All About the Mastiff Lab Mix (The Mastador): Facts/Information

Also known as the Mastador dog, the Mastiff Lab Mix is a cross between a Mastiff dog and a Labrador Retriever.

The Lab Mastiff Mix is officially recognized as a crossbreed dog by a number of organizations, including the Dog Registry of America (DPA), Designer Breed Registry (DBR), and the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), to mention but a few.

The Mastiff Lab Mix hopes to combine the best traits of the brave, loving and loyal Mastiff and the energetic, calm and friendly Labrador. This explains why the Mastador is widely recognized as a great family pet.

There are a number of things you should know before buying a Mastiff Lab puppy.

Let’s find out more about the origin, appearance, temperament, personality, behavior and other amazing facts about this wonderful canine.

Table of Contents

The History of the Mastiff Lab Mix

Like many other cross breeds, the history of the Mastador dog is not well defined.

It is also not clear if the two parent dogs were intentionally brought together or if the original Mastador dog was a happy mistake.

It is widely believed that the Mastiff Lab Mix has its roots in the United States.

To know more about what to expect from a Lab and Mastiff Mix, let’s take a closer look at the origins of the parent breeds.

The History of the Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff was bred in England in the mid 1800s. The breed is a cross between the ancient English Mastiff and the Bulldog. At first, this breed was 40% Bulldog and 60% Mastiff. The aim of this breed was to create a dog with great watchdog capabilities.

The large size and bravery shown by the resulting dog made them ideal for gamekeeping roles.

At first, brindle colored dogs were used as gamekeepers thanks to their capability to camouflage at night.

The Bullmastiff was officially recognized by the AKC in 1934.

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The History of the Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever was originally developed in Newfoundland. The breed was preferred by fishermen, as these dogs would help in pulling carts and nets loaded with fish.

The original Labradors were smaller than the present-day labs. It is said that there was a tiny dog in the region called St. John’s dog. These dogs were crossed with giant hunting dogs that moved to the area from England. The new dogs gave birth to the modern Labrador.

The dogs became extremely popular in Europe for their great hunting skills. The Earl of Malmsbury named them ‘Labradors’ and the original Labrador Club was established in England in 1916.

The Labrador was first recognized by the AKC in 1917. Labradors are currently some of the most popular dogs in the United States.

So, what does a Mastiff Lab Mix look like?

Let’s have a look at the appearance of a Bullmastiff Lab Mix

Coat:

The coat of the Mastador is quite short and smooth and comes in a variety of colors, including white, brindle, golden, yellow, gray, black and brown.

The coat also bears white spots on the chest. The hair on the backbone of a Mastador tends to grow backwards.

But how big do Lab Mastiff Mixes get? Let’s find out:

Labrador Mastiff Mix Height and Weight:

The Labrador Mastiff Mix is a very large dog, weighing anywhere from 100 to 200 pounds, which is massive for a dog. The height of a full grown Mastiff Lab Mix ranges between 28 and 36 inches.

A six to seven-month old Mastiff Lab Mix puppy weighs between 50 and 60 pounds. A full grown Mastador weighs much more than many people.

And this gigantic size of the Mastador comes as no surprise since the Mastiff, one of the largest breeds of dogs, is involved in this cross breed. Therefore, your Bullmastiff Lab Mix will be a very large dog.

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Mastiff Lab Mix Puppy – Image Source

Characteristics of the Mastiff Lab Mix

Bullmastiff dogs have distinctively floppy jowls and a droopy face, which sadly are not the best attributes of a dog.

These dogs come in six different colors that are recognized by the AKC. These are red, fawn, brindle/fawn, brindle/red, fawn/red, and brindle/fawn/red. It also features a dark face mask.

The Labrador has three officially recognized colors: black, yellow, and chocolate.

If you prefer specific characteristics in your new dog, such as a Black Lab Mastiff Mix, Yellow Lab Mastiff Mix or a Brindle Mastador puppy, it is strongly recommended to meet the parent dogs of the puppy you’re considering bringing home.

Some Mastiff Lab puppies look more like a Labrador, and others like a Mastiff with loose jowls.

In most cases, a Bullmastiff Lab Mix is a unique dog with adorable traits.

So what kind of a dog is a Mastador? Here’s some helpful information about the behavior and personality of a Mastador.

Lab Mastiff Mix Behavior and Temperament

Being a cross breed, the behavior and personality of the Mastador will vary from one dog to another, and even same litter puppies will behave differently.

