Rottweiler vs Pitbull – Who Would Win?

Dogfighting is not legal but people still fantasize about matching up two dogs. One of the most fantasized dog fights would be between a Rottweiler and a Pitbull. So who would win – Rottweiler vs Pitbull?

A Rottweiler can easily beat a Pitbull. Rottweiler is larger, stronger, heavier, and has a stronger bite force compared to a Pitbull.

Here is a brief comparison.

Which Dog Would Win the Fight: Pitbull or Rottweiler

When thinking about formidable dogs that commonly exist among us, two dogs come to mind instantly. These are the Rottweiler and the American Pitbull Terrier. 

Many people would back the Pitbull since he never backs down from a fight. But, is this fearless dog really the champion in all fights, not really.

In a fight between Pitbull and Rottweiler, Rottweiler should easily win. 

Why can a Pitbull kill a rottweiler?

A rottweiler is a larger and fiercer dog than a pit bull, however, it is not a fighting dog.

Strength

Although overall the rottweiler is a stronger breed, Pitbulls are stronger when you calculate the strength pound by pound. Rottweilers are huge, but Pitbulls have high muscle strength.

History

Pitbulls used to be bred for bull-baiting and dog-fighting. Hence, there is no doubt that Pitbulls will not give up easily in a fight.

Traits

Pitbulls are faster and far more athletic than rottweilers. Not only that, rottweilers like the agility and gameness that Pitbulls have, which could easily make Pitbulls win against a rottweiler.

Also, while rottweilers have a stronger bite, Pitbulls bite in a different way. They hold and shake, without letting go.

Because of this, it is very hard to remove anything from the mouth of a Pitbull once it bites anything without hurting the Pitbull in any way.

Why can a rottweiler beat a pit bull?

Strength

Both Rottweilers and Pitbulls are extremely strong with huge, bulky bodies.

In size alone, a rottweiler is bigger than a Pitbull. That means that it can easily take on a Pitbull in a fight.

Purpose

While Pitbulls are kept as pets as family dogs, rottweilers are kept as guard dogs. They are usually tied up and are trained to fight off any strangers.

Strong bite

The teeth of rottweilers are much sharper than those of pit bulls. They can bite into anything very easily.

Aggression

While Pitbulls have earned the reputation of being aggressive dogs, rottweilers are actually more aggressive in reality.

Pitbulls are very friendly dogs who have just got a bad name.

Friendliness

Contrary to what media makes us believe, Pitbulls love socializing and need to be among humans. They may also get along well with other animals if trained properly.

Rottweilers, on the other hand, are not very people-friendly. They do not tolerate strangers around them, be it humans or animals.

Rottweiler Vs Pitbull

Let’s assess the abilities of these two dogs based on some crucial characteristics as below. 

Size

The Pitbull is around 4 to 6 inches shorter than the Rottweiler.

Size matters and the Pitbull loses in this factor!

Pitbull has an average height of 17 to 21 inches which might not seem like much.

The Rottweiler boasts of being taller than his opponent. Rottweilers stand at 22 to 27 inches.

Please Note: These figures are for healthy dogs that have reached adulthood.

Weight

When considering weight, it is tough to assess the real use of it.

That is because the Pitbull weighs much less than the Rottweiler. But other factors may make this con a pro. For example, less weight means faster maneuvers. 

At 30 to 65 pounds, The Pitbull is much lighter than the Rottweiler and there is no way to sugar-coat it. But mind you, this is all muscle!

The Rottweiler triumphs here as well with a hefty weight of 80 to 135 pounds! This creates a gap of 50 to 70 pounds between the two dog breeds.

Again, the Rottweiler wins this one in general without any competition. 

Athleticism

Rottweiler is athletic, but we’ll admit sometimes his size makes it clumsy.

Looking at the Rottweiler, you can clearly see his body is less muscular than say other dog breeds like Pitbull or Doberman Pinscher. 

The Pitbull on the other end looks like a professional athlete. A compact body and muscular build give a naturally athletic impression. Such a strong body makes every activity look effortless with the Pitbull.

Like every dog, both dogs are prone to obesity if overfed or under-exercised. It takes a balance of both to make him healthy and active.

In this factor, clearly, Pitbull leads the race.

Bite Force

Now comes the interesting part. Who has a stronger and harder bite? 

A dog’s bite is essentially his main defense and attack weapon. The bite force is measured in PSI (Pounds per Square Inch). The PSI for us humans is 162, a number shadowed by most animals, especially domesticated dogs.

Read about factors affecting and how to calculate PSI. 

The Pitbull has a 235 PSI compared to an astoundingly high 328 PSI of Rottweiler, giving the Rottweiler an advantage of 93 points.

