, first in the Roman Legions and later along cattle trails originating in the town of Rottweil, Germany, from which the breed gets its name.
Today, the Rottweiler is one of the top picks globally as a guarding and protection dog – and not just for families. Rottweilers make excellent K-9 workers in military, police, and private security positions.
Rottweilers definitely look (and often act) fierce and protective, but with “their” people Rotties are often described as lovable lap dogs.
Yorkie Rottweiler mix history
This shows you that the Yorkie Rottweiler is going to be a high-energy dog with a strong work ethic, loads of canine smarts, and a strong need to be with its people.
Yorkie Rottweiler Mix Personality & Temperament
Another great way to learn more about any hybrid dog breed you are interested in owning is to find out more about each parent dog’s personality and temperament.
Yorkie’s personality and temperament
As Vetstreet points out, the Yorkshire Terrier is a true terrier in personality and temperament. These dogs are fiery, brave, and completely oblivious that they are small in size.
Yorkies are smart and playful. They can easily learn tricks and love being the center of attention. They need to be with people, but don’t tend to do well in families with young children whose play style may be too rough for such a tiny dog.
Rottweiler personality and temperament
As the American Rottweiler Club points out, breed enthusiasts know Rotties to be playful, almost clownish at times, and deeply devoted to their people.
This comes from Rottweiler’s long history of serving in guarding and protection roles. A Rottweiler that is separated from its human family will quickly become anxious and destructive. They really need to be with people.
Yorkie Rottweiler mix personality and temperament
Regardless of which parent dog your Yorkie Rottweiler most favors genetically, you can count on living with a smart, playful dog that really wants to be with you all the time.
Yorkie Rottweiler Mix: Size, Height, and Weight
The one attribute that makes the Yorkshire Terrier and the Rottweiler near complete opposites is the simple matter of size. They are so very different!
Yorkie size, height, and weight
The tiny Yorkie typically weighs no more than seven pounds and stands seven to eight inches tall when fully grown.
Rottweiler size, height, and weight
The Rottweiler can easily weigh 80 to 135 pounds and stand 22 to 27 inches tall (paw pads to shoulder tops).
Males tend to outweigh females in adulthood by about 15 pounds and usually stand about two inches taller.
Yorkie Rottweiler size, height and weight
So here is where you can see how much it can feel like a roll of the dice to try to figure out your adult Yorkie Rottweiler dog’s height and weight.
Which parent dog will your hybrid puppy most favor?
If you are working with any non-negotiable size issues, such as a housing situation that does not permit large dog breeds, working with a later-stage hybrid dog breeder (F2 or later) can help ensure you don’t bring home more dogs than you are allowed to keep.
Yorkie Rottweiler Mix: Training and Exercise Needs
How the size difference between the Yorkie and the Rottweiler parent dogs influences your puppy can make a big difference when it comes to how much daily exercise your Yorkie Rottweiler dog needs.
Yorkie training and exercise needs
The Yorkshire Terrier is smart enough to master any command or trick. But these little dogs can be stubborn, especially when it comes to something they don’t want to do.
This is why Science Alert places the Yorkie in 27th place out of 79 purebred dog breeds in terms of smarts.
It is not because Yorkies aren’t incredibly intelligent dogs. It is because their goal is often to train you instead of the other way around!
Overall, Yorkies are typically happy to simply play indoors and maybe take a short walk daily.
Rottweiler training and exercise needs
The Rottweiler is considered the ninth smartest dog breed out of 79 purebred dog breeds according to Science Alert.
These dogs score very high in people-pleasing, which makes them excellent students in dog training and K-9 classes. Rottweilers are large and high energy, which means they need a lot of daily exercise and activity.
Yorkie Rottweiler’s training and exercise needs
The adult size of your Yorkie Rottweiler will dictate how much as well as what kind of exercise and athletic activity is best for your dog.
Yorkie Rottweiler Mix: Coat Care, Shedding & Grooming
One of the biggest questions new aspiring dog owners usually have is about coat care. Specifically, will the dog shed, and if so, how much, and what kind of coat care needs will they have?
Yorkie coat care, shedding, and grooming
The famous long hair Yorkie coat is often likened to human hair because of its silky straight appearance. In fact, Yorkies don’t shed out visibly all that much. They do shed, but the hair gets caught in the surrounding coat, which is why tangles can be an issue.
People who show their Yorkies competitively have to do a lot of daily brushing and grooming work to keep the coat tangle-free and shiny.
But most Yorkie owners who don’t want to compete on the dog show circuit opt for a short, simple haircut that greatly minimizes the time commitment.
Rottweiler coat care, shedding, and grooming
Rottweilers are working dogs and have the traditional double-layer working-dog coat. This means a Rottweiler sheds year-round and sheds heavily when the seasons change each year.
While the Rottie coat is easy to care for – a weekly brushing and occasional bath are all these dogs need – the shedding will not be ideal for people who have pet allergies.
Yorkie Rottweiler mix coat care, shedding, and grooming
The coat type your Yorkie Rottweiler dog inherits can be quite different depending on which parent dog your puppy most favors genetically.
Working with a later-stage hybrid dog breed can help control for size surprises.
Yorkie Rottweiler Mix: Longevity & Health Issues
One of the key reasons why hybrid or so-called “designer” dog breeding programs are becoming so popular right now is because many purebred breeds are developing genetic health issues.
The truth is, even though canine biologists have sequenced the canine genome, there is still so much more to learn about how different genes influence and interact with each other.
How does this relate to a dog breed’s health? When a whole breed is deliberately bred to pass along only certain desirable characteristics (such as those outlined in the dog’s breed standard), there may be other genes that also get passed along.
These genes may bring about the desired appearance traits, but may also have unwelcome side effects due to how they interact with other un-related genes.
As an example, it is thought that this may be how the Rottweiler breed has come to have a much greater incidence of lymphoma than many other dog breeds, according to Harlingen Veterinary Clinic.
Adding back genetic diversity to a purebred dog’s breed line can help to dilute and diffuse these types of serious health issues. But there is no way to know in advance how this may work from one puppy to the next within a given litter.
This is why it is so vital to understand the genetic health issues associated with each purebred parent dog. The Canine Health Information Center has that information and you can also find it below here for the Rottweiler and the Yorkshire Terrier.
Yorkie longevity and health issues
According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Yorkie breed has the following known possible genetic health issues you need to be aware of:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Patellar luxation.
- Eye issues.
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.
- Autoimmune thyroiditis.
The Yorkie has a typical life expectancy of 11 to 15 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.
- Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis & Polyneuropathy (JLPP).
- Cardiac health issues.
- Eye health issues.
The Rottweiler has a typical life span of nine to 10 years.
Yorkie Rottweiler mix: longevity and health issues
As you probably noticed, the Rottweiler and the Yorkshire Terrier share some genetic (heritable) health issues, including hip dysplasia and eye health issues.
Making sure your breeder shows you proof that the parent dogs have been tested and cleared for their respective health concerns is the best way to avoid choosing a puppy that later develops a heart-wrenching and expensive health issue that could have been avoided.
Yorkie Rottweiler Mix: Is This the Right Dog For You?
For the right person, the lovable, loyal, playful, and smart Yorkie Rottweiler dog can make a really fun addition to your family life.
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