How often do wonder about the heritage of different dog breeds? Designer breeds can make a dog’s background even more fascinating.
A Rottweiler originated from ancestors in Rome almost 4,000 years ago and reached its full development in Germany by 1901.
Newfoundlands were rescuing people from the water off the coast of Canada thanks to the Vikings contribution 1000 years ago. In the 2000s, someone thought it would be a good idea to cross them.
A Rottweiler Newfoundland mix is a relatively new and large designer cross. It combines the herding and guarding instincts of the athletic Rottie with the helpful people-oriented water dog, the Newfoundland.
The result is a massive black or black and tan dog that offers companionship and protection. Also known as the New Rottland, the breed gets along well with children and other dogs.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Get a Rottweiler Newfoundland mix
As with any dog, you should ask yourself if a Rottie Newfie mix is a dog for you and your family. The main reasons not to get this hybrid are its size and the amount of time and effort you have to commit to training.
- Large to giant size
- Strong-willed
- Powerful
- Drool a moderate amount
- Shed
Reasons Why You Should Get a rottweiler Newfoundland mix
Rottie Newfies make great pets for several reasons. Not only do many owners prefer large dogs, but the Rottweiler Newfoundland hybrid’s imposing size makes it intimidating to would-be intruders without having to display aggression.
- Excellent watchdogs with guarding tendencies
- Loyal
- Loving – Like to cuddle despite their size
- Do well in cold weather
- Good with children, especially those who are older
- Striking looks
- Can be great service animals – Tracking, search, and rescue, physical assistance
Traits of a rottweiler Newfoundland mix
A mixed-breed dog is never entirely predictable in looks or temperament. If you know the parent breeds, you can make an educated guess about the traits that will likely pass down to the puppies.
Some crosses are common, giving you an even better idea of the offspring’s appearance and personality.
Appearance
A male New Rottland is 27 to 30 inches tall at the shoulders and weighs 130 to 150 pounds. Females are smaller but still imposing at 24 to 27 inches tall and 120 to 135 pounds.
The Rottweiler Newfoundland mix usually has a large head with a more elongated shape than the clear square profile of the Rottie. Both the ears and eyes are wide-spaced with the skull slightly rounded on top.
The ears are relatively medium in size and high-set. Their shapes are approximate triangles, and they lay flat against the head.
Often, the flews(lips and chops) are pendulous. Rottie Newfies have a pronounced stop that usually lacks the furrowing of the Rottweiler. Many dogs of this mix look like they have a lot of Labrador in the face and head shape.
You will notice the body is massive with well-built shoulders, strong hindquarters, and sturdy legs.
The feet are large and might be webbed. Your dog will carry his thick tail like a wheel. You may notice plumes depending on how furry your dog is.
Coat
A New Rottland can inherit the medium-short flat coat of the Rottweiler or the dense medium-long hair of the Newfoundland.
Most mixes will have a medium-length coat with very dense underfur. They shed moderate amounts year-round.
Your dog’s dual coat will help keep him warm in the coldest of winters and has limited cooling abilities in the summer.
New Rottlands struggle more than some other double-coated breeds in the heat because of their size and the thickness of their hair.
Colors
New Rottlands are most frequently solid black or black and brown marked like a Rottie.
The mix can also be solid brown or chocolate, chocolate and brown, fawn, cream, or part-colored (black and white). Brown markings on a tan-pointed dog have a wider range of shades than they would on a purebred Rottie.
They also can have a wider distribution.
- Black and rust – Burnt copper or orange-red
- Black and mahogany
- Black and tan
- Black and cream
- Black and yellow
Most Rottweilers have brown markings on their chin and a large part of their muzzle and cheeks, indicating the lack of black facial masks.
Many Newfie mixes of the black and tan pattern appear to have solid black faces because a mask is present.
Personality
Rottweiler-Newfie mixes are affectionate, loyal, intelligent, laiback, pleasant, and watchful.
The majority have a friendly demeanor although some can be protective of their families. Many have an affinity for water and enjoy swimming.
Their size does not stop them from enjoying frequent cuddling and trying to climb onto your lap. A few dogs will have a natural instinct to herd while others may want to chase small animals.
Lifespan
Expect your New Rottland to live an average of 10 to 12 years. Smaller individuals may reflect the Rottweiler mix’s longevity and have a lifespan closer to 12 to 15 years. Giant dogs typically only live eight to ten years.
Rottweiler Newfoundland Mix Puppies for Sale
Although the New Rottland is a mixed breed, there is no reason not to acquire one through the same means you would a purebred.