The Rottweiler bite gets deeper and is much more potent and painful than its rival the Pitbull.

But it’s not just about the bite force. The Rottweiler has larger and sharper canines than a typical Pitbull. Meaning that a Rottweiler has the ability to rip through flesh and skin with more ease.

This is a frightening thought, but one that puts the Rottweiler in the lead. 

Aggressive Instinct

Who has a higher aggressive instinct? Let’s find out. 

Many times you hear about Pitbull attacks on humans, even kids. But, this applies mostly to abused Pitbulls or those who have not been trained properly. In reality, a well brought up Pitbull is loving and friendly and seldom attacks. 

Rottweilers are naturally aggressive. Because of this you see them often in special kennels or tethered to prevent attacks. This may be why we never hear about the Rottweiler attacks.

Their attacks are mainly only on intruders and thieves. But even just friends who are strangers to them are not warmly welcomed! This Rottie trait in combination with studies shows the Rottweiler has higher aggressive instincts among the two dogs.

Friendliness

You will not find a Rottweiler who is friendly and welcoming unless you are his owner. These dogs are born with guarding abilities. Once old enough, owners will train them how to use their physicality to back up their instincts.

Pitbulls are never trained to be aggressive and this behavior only comes out of negative treatment and hardships.

Typically, companion Pitbulls are friendly and do not attack or hassle new faces. They are welcoming to most people as long as their owner knows them.  

That said, none of these dogs are as friendly or social as a Labrador Retriever or a Goldendoodle. But, if you must choose, the Pitbull is much more friendly and social compared to a Rottweiler!

Intelligence

Attacking and fighting another formidable dog requires more than just physical power.

It also requires coordination and thought behind every move. So we know the Rottweiler is physically capable but is he mentally capable as well? Let’s take a look to find the answer. 

Both dogs are intelligent and use their intelligence effectively in different ways.

The Pitbull uses it efficiently to serve as a service dog. But people are not usually open to using a Pitbull as a service dog because of misinformation. Pitbull dogs can be loyal and you can train them to act to certain commands. 

Rottweilers are the opposite. Although they are considered more intelligent than Pitbull, they use their intelligence to add to their guarding and aggressive nature.

Thus Rottweiler is more intelligent than the Pitbull and uses it to his advantage in fights. 

Fan of Rottweiler, check out one of these 10 Rottweiler Mixes.

Rottweiler and Pitbull Comparison

To understand the opponents better, let’s compare them side by side. 

Appearance

There is no mistaking a Rottweiler for any other dog. They distinctly wear a tan and black coat with a unique mask that highlights the eyebrow and muzzle area with a different color.

The outer coat of the body is distinctly pure black while the under areas and limbs are tannish-brown in color making them a very identifiable dog. If you’re unsure about the coat, the stern look in his eye will confirm his breed identity.  

This is not the case with the Pitbull. The Pitbull sees many variations and many crossbreeds can easily be incorrectly identified as a Pitbull.

The Pitbull (American Pitbull Terrier) has a medium size and a stocky low slung body. Consisting mostly of muscle, people often feel afraid of this dog for its daunting figure. 

Both dogs sport a shorter haircoat and that’s where the similarity ends.

The coat of the Rottie is slightly longer and much softer. Pitbull has a coat that is stiff and likened to paintbrush bristles. 

Don’t worry unnecessarily about cleaning up, read about Pitbull shedding.

Temperament

Because of the guarding reflex built into his DNA, a Rottweiler is not as social. He visually appears unsure about strangers. You are likely to feel his stare and invite some barking from dogs of this breed. 

Even though the Rottweiler enjoys cuddling with his owner, his favorite pass-time is patrolling his premises. This is to ward off intruders and make his presence felt!

On the other hand, Pitbulls are not so aggressive or suspicious of strangers despite rumors.

Given the opportunity, he will gladly play games with you and welcome a stranger into his home. Not such a great guard dog quality is it? That’s why he is most popular as a family companion.

When raised properly from puppyhood, a Pitbull can be gentle and loving. But when given a hard life and abuse, they can become aggressive out of fear.  

Want a Pyrenees Pit? First, find out everything about the Great Pyrenees Pitbull Mix. 

Price

Rottweilers are much more expensive due to their status as guard dogs for affluent people. Expect a Rottweiler puppy to cost $1500 or higher from a reputable breeder. 

A Pitbull puppy will start at $800 and above since they carry a “dangerous dog” tag. Sadly, many of these dogs end up at rescue shelters for reasons already explained. Consider adopting one before buying. 