All debates aside, let’s take a look at what’s generally believed to be the behavior and temperament of the giant Mastador dogs.

Don’t let the large size of this pooch fool you; Mastadors are generally friendly, outgoing, loving, protecting and loyal dogs. They love children, but their big size might not be ideal for young kids. Such big dogs may harm them without intending to.

Mastador dogs are great guards and will protect those close to them and their own territory. These dogs are not very aggressive towards people and other animals and usually get along well with other dogs when properly socialized from a young age.

They love taking part in family activities and should not be left alone for far too long to help prevent boredom and separation anxiety. A bored Mastiff Lab Mix can exhibit destructive behavior.

Moreover, a Mastador has a great sense of smell thanks to his Labrador genes. While these dogs are generally calm, they can become aggressive towards strangers. His deep frightening bark can help scare away potential intruders. That’s why these dogs make great guard and family dogs.

As long as these dogs know their families are safe, they will be calm and relaxed. Your Mastador will happily watch over your small baby as you attend to your daily household chores. He will also be happy to join you on your regular runs or exercises. So if you need a dedicated workout buddy, this is the right dog for you.

Training and playtime will help your Labrador Mastiff puppy to develop into a happy and well behaved dog.

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Training and Exercise Needs

How Active Should My Mastiff Lab Mix Be?

These dogs should be exercised regularly to expend their excess energy. Nevertheless, unlike many other dog breeds, lack of daily exercises does not necessarily make them aggressive or restless. Instead, your Mastador will assume his natural docile status, but that is not good for your dog. He requires daily exercises to keep his big and strong body fit and healthy.

Moreover, keep in mind that your Mastiff Lab puppy will be very big and strong once he is fully grown. If you do decide to take your dog out for daily walks, you should be well prepared to keep him on leash. Or else, he will pull you across the road while chasing after a rabbit.

Fortunately, Lab and Mastiff Mix dogs are not demanding as far as finding a good place and time to play goes. Your Mastador will enjoy various activities whether it’s indoors or outdoors. If you don’t want to go out for any reason, your dog will happily play with you within the confines of your home. You’ll learn to appreciate this when the weather is too cold for them.

Does He Train Quickly?

Mastiff Lab Mix dogs are generally smart and training should be a breeze if you know how to go about it.

As an offspring of a Bullmastiff, your Mastador is intelligent and training should be easy and fun for both of you. Therefore, a Mastador is a great choice for anyone looking to buy or adopt a dog who requires little in terms of socialization and training.

Moreover, Mastadors are keen to please their owners and their intelligence allows them to master various tricks faster. He will also be able to undergo rigorous training due to his Labrador lineage. That’s why these dogs make excellent cadets. They respond quite well to obedience training and therefore, he will master all the house rules within a short period of time.

Since your Mastador is half Bullmastiff, however, you need to be a bit careful with training. He will always show both physical and mental strength, just like his Bullmastiff parent. Therefore, you need to show him that you’re the pack leader or else your dog will take control.

Since he is highly protective, make sure to socialize him with humans, other pets and new sights and smells as soon as you bring him home. By so doing, you can help him develop into a confident, friendly and well-behaved dog.

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Mastador Grooming Needs

Another advantage of owning a Mastador is that he is a low- maintenance dog when it comes to grooming.

Lab Mastiff Mixes have a natural smooth coat that will require moderate brushing. Nonetheless, he is not hypoallergenic and therefore, vacuuming your seats and carpets is important.

Bathing can also be challenging and time-consuming considering his big size. You can take him out for a swim or consider a fun splash as you clean your car! This is usually enough to keep his coat clean and leave him feeling fresh.

When it comes to hygiene, the only challenge is cleaning his ears. Mastadors have droopy ears, which are vulnerable to wax build-up and certain infections. Therefore, make sure to clean his ears thoroughly and regularly to avoid infections.

Also, remember to brush his teeth at least twice per week for improved oral hygiene.

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Bull Mastiff and Labrador Mix: Health Problems

Just like other hybrid dogs, your Mastiff Lab Mix dog may inherit certain health problems from his parents.

Many dog breeders claim that designer dogs, like the Mastador, have a better chance at fighting various health conditions and disorders than purebred dogs.

However, the best way to determine the potential health issues is to ask your breeder if the purebred parents to your puppy suffered from any health problems.

Generally, Mastiff Lab Mix dogs are susceptible to ear infections, especially if they are not cleaned regularly. Also, lack of regular teeth cleaning can lead to gum infections. Your Mastador dog’s coat may also produce a funky odor due to the build-up of pet dander.