Avoid puppy mills that focus on the number of puppies at the expense of health and temperament. Disreputable breeders are also problematic as they aim for profit.
- Use marketing gimmicks – Rare breed, exotic colors
- Exaggerate prices
- Have no health guarantees for their puppies
- Perform no breed-appropriate testing
- Fail to enlist any veterinarian services before the sale – No exam, vaccines may be administered by breeder or not
Possible sources of New Rottlands are a reputable breeder, a rescue organization, or a humane society. Since the cross is a designer dog, there is a significant level of demand. This is why you can acquire such a mix from a breeder.
Appropriate tests include hip and elbow certifications and heart evaluations on the parents. Another consideration is not breeding dogs known to have eyelid deformities.
Shelters and rescues will not provide you with the same level of background knowledge as a breeder.
However, you can provide a dog a second chance and may get an adult dog that does need so much training.
A breeder will likely charge $400 to $1000 for a puppy between the ages of eight and twelve weeks old.
Grooming Your Rottweiler Newfoundland Mix
Grooming a Rottie Newfoundland mix is not extremely difficult, but you must be consistent.
Daily brushing with a couple of different tools is crucial to avoid tedious sessions that can last a few hours.
Unlike many other double-coated breeds, this mix is prone to matting where the hair is of different lengths. Potential problem areas are behind the ears, under the tail, and on the lower legs.
Regular brushing has health benefits such as decreasing the build-up of dander and lose hairs and improving the coat’s sheen by distributing natural oils.
You should bathe every six to twelve weeks depending on how soiled your dog gets. Use a mild shampoo specifically for canids. Remember, you should always brush and detangle dry fur and then bathe.
- Pin brush – A handy basic brush; Mostly for the outer coat; Detangles outer fur and traps dead hairs
- Slicker brush – Multiple types; Wire bristles reach down to the undercoat; Horsehair or soft bristles smooth the outer guard hairs to finish a dog
- Rake – Grooming rakes and defurring tools are specialized for thick undercoats but also can remove difficult mats; Especially good for the heavy shedding of the undercoat during seasonal “coat blowing”
- Scissors – You can use scissors to thin the coat or trim its edges; Some scissors are specialty thinning shears with a comb on one side and a traditional blade on the other
- Fine tooth comb – Optional finishing toll to remove light debris; You can use it around the ears and lower legs
- Cloth – For the face; You should also remove sleep from the eyes daily
- Clippers – You should not shave a double-coated dog because it robs them of any natural cooling mechanisms of their hair and may never grow back the same; Occasionally, you may need clippers for fractious mats
Grooming does not end with attention to your dog’s coat.
- Nail trim – Every 6 to 8 weeks; Claws on this breed are likely to be hard, dark, and thick, so use a professional groomer or your vet if necessary; Ensure your nail trimmers are of the appropriate size and strength for your dog’s nails
- Clean teeth – Every 1 to 2 days; Introduce the toothbrush and toothpaste to your puppy in her first week home
- Check ears, clean weekly – Check your dog’s ears for wax buildup and signs of infection (redness, discharge, odor, and itching) every 2 days
Rottweiler Newfoundland Mix Health Problems
Many feel that cross-breeding dogs result in healthier individuals because of a larger gene pool.
It is a solid theory, but health problems in dogs also depend on how a trait is inherited, whether it is on a dominant gene or not, and how successful a breeder is in eliminating it from dogs they use in their programs.
Several potential health issues you could see in a Rottweiler Newfoundland mix are as follows:
- Cherry eye – A swollen red structure in the lower inner corner of the eye reflecting swelling of a gland on the microbian gland (provides lubrication for the eye)
- Entropion or ectropion – In former eyelid rolls inward, in latter eyelid droops outward
- Hip dysplasia – Growth incongruence in the hip joint
- Elbow dysplasia – Abnormal development of the elbow joint
- Ear infection – Often associated with allergies
- Exposure keratopathy – Genetic and often linked with ectropion or other eyelid abnormalities and prominent eyes; Causes redness, ulcerations, and other abnormalities
associated with symptoms of dry eye - Bloat or GDV (gastric dilatation and volvulus) – Highly increased risk in large, deep-chested dogs; Stomach swells to multiple times its normal size with fluid or gas and then flips on its axis
Rottweiler Newfoundland Mix Food Requirements
The two major considerations for choosing meals for your dog are what to feed her and how much.
What you feed your New Rottland is a personal and economical decision. The availability of commercial dog food ranges from dry kibble to moist and meaty morsels to canned diets. Other options are raw and fresh formulations which some owners opt to prepare at home.
