Rottweiler Great Dane Mix (Weiler Dane): Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

Some dogs are gentle giants, but the Weiler Dane takes the phrase to a new level. They are among some of the most gentle animals you’ll ever encounter. At first glance, that’s not the perception you’ll get. Weiler Danes are a Great Dane and Rottweiler hybrid, and they’re physically imposing and intimidating dogs.

However, at heart, they’re as sweet as can be, and despite their size, they are suitable for just about everyone. They love children and are more than mellow enough for apartment living. The Rottweiler Great Dane mix is a true example of not being able to judge a book by its cover. Let’s look closer at the breed and what makes them so special.

Weiler Dane Puppies

When looking into getting a Weiler Dane, there’s one factor you need to consider: their size. These are not small dogs and are a cross between one of the tallest dog breeds (the Great Dane) and the stockiest (Rottweiler).

Being such a large animal, they will require plenty of food, at least 3 cups every day. So, if you can’t afford to keep up with their dietary needs, the Weiler Dane might not be the best pet for you.

Next, you should have some room for them to maneuver around. This doesn’t mean you need a large fenced yard or sprawling ranch. They thrive in apartments, townhouses, or other smaller abodes. However, you might have to rearrange the furniture to help them move freely.

The last aspect to consider about their size is that they don’t know how big they are. If there’s one thing that these big babies love to do, it’s to curl up in your lap after a long day of doing nothing. They may be the biggest lap dogs of any breed, and while it is an admirable trait for some owners, others might find it difficult to deal with. However, early training can help them break the habit.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Weiler Dane

1. The Weiler Dane Hails From a Lineage of Noble Working Dogs.

Both the Rottweiler and Great Dane have storied working histories. The Rottweiler can be traced back to the Roman Empire, where they were used as sheep-herding dogs. The Rottweiler has become indispensable to law enforcement and security ventures in recent years.

On the other side, the Great Dane can be traced back to 3,000 B.C. with the Ancient Egyptians. The Assyrians ultimately started spreading the breed around the ancient world, where they quickly became boar hunters. Although the Weiler Dane hails from these hard workers, today, they’re one of the laziest dogs you’ll ever meet.

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2. The Weiler Dane Is Bred to Be a Companion Dog.

The Weiler Dane isn’t bred for work or service despite their size and lineage. Instead, they’re bred for companionship, which is unusual to see for dogs of their size.

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3. They Blow Their Coats Twice a Year.

While they’re not the heaviest shedders, the Weiler Dane requires weekly grooming. However, you may need to focus more on grooming during the spring and fall months.

Temperament & Intelligence of Weiler Danes 🧠

Despite their massive body, the Weiler Dane is one of the world’s cuddliest dogs. They want nothing more than to cozy up to you on the sofa or bed. But their love and compassion reach out further than just snuggle time. They’re also mellow dogs and don’t require too much stimulation.

They’re relatively intelligent but have a bit of a stubborn streak. The good news is that it can be easily trained out of them, and you should start training as early as possible.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Weiler Great Danes are excellent dogs for families, even those with children. Weiler Danes love kids. They’re patient enough to deal with pesky children and adore all the attention they receive while they’re climbing all over them. Some Weiler Danes will even allow their families’ children to climb on and ride them like horses.

Regardless, be careful to always supervise playtime between your pup and children since accidents happen, especially considering the dog’s size.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Weiler Danes can get along with other pets with little to no issue. They’re big lovers and often try to snuggle up with other dogs when taking a nap. When your Weiler Dane is raised with another pet from a young age, they will treat the animal like any other family member and love and protect them.

Things to Know When Owning a Weiler Dane:

There’s more to owning a Weiler Dane than feeding them and giving them plenty of snuggles. Let’s go over some of the basic needs this breed requires.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

As mentioned, the Weiler Dane needs a sizable quantity of food to maintain their large frames. Three cups of dry food daily should suffice, but as they grow larger, you may need to increase the quantity. However, you need to be very careful when feeding them.

They don’t know when to stop sometimes. Weiler Danes are prone to overeating, which could ultimately lead to obesity. If obesity isn’t bad enough, they also tend to eat very fast. Weiler Danes gulp down their food quickly and sometimes swallow too much air.

This can make them susceptible to bloat. That’s why you need to ensure they don’t start exercising until given a chance for their food to settle.

Exercise 🐕

You’d think a dog of this size would require plenty of exercise. However, that’s where you’d be mistaken. These giants don’t need but 30 minutes of exercise a day. You can take them for their daily walk and play with them at home, and that’s all they’ll need.

They’re not very active, and since they don’t require much exercise, they’re not going to be bounding around the house. Therefore, Weiler Danes are excellent apartment pets.

Training 🦮

Like other dogs, the Weiler Dane should engage in obedience training and socialization early in life. They’re not the most intelligent dogs around, but that doesn’t mean they’re untrainable. They follow commands very well once trained.

However, getting to that point may be difficult at first. They’ve been known to have a stubborn streak, which can make them a little thick-headed to start.

Grooming ✂️

Regarding grooming, they’re not as high-maintenance as you might think. Weiler Danes are moderate shedders and only require weekly brushing to keep their coats in check. However, there are two specific areas you’ll need to pay closer attention to.

The first is their ears. Since they have large floppy ears, they’re more vulnerable to ear infections. Be sure to clean out your pup’s ear regularly to prevent ear infections.

The next is their nails. Because they live such a sedentary lifestyle, their nails do not get naturally filed down. You can clip them monthly to keep them at a manageable length.

Health Conditions ❤️

As a hybrid dog, the Weiler Dane is susceptible to most ailments affecting their purebred ancestors. However, since they are hybrids, the probability of them contracting them is much lower. So, they’re generally healthier and more robust.

Male vs Female

Regarding differences between the sexes, there’s only one noticeable trait. The males grow to be bigger than the females. Male Weiler Danes are 10–15 pounds heavier and a few inches taller.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for an incredible family dog and don’t mind a large pet, the Weiler Dane would make a perfect addition to your family. They’re calm, patient, and loving. Don’t expect them to be your next jogging partner, however. They’d rather snuggle up on the couch with a warm blanket and bowl of popcorn. The only real difficulty in raising the gentle giants is keeping up with their demanding diets.

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Featured Image Credit: Erik Lam, Shutterstock