The Rottweiler and Pit Bull Terrier mix is a designer dog breed that goes by many different names. Read more about the characteristics and the care that this dog needs.
The Pitweiler is a designer dog, and it's a mix between the Rottweiler and the American Pit Bull Terrier. Other names of this breed are Rottbull, Prott, Rottie Pit, and Bullrott.
Pitweilers don't have a unique color pattern, but they come in a variety of colors. These colors can be brindle, black, brown, red, white, tan, sable or a mix.
Both the Rottweiler and the Pit bull are sometimes wrongly associated with violent temperament because of bad training and socialization, but in reality they can make very loyal and loving pets. The pitweiler is no exception to this and can display a very calm personality.
According to 101dogbreeds.com when socialized early and correctly pitweilers become loyal and friendly dogs that will fit perfectly in most families.
Size and weight of a Pitweiler
Many times we hear the question: How big does a Pitweiler get?
Rottweilers tend to be tall and muscular.
Pit bulls are much shorter, very stocky and broad-chested, with short, wide heads.
When you put them together, the result is impressive. Standing about two feet tall and weighing in as heavy as 100 pounds, this is a large and powerful dog.
Pitweilers are medium to large dogs with average height of 20 – 24 inches and weight about 50 – 100 lbs.
Average size of a female Pitweiler: 20 – 22 inches and 50-90 lbs
Average size of a male Pitweiler: 21 – 24 inches and 80-100 lbs
They are well-built dogs with strong jaws, deep chest and defined musculature.
Lifespan: 12 - 15 years
Pitweiler Temperament
Because of their sturdy and muscular bodies Pitweilers can seem intimidating, but they're actually a very sensitive, affectionate and friendly breed. They are also intelligent and playful dogs with high levels of energy. When they're well-socialized and trained they can be very loyal and protective dogs.
Are These Dogs Good for Families?
Pitweilers make excellent family dogs. Because they're natural guardians, they will protect every member of the family while being very affectionate and soft at the same time. This is why they're also great with children.
A pitweiler will consider the whole family as his pack and it will do evrything to protect it. However, because of their size and high energy levels, they should be closely supervised when they are in the same space with small children.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
Pitweilers that are well-socialized get along well with other pets.
The thing you have to remember is that they have natural hunting instincts and can also display a dominant behavior if they grow up alone. That's why if you have any other pets, including other dogs, it is important to introduce each other when the pitweiler is still young. A young puppy will learn to get along with other pets much easier than an older dog.
Is a Pitweiler a good guard dog?
According to the article 10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Pitweiler from puppytoob.com their muscular build makes them very good guard dogs or family watch dogs. They can sense dangers that are not otherwise perceived and they tend to be suspicious around people that they do not know and will voice this suspicion by barking.
They can suffer from separation anxiety
This is something that relates to most dogs so keep in mind that if you're away from home for long periods of time, a Pitweiler is probably not the best dog for you.
This breed is very sensitive and can easily feel neglected something that can kead to separation anxiety and destructive bahavior (like chewing your sofa).
Pitweiler Breed Care and Maintenance
The care and maintenance of this Pit Bull and Rottweiler mix is analized in the following paragraphs: Food and diet, Exersize, Training and socialization, and grooming.
1. Food and diet
It's best to talk to your veterinarian first if you have any questions about your dog’s health or diet.
In general, when your pitweiler is a puppy it is recommended to feed it like you would with every large breed puppy, and that is four small meals per day, unti the puppy reaches its full size (approximately when it becomes 1 year old).
For an adult Pitweiler the daily recommended amount is 3 oz wet dog food or ¼ cup dry dog food per 3-3 ½ pounds of body weight (however this can vary depending on the brand and the type of food). The daily amount should be divided into 2-3 meals throughout the day.
Avoid feeding your dog just one big meal per day because this can cause stomach problems and severe health issues. Also avoid feeding prior to exercise.
You can see some examples of rough estimates of the daily amount of food you'll need below:
- 50 lbs dog: 3 ½ cups dry dog food or 42 oz wet dog food
- 60 lbs dog: 4 ¼ cups dry dog food or 47 oz wet dog food
- 70lbs dog: 5 cups dry dog food or 52 oz wet dog food
- 80 lbs dog: 5 ¾ cups dry dog food or 58 oz wet dog food
- 90lbs dog: 6 ½ cups dry dog food or 63 oz wet dog food
- 100 lbs dog: 7 cups dry dog food or 69 oz wet dog food
2. Exersize
The Rottweiler and Pit Bull mix is more suitable for active families because it has high energy levels and will need at least a total of 1 hour of exercise every day, for example a 30 minute walk and play twice a day. It's even better if these activities are divided into 3 20-minute sessions.
If they don't expend their energy through exersize they can show destructive behavior like chewing furniture and clothes.
3. Training and socialization
Pitweilers are smart dogs who learn easilly. The most important thing you have to remember is that you have to start training and socializing them as early as possible, because when they're young they learn easy and they avoid developing bad habbits which can be difficult to change once they've grown up.
A poorly socialized pitweiler can become aggressive and dominant so, it's highly advisable to start structured training and many socialization experiences as soon as you bring your new Pitweiler home. These dogs love to please and are very happy when they're given many different tasks, so training them should not be difficult.
4. Grooming
A Pitweiler's coat is usually short and glossy and most of the times is single-layered like the Pit Bull Terrier. Some times though it can also be double-layered like the Rottweiler something that means it will need to be brushed more often.
Generally, their grooming is not very demanding. You'll probably need to brush them once or twice a week and give them a bath once a month or even less often.
If your Pitweiler inherits the double-layered Rottweiler coat, it will require more frequent brushing, especially during spring and fall when it will shed more heavily.
Pitweiler Health Problems
Annual checkups and vet visits whenever something seems out of the ordinary are advised to protect the health and well-being of our pet. Also, make sure to follow the vaccination schedule and any other preventative medication the veterinarian will advise.
The most common health problems are:
- Bloat and Volvulus. To reduce the risk for this problem, avoid one big meal per day and prefer to divid the daily food in 2-3 meals each day. Also, don't feed your dog before exersize.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia. This is a common problem among large dogs. It's due to abnormal growth of the joints, something that can cause pain and lameness. Medication, therapy, or even surgery can help.
- Cataract. Senior dogs can suffer from cataract which can lead to blidness if remains untreated.
How much does a Pitweiler cost?
Their average price range is between $500 - $1000. Usually puppies with more rare colors are also more expensive.
Pitweilers are not recognized by the AKC as a pedigreed breed because they're hybrids. That's probably the reason why you can find Pitweiler puppies at a lower price than Rottweiler or Pit Bull puppies. However, because their demand is lower, it may be more difficult to locate one.
Before buying a puppy you can consider adopting a stray. Most pet store puppies are sourced from puppy mills where profit is valued more than the puppies themselves.
According to aspca.org the dogs in this kind of places are usually crammed into filthy, overcrowded cages with poor nutrition and absence of basic veterinary care.
Even if you can't find a Piteweiler puppy for adoption, adopting another stray puppy which is a Rottweiler or a Pit Bull mix can be equally if not more rewarding!
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