Canned and raw dog food can be financially impractical for large and giant breeds. Some dog owners choose to feed raw toppers along with a dry diet to achieve the best of two worlds.
Your veterinarian can help you ensure you are providing sufficient vitamins and minerals as well as nutritional balance.
You will need to prepare yourself to feed your dog huge amounts of food. Rottweiler Newfoundland mixes do not require as many calories per pound as a small breed, but they need approximately four to seven cups of kibble a day.
More precise guidelines say that New Rottlands should get about 28 to 32 calories per pound every 24 hours. Growing puppies between three and eight months old may need two or three times this amount and working and nursing dogs even more.
Because of their high risk for bloat, you should split your dog’s daily intake into two or more separate meals.
rottweiler Newfoundland mix Exercise Requirements
Your Rottweiler mix should receive 60 to 90 minutes of exercise per day as an adult. Up to 20% to 40% should focus on a rigorous workout that may involve romping, wrestling, chasing, advanced training exercises, or fetching.
Puppies require exercise as well, but it is important to limit physical activities until their growth plates close around 18 to 24 months old.
Five minutes of exercise per month of age is a standard guideline for young dogs until they are about eight months old.
Keep in mind that puppies will often be doing some high-level exercises during their independent play sessions. When your dog reaches the age of a year, she may very well be at 45 to 70 minutes of daily exercise with you.
However, you will not be pushing her into all-out runs and advanced agility. By the same token, she should not be performing a lot of high jumps.
You also need to exercise your dog mentally, whether adult or puppy. For puppies, you can substitute training for the physical exercise you are not able to do.
You also should concentrate on developing your pup’s social skills, exposing him to other dogs when you see an opportunity.
Always beware of where your puppy is in his vaccination series and the status of any dogs he may come across. Dog parks generally leave your young dog at too much risk or parvo exposure.
Puppy classes, however, are wonderful for socialization, and puppies are likely to be at the same vaccination level as yours.
Adult dogs still require training to reinforce basic obedience, learn new skills, and stave off boredom.
Rottweiler Newfoundland mix Training
You must begin training early with your New Rottland in anticipation of her size and strength. Eight, nine, or twelve weeks is not too early to start training obedience. Try to instill cooperation before your dog begins to realize her power.
Rottweiler Newfoundland mixes are smart and require you to not only be a few steps ahead of them in training but also imaginative.
You need to be consistent in your methods but also invent different ways to present basic commands every day. If you do not change up your training sessions from one day to the next, your dog will become bored.
Your dog will learn best with a combination of positive reinforcement and corrections. Harsh words and physical punishment will block learning and cause your dog to become resistant and anxious.
Rottie Newfies require an assertive and self-assured handler or they may challenge you. Many situations may require professional intervention to help you become more effective with your dog.
Rottweiler Newfoundland mix and Families
Your Rottie-Newfie has all of the tools to be an excellent mix for solitary owners or families. She is active and keeps up with someone who likes to hike every weekend or a houseful of kids that like to run and play.
Your dog will be loyal to you and if you socialize she correctly will be friendly with your guests but initially watchful with strangers.
New Rottlands require numerous social situations before they reach four months of age or they can react to new people and dogs with fear, shyness, or aggression.
Some Newfie mixes take after Newfoundlands and are instinctively gentle with young children. Puppies are less aware, quite rambunctious, and get large quickly.
They can easily knock down kids and require constant supervision. However, Rott-Newfoundland crosses have the stamina and energy to keep up with children over ten years old as long as it is not too hot or humid outside.
Rottweiler Newfoundland Mix and Other Pets
Rottweilers can be dog aggressive, but Newfie mixes, in general, do not illustrate that unless they are poorly socialized. They like to play although they may not be the fastest dogs in the dog park.
Your new pet is also likely to get along with any other dog in your household. The likelihood of a harmonious household increases, even more, when you have puppies that grow up together or even if your new puppy matures alongside an adult dog.
New Rottlands can also potentially get along with cats, but you should exercise caution leaving your dog alone with small animals.
Even with dogs under 25 pounds, take precautions not to leave your huge dog unsupervised with it.
Tragic traumatic events can happen in seconds. Some New Rottlands chase other animals while others may have a natural instinct to herd.
Example
Notice at the end of the video, that the mix is a large brown dog with the slightly shortened muzzle from the Rottie and the fur contribution and tail of the Newfie. Look how active the dog is for its size.
Related Post
