If there were a dog prison, stereotypes would dictate that the Pit Bull and Mastiff mix would rule the roost. After all, who in their right mind would challenge a hybrid of the large and powerful Mastiff and the fiercely aggressive hothead known as the Pit Bull?
Nonetheless, despite their infamy due to stereotypes, well-raised Pit Bull Mastiffs are some of the sweetest dogs you will ever meet.
The Pit Bull Mastiff mix can be a cross between any breed of Pit Bull and Mastiff, as there are several. However, the most common breeds here are the American Pit Bull Terrier and Neapolitan Mastiff.
Breed Overview
Height:
25–30 inches
Weight:
100–140 pounds
Lifespan:
8–12 years
Colors:
Black, brown, white, red, brindle
Suitable for:
Active people or families with older children, experienced dog owners
Temperament:
Loyal and friendly
As with any other hybrid, the inherent traits of your Pit Bull Mastiff will depend on the specific parents. As such, Pit Bull Mastiffs, even from the same litter, can vary considerably in both appearance and behavior.
Nonetheless, the baseline traits for this mix are well-defined muscular bodies with calm demeanors.
The Pit Bull Mastiff mix, therefore, best suits experienced dog owners looking for a large guard dog.
Pitbull Mastiff Mix Characteristics
Energy:
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability:
+
Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health:
+
Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Lifespan:
+
Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Sociability:
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.
Before you buy Pit Bull Mastiff pups, you should know that they are among the fastest-growing dogs out there. These fellas can weigh as much as 30 pounds by 3 months, 70 pounds by 6 months, 80 pounds by 9 months, and well over 100 by 12 months. As such, you should be prepared to handle a big dog within no time.
Pups that come from breeders are typically expensive but will have proof of health, which comes in the form of the health certificates of both parents. What’s more, a reputable breeder will allow you to see the pup’s mother and even father if they are around. In fact, always insist on seeing the parents’ health certificates before you buy a pup, as that is one way of vetting the authenticity of a breeder. They should also allow you to view the pup together with the mother.
Lastly, before you set out looking for a breeder, first ask for recommendations from your vet, as they more than likely know good breeders, as well as those to avoid.
Image Credit: Left – Caroline Ziemkiewicz, Unsplash | Right – everydoghasastory, Shutterstock
Temperament & Intelligence of the Pitbull Mastiff Mix
As mentioned, despite their reputation, Pit Bull Mastiffs are not the aggressive, ferocious monsters that some people make them out to be. However, while there are traits that are standard to a breed, you should never forget that every dog is an individual, meaning that training and socialization plays a major role in how a dog’s personality turns out.
Going back to the generally expected traits, the Pit Bull Mastiff is a large dog that loves people, as it is bred from parents whose base traits are affection and loyalty to their owners.
Pit Mastiffs are also incredibly intelligent as well as watchful, which are also traits that are characteristic of their parents. Thanks to their high levels of intelligence, Pit Mastiffs are highly perceptive animals, capable of discerning your thoughts and mood simply by looking at you and adjusting their behavior accordingly. This is why you must always be in check of your feelings and emotions when around this dog, as you do not want to transmit negative energy to them.
Pit Mastiffs can also be incredibly energetic, especially if they take after their Pit Bull Terrier parent more. This makes it the perfect dog for families or people that love the outdoors.
However, due to their loyal nature, Pit Mastiffs crave constant companionship. They do not do well when left alone for extended periods. In fact, these dogs have been known to suffer from separation anxiety, which is a condition that can affect both their mental and physical health.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
The size and strength of Pit Bull Mastiffs make them ill-suited for families with small kids, as they can injure them unintentionally.
Therefore, even though Pit Mastiffs enjoy human companionship and are remarkably tolerant of small children, it is upon you to teach the kids how to handle the dog with respect. For starters, they should always give the dog its space when it’s eating, as that is when it is most likely to lash out.
If you insist on having a Pit Mastiff despite having small kids, then ensure that all their interactions are supervised.
The issue with Pit Mastiff mixes not getting along with other pets comes from their American Pit Bull Terrier lineage. American Pit Bulls, by nature, have an extremely high prey drive. What’s more, they like to dominate their territories. When you combine those traits, you get a dog that might be a danger to other animals around it if you do not take the necessary measures.
