Rottweilers are a favorite breed for many reasons. They have great instincts, are strong, and socialize quite easily. They also grow into a large size, an advantage for a dog that serves as an excellent guard. However, how special would it be to have your Rottweiler in a smaller, cuter size?
As a pet lover, you often want your furry Rottweiler companion to look cute and be easy to handle. Technically, a Miniature Rottweiler is a cross between a Rottweiler and another smaller breed, like a Miniature Pinscher. The Miniature Rottweiler checks all these boxes. However, the Miniature Rottweiler is not yet recognized as an official breed under AKC.
This article will shed light on helping you to better understand Mini Rotts. You should be able to identify what a Mini Rott is, knowing its lifespan and susceptibilities to certain health issues, taking the necessary steps in providing better care, understanding its temperaments and grooming tips. Let’s get started!
Is There A Miniature Rottweiler?
Yes, Miniature Rottweilers do exist.
However, Rottweilers are never miniature by their nature and they are normally classified as large pets, growing to an average height of 25 inches, weighing as much as 132 lbs.
You may have heard of or seen a purebred Miniature Rottweiler, but its existence is down to extraordinary circumstances. A Miniature Rottweiler can naturally be a Rottweiler affected by dwarfism, or a runt which is not diseased or suffering from dwarfism, a perfectly healthy dog.
Miniature Rottweilers can also exist as a mixed breed, a cross between a Rottweiler and a smaller breed. If the Rottweiler is crossbred from the runt of the litter, they will also likely be miniature.
Miniature Rottweilers, bred from the Rottweiler and another miniature breed, are highly recommended and usually healthy.
How Big Do Miniature Rottweilers Get?
If you are interested in owning a Miniature Rottweiler, I’m sure you’re also interested in how big they get. The size of any Mini Rott depends on its nature, whether it was crossbred or purebred.
On average, when fully grown, Miniature Rottweilers can grow between 40 to 80 lbs. But, unfortunately, they also don’t extend beyond 12 inches tall. So, they are still handy enough to go anywhere with you.
Some exceptionally small breeds like the Rottweiler Chihuahua Mix can weigh as little as 6 pounds, standing a tiny 6 inches tall, if you love them very small.
If that’s too miniature for you, the Rottweiler Beagle Mix fares a bit better. It grows as heavy as 80 lbs and can stand 27 inches tall when fully grown.
How Long Does A Miniature Rottweiler Live?
Naturally, Rottweilers live for about 9 to 10 years. This is what you can expect of the smaller version too.
Miniature Rottweilers either inbred or bred from the runt of the litter are more prone to diseases, due to a less robust and weaker immune system.Although crossbred Mini Rotts tend to fare better, they are not without health issues. Some health conditions that are commonly associated with Miniature Rottweilers include:
Dwarfism
Dwarfism hinders the development of the bones and inhibits their full growth. This condition results in weaker bones and a more fragile body that the Mini Rott will have throughout its life.
Eye Problems
Mini Rottweilers can experience eye problems in the form of cataracts that severely affect their vision in the later stages. They may also suffer from a condition that causes the eyelids to roll either inward (entropion) or outward (ectropion). Eye problems in Rottweilers can be managed and treated once detected.
Cardiovascular Problems
This occurs when a blockage impedes blood flow to the heart. It can be treated but, if undetected, may lead to a heart attack.
Other health conditions affecting Miniature Rottweilers also include hip and elbow dysplasia, arthritis, hypothyroidism, and even cancer.
So, with a better understanding of the health issues Mini Rotts are prone to, let’s look at how you can better take care of your cute little canine buddy.
How To Take Care Of Your Miniature Rottweiler?
Your Miniature Rottweiler is not as large as a regular Rottweiler, so you need to take proper precautions so that it thrives as best as possible. However, the type of mix of the Rottweiler determines how best to take care of them, with purebred Mini Rottweilers needing the greatest care.
These are some guidelines on how best to make your Mini Rotts live their best lives.
Exercise
While all Rottweilers require a good amount of exercise, you must be careful not to expose Miniature Rottweilers to any exercises, especially outdoors, before they are three months old regardless of their mix. This is because their bones are just developing and still growing. As a result, they need to be handled with care.
Once they are fully matured, make sure to exercise your furry friend for at most 30 minutes every day. By their nature, Rottweilers are very active, and exercises improve their overall development.
Diet
Your Mini Rott requires foods that will help develop their bones for optimal performance. Your dog’s daily meal should also consist more of protein than grains. Dog food brands, like the highly recommended Pet Plate, are specially formulated to help your little canines develop appropriately. You may further consult your vet for food alternatives or the best option.
Miniature Rottweilers also require lots of vitamin supplements in their diet to help overall development. Remember, you should never give Rottweilers human vitamins. Instead, contact a vet to get the appropriate multivitamin dosage.