You also need to clean his coat regularly to prevent skin infections. Over time, your Mastiff Lab Mix pup might experience hip dysplasia. Fortunately, this condition can be prevented by feeding your dog a proper diet and exercising him regularly.

Other common Mastador health problems include eye issues, bloat, cold tail, epilepsy and kidney problems. These dogs can experience heart problems during the later stages of their life. However, with the right diet, one that is low in calories and fats, your dog can maintain a perfectly healthy heart and body no matter his age.

Buying your Mastiff Lab Mix puppy from a reputable breeder and requesting to check the health certificates can be a great way to reduce those risks.

Despite being a mixed breed, Mastadors can suffer from the above genetic diseases and therefore, it is important to ensure that both the parent dogs are thoroughly tested for various genetic disorders.

The Mastiff parent should have health clearances for eye problems, heart disorders and skin infections. Ideally, the Mastiff parent should also be checked for hip dysplasia.

The Labrador Retriever parent must have no record of eye problems, hip and elbow dysplasia.

It is also important to meet both of your preferred puppy’s parent dogs and ensure they are not structurally abnormal and that they are well behaved.

Also, consider using Embark Dog DNA Test Kit to check for any health conditions, including inherited diseases, that might affect your pup’s life. By so doing, you can identify any health issues at an early stage, begin treatment immediately and ensure your dog lives a healthier and longer life.

Moreover, the Embark Dog DNA Test provides breed specific details and more interesting revelations about your new puppy to help you get prepared as a dog owner.

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Lab Mastiff Mix Life Expectancy

The average lifespan of a fit and healthy Lab Mastiff is around 8 to 14 years.

Make sure to feed your dog with a proper diet and exercise him regularly to prolong his life.

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Feeding Information

Lab Mastiff Mix dogs thrive on high quality dry dog food. His diet is not too demanding, but he can have a high appetite due to his Labrador genes.

You should divide his meals into two to three feedings each day with yummy treats given regularly.

Make sure to control his food portions to avoid your Mastador dog overfeeding himself.

Provide him with 2.5 to 3 cups of high quality dry dog food to help nourish his big body. Make sure to purchase dog food that is meant for large dog breeds.

Lab Mastiff Mixes also thrive on a raw food diet. Ensure his regular raw dog food has enough phosphates and calcium to help strengthen his bones.

His food should also include lean meat to meet his daily protein needs. Avoid feeding your Mastador a high fat or calorie diet, as it can make him sloppy and unhealthy.

Where to Find Mastiff Lab Mix Puppies?

The Mastiff Lab Mix is not an officially recognized dog breed, but you can still find puppies both online and offline.

Look for Mastador puppies on various websites and in both national and regional newspapers. Many breeders list their Mastiff Lab Mix puppies for sale this way.

Alternatively, you can visit a rescue center near you and see if they have Mastador puppies or adult dogs available for adoption.

Make sure to find out the conditions that your preferred puppy has been raised in. It is important to visit the place where the dogs or puppies are kept. Check whether other pups in the same litter are fit and healthy, and request to meet the parent dogs.

Mastiff Lab Mix Puppy Price

A Mastiff Lab Mix puppy costs between $800 and $2000, but the price will vary based on the location, age and health of the puppy, the kind of breeder you’re dealing with and the demand for puppies at that time.

If not added to the costs of buying the puppy, you’ll also need to buy a leash, collar, water dispenser, bowls and a crate for your new canine friend.

Is a Lab Mastiff Mix the Right Dog for Me?

Actually, you’re the only person who’s in a position to answer this question. However, we’ve covered virtually everything you need to know about the Mastiff Lab Mix dogs to help you make an informed decision.

Remember the Mastador is a very large dog and requires exercise and training.

Although it is a designer dog, there are certain health problems that you should watch out for, including hip dysplasia and eye problems.

Make sure that both of your Mastador puppy parents are healthy. Meet the parent dogs in person and ask for the health certificates from the breeder you’re planning to buy your new puppy from. That way, you can reduce the risks involved and hopefully find the right Lab Mastiff Mix puppy for you.

Conclusion

If you have enough time, energy and space, then you should consider adding a Mastiff Lab Mix to your family. These dogs are easy to train and usually get along well with both adults and children. He can be a great family pet for you.

The Mastiff Lab Mix dogs also get along well with other animals and do not require much when it comes to grooming and training.