These measures involve socializing the pup from an early age with other dogs and animals.
The Pit Mastiff is a big dog with a big appetite. However, this does not mean that it should spend its day eating, as it is highly susceptible to obesity. Most people feed their Mastiff Pitbulls 3-4 cups of dog food twice a day. However, according to experts, it is best to feed them 4 times instead.
This means that you will reduce the amount of food that you give them per meal, which helps prevent overfeeding and bloating.
When choosing dog food for your Pit Mastiff, always ensure that it mostly consists of high-quality animal protein. If you feed them right, your Pit bull Mastiff will become a Pit bull Massive.
Exercise 🐕
The exercise requirements of a Pit Mastiff vary from dog to dog. If it takes more after its American Pit Bull parent, you will have to give it lots of exercise, as American Pit Bulls are extremely energetic. This means that you will have to take it on long walks or runs. If you don’t, the dog might develop destructive behaviors in a bid to let out pent up energy.
If your Pitbull Mastiff takes more after their Mastiff parent, a short walk should suffice, as Mastiffs are generally lazy dogs.
While all dogs require training and socialization from an early age, it is especially important to Pit Mastiffs, given their size and strength.
Though intelligent, Pit Mastiffs can be difficult to train thanks to their strong-willed nature. As such, they can be incredibly stubborn, which means that you must exercise patience when dealing with these animals.
Also, since they tend to be dominant, you must exude confidence to get them to trust you.
When training a Pitbull Mastiff mix, you will get the best results whenever you use positive reinforcement. Using negative techniques, such as coercion and aggression often leads to behavioral problems. Therefore, when your dog follows a command to a tee, make sure that they know how much you appreciate them by giving them a reward.
Start training and socialization when they are still small and manageable. This will allow them to interact with other animals safely.
Keep in mind, however, that Pit Mastiffs are easily bored. Therefore, keep the training sessions short and sweet.
Grooming ✂️
Fortunately, thanks to their short coats, Pitbull Mastiffs do not have extensive grooming needs. Occasional brushing and bathing them when they start reeking doggy odor might be all you have to do to take care of these big boys.
However, if your Pitbull Mastiff inherits face wrinkles from their Mastiff parent, ensure that you inspect the wrinkles regularly to prevent the accumulation of dirt and pathogens.
Make sure that you also clean out their ears, brush their teeth, and clip their nails regularly.
Health and Conditions 🏥
Just as with any other cross-breed, Mastiff Pitbull mixes are healthier than their parents. However, they might be predisposed to conditions associated with large dogs, including hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and kidney problems. As such, ensure that you schedule regular vet appointments to ensure that your pooch stays in good condition.
Male vs Female
Whether to get a male or female is a choice that depends on you entirely. If you want to breed, then choosing a female is obvious. If you’re interested in personality, you will find that females tend to be sweeter than males. Males are more “fun” since they are more willing to engage you in buffoonery. Nonetheless, males can also be a handful when they mature, which is why you should consider neutering them.
3 Little-Known Facts about the Pitbull Mastiff Mix
1. They Are Incredibly Sweet
Despite the stigma associated with Pit Bull Mastiffs, they are some of the sweetest dogs you will ever meet.
2. “Bad” Pitbull Mastiffs Aren’t Bad At All, They Are Raised Poorly
Due to their size and power, some people rear these dogs as status symbols. As such, they do everything to make them aggressive and tenacious. Due to their extreme power, poorly-raised Pit Mastiffs do a lot of damage when they get the chance, which is why bad news regarding this mix will always spread like wildfire.
3. They Are Strong-Willed
Make no mistake about it; Pit Bull Mastiffs are bold, courageous, and purpose-driven, meaning that they will take charge if you do not. As such, you must exhibit the traits of a leader for this dog to respect you; otherwise, you will have 140 pounds of bad attitude on your hands.
The Pitbull Mastiff mix is a designer dog meant for people looking for a large and powerful guard dog. Though sweet to family members, they can be a danger to others due to their protective nature. Therefore, it is important to train and socialize this dog breed from an early age so you can get it to play well with others. All in all, the Pit Mastiff is a great dog that will make for an excellent companion.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe....Read more