Dental Water Additives
Dental water additives help protect your dog’s teeth and develop fresh breath. To maintain and improve your Miniature Rottweiler’s oral health, you need to invest in dental water additives, which are simply added to their water bowl at one teaspoon per daily serving.
Are Miniature Rottweilers Lazy? Temperaments Of Miniature Rottweilers
Miniature Rottweilers are no different from normal-sized Rottweilers in attitude. However, if there is anything Rottweilers are known for, it is active with high energy levels. That is why they’re the favored breed to serve as police dogs.
Therefore, Miniature Rottweilers are not lazy. You will find them fun to be with as their energy makes them ideal pets for the whole family. You can also learn a thing or two about the temperament of the Miniature Rottweiler in this section.
Temperaments Of Miniature Rottweilers
You don’t need to be worried about your Miniature Rottweiler not being as active as the normal-sized variant. They retain the same temperaments.
Some of them are:
- Guardian instincts
- Energetic
- Attention-seeking
- Very loyal
- Aggressive
The temperaments of a Miniature Rottweiler as a high-energy dog breed do not affect its ability to show and receive affection, as you would see.
Do Miniature Rottweilers Love To Cuddle?
Mini Rottweilers do love cuddles. The more you show them affection, the friendlier they become. When Mini Rottweilers are left without cuddling or alone for long hours, beyond 6 hours, they can start exhibiting biting traits.
At What Age Does A Miniature Rottweiler Calm Down?
As a very high-energy dog, a Miniature Rottweiler, will eventually calm down even if you don’t train it deliberately. Depending on your choice, you may also want to calm it down faster to behave better in public.
However, at about 24 months, your Miniature Rottweiler will begin to calm down.
How Long Can A Miniature Rottweiler Be Left Alone?
Your little canine loves to be around people. So if possible, the Mini Rottweiler would stay around you throughout the entire day. But that is not possible. Your pup can be left alone for up to six hours at a time. Anything beyond six hours, its need for the bathroom can cause some restlessness. It may also lose some of its socialization traits if it stays alone for too long.
If you wish to be away for longer than six hours, you need to make preparations ahead of time. You can hire a professional sitter or entrust the care of your Mini Rott with a friend.
Do Miniature Rottweilers Shed? Grooming Tips For Miniature Rottweilers
If a Miniature Rottweiler is for you, you may need to know how best to groom your dog. But first, shedding.
Do Miniature Rottweilers Shed?
Depending on what breed your Miniature Rottweiler was crossed with, your pet may shed heavily or not. Rottweilers are known more for their muscles than for hair, so they do not shed that much.
If you have a purebred Mini Rottweiler, you won’t have too many worries about shedding.
If your little buddy happens to be a crossbred, then shedding depends on the nature of the species the Rottweiler was crossed with.
Shedding in your Rottweiler is also determined by external factors like temperature and internal factors like age, nutrition, and health.
Are Miniature Rottweilers Hypoallergenic?
If you are allergic to dogs and wonder if owning a Mini Rottweiler would be bad for you, then the news is not bad.
Although Mini Rottweilers are not hypoallergenic, they only trigger allergies occasionally due to their saliva and shedding.
You can reduce this occurrence to the barest minimum by adequately grooming your pet through regular brushing to get rid of excessive hair and oiling the fur occasionally. In addition, you can easily remove excess hair using a de-shedding tool like the FURminator Undercoat Tool.
You can also bathe your Rottweiler, although there are questions about how frequently that should be.
How Often Should You Bathe Miniature Rottweilers?
For your Mini Rottweilers, frequent bathing is not good. In fact, their skin can become drier when you bathe them too frequently.
At most, your Mini Rottweiler should be bathed once a month, if necessary. Otherwise, once every other month would do. Whenever you bathe your Rottweiler, remember to always use conditioners like the Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner that moisturize their skin. This helps prevent dryness which can cause more loss of hair.
Related Questions
How Much Does A Miniature Rottweiler Cost? The prices of Miniature Rottweilers vary, especially as they are not officially recognized as a breed. If you want to adopt your puppy, it could cost between $250 to $700. The price of a Miniature Rottweiler from a standard breeder cost between $1,000 and $2,500. Some breeds can even cost you as high as $4,000. The breed your Rottweiler is crossed with is the primary determinant of its price.
What Is A Teacup Rottweiler? The Teacup Rottweiler is the product of crossing a Miniature Rottweiler with a smaller dog variety like the Chihuahua, a dwarf-sized Rottweiler or a tiny dog, mostly the runt of the litter. Despite the Rottweiler breed being one of the strongest and healthiest dog breeds, most purebred Teacup Rottweilers are weaker due to their susceptibility to diseases and fragile bodies.
What Dogs Look Like A Mini Rottweiler? There are miniature dogs that look like the Mini Rottweiler. An example is a Miniature Pinscher. With fur like that of the Miniature Rottweiler, the Mini Pinscher comes as an excellent alternative if the standard Rottweiler is not the dog for you. Other examples include the Manchester Terrier and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog.
