When our family was ready to welcome a new pet, we didn’t realize we’d become a house divided. One side was squarely on the Rottweiler wagon while the other side professed their undying love of the Husky. So, we decided to look at both – well, in a manner of speaking.
The Rottsky is a hybrid breed that resulted from cross-breeding a German Rottweiler and a Siberian Husky.
Due to its lineage, the Rottsky is best suited as a pet for active households or working dogs because of its stamina and strength. The breed is not recommended for first-time owners.
Having decided to compromise, we looked into the Husky Rottweiler Mix. And as with any potential purchase, it is always the safest option to do as much research as you can before signing a cheque. So, here’s what we found on the Rottsky breed.
Breed Overview of The Rottsky
Origin of the Rottweiler Husky Mix
The hybrid breed (as with most “designer” breeds) is relatively new, some of the so-called designer breeds have a well-documented history, but that is not the case with the Rottsky.
There is not much about their origin or who decided to mix the two breeds or when, so the best we can do at this stage is to learn more about the hybrid’s parentage.
Parentage
We know that the parentage of the Rottsky dates back to The Roman Empire (Rottweiler) and the 1900s Siberia (Siberian Husky).
The two breeds are distinct in appearance, temperament, and characteristics but share some common ground as they are both working dogs. For more information on the Rottsky lineage, have a look at this comparison guide between the Rottie and Husky.
Characteristics of The Rottsky
Appearance
The Rottsky’s appearance can vary depending on which side of their bloodline is most dominant. So, they might pull more to one side of the parentage.
They are large, solid dogs with males standing between 22–26 inches and around 60–110 lbs. Females can be between 20–25 inches and approximately 40–90 lbs.
Generally, Rottskies have the Rottweiler coloring with piercing blue eyes, bi-color (blue and brown), or brown eyes.
Temperament
Combining what we know of its origin, the Rottweiler Husky mix can present some challenges (similar to the Huskita mix), so they are not the best pick for new pet owners. Obedience training will be a must.
Because both origin breeds can be somewhat intolerant of other dogs, it would be best to socialize your Rottsky with puppy classes or playdates while they are still young (around 3 to 4 months old).
Apart from the challenges, the breed is loyal, intelligent, and makes excellent guard dogs because they are pretty protective of their families.
Grooming Needs
The breed will shed year-round but more in fall and spring. Your Rottsky will have a thick undercoat will shed this undercoat seasonally; this means that before winter and then again before summer, there will be hair – and lots of it.
Get into the habit of regularly brushing your Rottsky with a de-shedding brush (try the Furminator); this can significantly reduce free-falling hair around the house. Word to the wise, do this outside if possible.
Lifespan
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, there is no trusted evaluation on the lifespan of the Rottsky – there is not enough data to conclude this topic. However, we can guess that it would be somewhere in between 9 to 14 years.
As a large breed, the Rottweiler’s life expectancy is between 9 and 10 years, whereas the Husky is a medium breed with a life expectancy of between 12 and 14 years.
Possible Health Issues
In some cases, with hybrid breeds, hereditary health issues that plague purebreds are diminished or eliminated with the breeding process.
However, if both breeds are predisposed to the same health issues, there is a big possibility that the offspring will inherit the same problems.
Since the history of the Rottsky won’t give us much to work with, we can only rely on what we know from the origin breeds. Here is a list of potential health issues Rottskies can develop.
Rottsky Training and Exercise
Some might say that the Rottsky is not very trainable, but we have to disagree to some extent. Rottweilers and Huskies are brilliant dogs and can be trained, and their offspring should not be much different.
However, it should go without saying that you need to put in the time necessary for proper training; it will be a continuous process as they mature, so you have to commit to training for the foreseeable future.
Below is a video of a Rottsky puppy busy with training – it’s adorable!
The drawback of having intelligent and energetic dogs is that they need mental and physical stimulation. The training should help keep their minds busy, but you should be prepared to ensure they get at least 60 minutes of good exercise a day as they hit the one-year mark.
For puppies, there is a limit on the exercise. As the breed would be somewhere in the middle of medium to large, they take a little longer to develop fully. For large breeds, the following guide is recommended to reduce strain on developing joints as muscles.
For every month, your puppy should get five minutes of continuous exercise.
| Three months old | 15 minutes |
| Six months old | 30 minutes |
| Nine months old | 45 minutes |
| Twelve months old | 60 minutes |
The Pros and Cons of Owning a Rottsky
The breed does not appear to have any significant issues. However, there are a few disadvantages to owning a Rottsky that might influence your decision. However, the advantages make up for it.
Cons
- Both Huskies and Rottweilers are shedders, ergo Rottskies are shedders.
- There is no breed history to rely on, so there is some uncertainty lingering.
- Rottskies are energetic and need exercise to avoid destructive behavior.
- The breed is not recommended for first-time dog owners.
Pros
- The Husky Rottweiler Mix is loyal and very protective of their families.
- Their adventurous spirit will be a great addition to active families.
- Rottskies are intelligent dogs and can be trained.
- The hybrid breed is an excellent option as a working dog.
Hybrid Registries for The Husky Rottweiler Mix
The only hybrid registry that recognizes the Husky Rottweiler Mix (national and international) is the Designer Breed Registry (DBR). The lack of recognition might change in the future as the Rottsky becomes more popular.
But for now, Rottsky lovers are faced with the problem of no set breeding standards for the hybrid or any control over the breeding requirements.
You can always email some of the registries to find out if they might consider adding the Rottsky to their registries. Below is a list of some of the hybrid registries:
- American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC)
- Designer Breed Registry (DBR)
- Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC)
- Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA)
- International Designer Canine Registry® (IDCR)
- National Hybrid Registry (NHR)
- North American Purebred Registry, Inc. (NAPR)
Rottsky Breeders and Pricing
Due to the lack of reliable registries, it becomes challenging to access reputable breeders. On a quick search on the internet, the only place where you can buy Rottsky puppies is in the classifieds.
Now, you never know, you can get lucky and get what you pay for, or you fall into a trap. In the best case, you’ll get a pup with unknown parentage. And in the worst case, you can get a sick puppy that is predisposed to health issues.
The best way to avoid a scam is to ask the breeder to give you references from previous buyers. Chatting with other pet owners who bought from the same breeder will provide you with valuable insight into the breeder’s background and the breed’s overall health.
If the breeder refuses you this opportunity, that will most likely be your first warning sign that there might be more issues than they led you to believe.
Pricing
From the classifieds, the price range for Rottsky puppies runs between $180.00 and $350.00. There is no mention if the price includes first vaccinations, deworming, or any sort of health guarantee. So as the age-old saying goes, buyer beware.
If you find a breeder that charges along the lines of $500 to $1000 for the pups, this can indicate that they are responsible breeders, but you’ll have to take the time to do the research.
Final Thoughts on the Husky Rottie
It would be best if you do as much “homework” as you can before getting a Husky Rottie mix. Ask the breeder if you can chat with other buyers, which will expose any warning signs before you commit to the purchase.
Overall, the Rottsky appears to be a fantastic breed that will make a tremendous addition to your household. Those gorgeous eyes alone are enough to make you fall in love with the hybrid.