Origins

Pitbull

The Pitbull is not a dog breed itself but rather a grouping term. We have considered the Pitbull as referring to the American Pitbull Terrier among this group. The Pitbull can be used for four crossbred dogs:

• American Pitbull Terrier
• American Bully
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier

The word Pitbull could be used on any of the above breeds. Unfortunately, they commonly get misidentified even by experts!

Pitbulls are loving dogs that have sparked interest among many American families. However, they are usually embroiled in controversy for two reasons. 

Firstly the Pitbull dog breed was used for dog-fighting and bull-baiting sports in the past. But many still link them with the Pitbull. 

Secondly, a mistreated or stray Pitbull might act aggressively out of fear or pain. This naturally earns him a bad name. It results in the Pitbulls breed becoming associated with dog attacks on children and people. Today, Pitbulls are solely companion or guard dogs.

Rottweiler 

The Rottweiler is said to have originated from Mastiff-like descendants. This breed is one of the oldest documented breeds dating back to the Roman Empire. Modern-day Rottweilers are a German-derived dog breed. 

This dog breed was mainly used by the Germans to protect livestock from thieves and wild animals. Impressed by this dog’s protective capabilities, a group of butchers took a few. They used this dog to guard their money bags by tying them around their necks. 

Hence they received the name “Rottweiler Metzgerhund” which in English translates to Rottweiler butcher dog. Today, we know this guard dog simply as the Rottweiler. 

Why Pitbulls and Rottweilers could get along?

Playstyle

Pitbulls and Rottweilers have very similar playing styles. For burning up energy, all dogs have different play styles – running around, jumping, bouncing, or wrestling.

Both Rottweilers and Pitbulls enjoy wrestling and fighting. If a rottweiler and Pitbull are friendly towards each other, they might play fight with each other, jumping over the other, rolling, and biting.

For some dogs, this type of activity might be overwhelming, but Rottweilers and Pitbulls both being strong and bulky can play together very well.

Loyalty towards family

Rottweilers and Pitbulls are both family dogs. Both have a history of serving as guardians of livestock and farm dogs.

Both are very protective of their families, and once they see that the other is a part of the family unit, they might get along and even be loyal to each other.

Training

Rottweilers are slightly easier to train than Pitbulls, but both dogs are very eager to please their humans. They are also very dedicated.

So, even if they have a problem getting along with each other, they might do so just to please their owners.

Temperament

Both the rottweiler and the Pitbull have stable temperaments. They have a lot of self-control while showing aggression.

Looking at the histories of both the dogs, they are trained to attack only when ordered to do so, which means that they have to show self-control at all other times.

That is why Rottweilers and Pitbulls can actually get along great.

Why Pitbulls and Rottweilers might not get along?

Dog aggression

Both Rottweilers and Pitbulls are prone to aggression, no matter how socialized they are.

Pitbulls were bred for fighting, which naturally means that they have aggressive instincts.

Similarly, Rottweilers were bred to protect livestock, and they were trained to attack anything that threatened it, instead of trying to be friendly.

This is why, both these dogs could start fights, and neither one would want to give up.

Prey drive

Rottweilers and Pitbulls both have a very high prey drive. Much of their instincts are rooted in trying to chase or attack anything that moves or feels threatening.

While all dogs have prey instincts, most of them do not experience this around anything that is the same in size or bigger than them.

If a Pitbull and a rottweiler experience this prey drive with each other, it might be very difficult to stop the fight and neither of them will back down.

How to help a Pitbull and rottweiler get along?

Training in self-control

Self-control is very important for any dog to be able to make friends or even just to get along with other dogs or humans.

You can train your dog in self-control by making them stay in various situations, for example, offering them food, or trying to run or play.

Older Pitbull and younger rottweiler

It is much easier to get the two breeds to get along together when the Pitbull is mature and the rottweiler is a puppy.

This is because Pitbulls mature late, and their aggression could erupt after they mature. On the other hand, a rottweiler is not innately aggressive, but it is a different story with strangers.

A rottweiler who grows up seeing that a Pitbull is a part of the family has a lot more chance of getting along with it.

Introducing an adult Pitbull and an adult rottweiler could be a task and should be handled very carefully.

So, with a comparison of both the dogs, it is clear that they are very similar, and one dog beating the other is an individual matter, as it can be anybody’s game.

It will all depend on the way they are brought up, their specific size, and so on.

Conclusion

If you picked the Rottweiler to beat a Pitbull in a fight, you picked right!

Indeed the Pitbull is a strong well-rounded dog that can give stiff competition. His stats are impressive and his history in dog-fighting plays a minor role in his fighting abilities. 

But, some opponents will get the better of him. The Rottweiler is one dog breed that boasts of better abilities than the Pitbull. His size and sheer bite force make him the alpha dog in this fight.