The Mastador is a designer crossbreed between the Labrador Retriever and ancient guarding breed, the English Mastiff.
Labrador Retriever * English Mastiff
Mastador is a hybrid with a large body structure but, its friendly nature makes it an ideal furry friend for a family. Usually, they are well adjusting with humans and other animals.
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Their protective nature makes Mastador a perfect watchdog. Though some of the dogs seem to be very stubborn generally, they can be easily trained and socialized at early ages.
Origin & History
Mastadors were first designed and made in the U.S. It is not a pure breed so; Mastador breed does get registered to American Kennel Club (AKC). But, their parent breeds have high standings and are well recognized by AKC.
The Labrador Retriever is referred to as gun dog that has special skills for retrieving waterfowls while the Mastiff Breed has a friendly nature with a giant size. English Mastiff breeds have an immense historical importance. There are records which say that this breed marched alongside Hannibal Army when the troops crossed the mountain ranges of Alps.
Even the breed’s presence has been witnessed on the ancient Mesopotamian artworks and stone carvings that were discovered from various archeological sites of Asia. During the two World Wars, the European canine population got catastrophically affected.
There was a shortage of proper food supply which led to almost extinction till the war ended. In order to revive the breed, mastiff puppies were brought from Canada and the United States. Labrador Retriever has originated from St. John’s dog. They worked as a companion with the fishermen in New found land.
They had a short coat with an oily texture and their excellent retrieving skills made ideal water dogs. Though Mastador does not falls under pure dog breed category but, their parental breeds are well known and highly appreciated.
Pictures of Mastador
Quick Information ~ Mastador (Mastiff Lab Mix)
| Characteristics | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Mastador |
| Other Names | Mastiff Lab Mix |
| Color | Brown, Black, Fawn, Brindle |
| Coat | Double Layered Coat with short and coarse overlay. |
| Breed Type | Crossbreed |
| Breed Group | Guarding, Companion |
| Size | Big Dog Breed |
| Hieght | 28-36 inches |
| Weight | 100-160 lb |
| Life Span/Life Expentancy | 10-15 years |
| Temperament | Active, Loyal, Affectionate, courageous. |
| Shedding | Low |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
| Energy Level | Active |
| Good with Children | Yes |
| Good with Other Dogs | Yes |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Competitive Registration/Qualification Information | ACHC, DRA, IDCR, DBR |
Appearance
Mastadors have an athletic build with big structures and long legs. The weight of this breed varies from a range of 85 to 160pounds. The height of the breed may vary from 25 to 36 inch.
The generation where the dominant breed is Mastiff, the structure seems to bigger and heavier than the generation where the latter is Labrador Retriever.
Mastador breed dogs usually have a wide head with wrinkles on their muzzle. They have a pair of almond-shaped eyes, the color of which may vary from black to hazel. The triangular shaped ears are adapted from the parent breeds, particularly Labrador Retrievers.
This breed comes in various solid color shades of golden, chocolate and black. The brindle skin coat is a double layer with thick small hairs that may sometimes have wavy patterns. Black and white patches on the chest and feet are also witnessed in some of the dogs.
On the face of this dog breed, where more Mastiff features have been adapted, black face musk is usually witnessed. The nose color is either black or brown and similar to Labradors. It has a straight fur with moderate length and density.
Temperament and Personality
Mastadors are very affectionate and playful. Their protective nature and human-friendly attitude make them an ideal pooch for the family. They calm temperament and can easily be trained at early ages.
Mastadors are generally friendly with other animals so it can be kept with multiple pets. But, regular exercise is a must for this breed as they have high energy levels.
They are very loyal to their masters and can go to any extent in order to protect the person. This dog shares a good relation with kids.
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Socializing and training should be started at a young age since some of the dogs seem to acquire stubbornness in the adult age similar to their parent Mastiff breed.
Care
Exercise
Mastadors are strong and a large dog breed, so their owners need to schedule in daily walks and routine, active playtimes. Regular exercise is very essential for keeping the dog in the right health. These dogs have big body structures which have to be maintained properly.
Regular walks for an hour is more than enough to keep the dog’s health and mind in proper condition. Activities, like jumping and leaping, should not be practiced to avoid bone stress and fractures.
Grooming
Extensive grooming requirements are not required by the Mastador breed. Their short hairs and oily skin coat make it easy for the dogs to remove dirt and water by itself. So, in the ideal case, a monthly bath is enough for this dog breed.
Mastadors are very fond of playing in the water and their long and big ear structures make them prone to bacterial and infections auditory canal. So, the ears have to be checked and cleaned at regular intervals to avoid major infections.
The paws should be cleaned regularly as the active nature keeps the dog busy throughout the day.
In order to maintain a good fur coat, the dog should be combed and brushed at least once a week. Brushing helps the natural oil to spread and mix throughout the coat and the process also helps in the removal of loose hairs and new hair growth.
Health Problems
Mastadors has a usual lifespan varies from 10 to 15years. Despite being crossbred, both of your pup’s parents should be fully health tested.
- Heart problems
- Osteoporosis
- Hip Dysplasia is common at old ages.
Even the bacterial infections in their floppy ears with yellow texture and funky smell are quite usual.
Training
Mastadors can be trained with multiple handlers and is not a one master dog. But if you keep this canine breed to guard your house, you are sure to hear heavy barking on arrival of any stranger.
They are good jumpers and a six feet fence can easily be crossed by them. Excessive training in temperate conditions should be avoided. The grown-up dogs are hard to train.
Feeding/Diet
As a large and active dog, the Lab Mastiff Mix will require approximately 2-1/2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food daily. Food type should be designed specifically for large breeds.
For an adult Mastador Dog, 3.5 cups of dog food are required. If you give to give whole meat to your dog then, around 300gm of regular protein is preferable for the breed.
Mastador Puppies
Lab Mastiff Puppies are cute and bursting with energy during their early years, so need a family that can devote time to keeping them active and engaged as patient and consistent and uses rewards-based training.
From 1 day to 6months of age, the height and weight of Mastador puppies may vary from 16 to 17 inches and 67lbs to 77lbs respectively. Six months onward to twelve months of age the weight ranges to 100lbs and the height becomes 25 inches.
For the first twenty-eight days; mother’s milk is the ideal food source of the puppies. Training should be started at a young age.
Videos: Mastador Puppies Playtime
References
- The American Kennel Club.
- The Institute of Canine Biology.
- Danourdis, A., et al Canine elbow dysplasia Aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and current treatment recommendations Hellenic Journal of Companion Animal Medicine, 2015.