Giant10.6 yr avg
Rottweiler
AKC · Working
View breedComparison
Rottweiler vs Yorkshire Terrier
Side-by-side comparison from peer-reviewed sources. Lifespan and health figures draw on Royal Veterinary College VetCompass and AKC breed data.
At a glance
Side-by-side
The numbers that most change day-to-day care. A citrus border marks a meaningful advantage.
Giant
Rottweiler
Lifespan10.6 yrrange 10–11
SizeGiant
Weight80–135 lb36.3–61.2 kg
Height22–27 in55.9–68.6 cm
Senior at5 yrgeriatric at 8
AKC groupWorking
Energy3/545 min/day
Trainability5/5
Shedding3/5
With kids3/5
With other dogs3/5
Toy
Yorkshire Terrier
Lifespan13.3 yrrange 13–14
SizeToy
Weight7–7 lb3.2–3.2 kg
Height7–8 in17.8–20.3 cm
Senior at9 yrgeriatric at 13
AKC groupToy
Energy4/560 min/day
Trainability4/5
Shedding1/5
With kids5/5
With other dogs3/5
Health
Common health issues
Top 3 prevalence-ranked conditions for each breed. See each breed's full health profile for screening schedules and source data.
Rottweiler
- High prevalencetypical onset ~2 yr
Elbow Dysplasia
Description and veterinary guidance for Elbow Dysplasia land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~7 yr
Cataracts
Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~2 yr
Osteochondritis Dissecans
Description and veterinary guidance for Osteochondritis Dissecans land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Yorkshire Terrier
- Moderatetypical onset ~2 yr
Patellar Luxation
Description and veterinary guidance for Patellar Luxation land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~7 yr
Cataracts
Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Low prevalencetypical onset ~1 yr
Congenital Cardiac Defect
Description and veterinary guidance for Congenital Cardiac Defect land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Synthesis
Which is right for you?
The Yorkshire Terrier tends to live about 2.7 years longer on average than the Rottweiler (13.3 vs 10.6 years).
Size gap is meaningful: the Rottweiler is giant and the Yorkshire Terrier is toy. Expect different considerations for housing, travel, and vet-care costs.
Energy levels are close, with a slight edge to the Yorkshire Terrier (60 min/day of directed exercise).
Yorkshire Terriers rate higher for household-with-kids compatibility (5/5).
Rottweilers carry a heavier breed-specific health burden (1 high-prevalence conditions vs 0 for the Yorkshire Terrier). Budget for screening accordingly.