Sunday, April 27, 2008

I might be getting a Mastador.....

Hello, I need a little help. I am looking into getting a dog. I love big dogs so I am leaning more twards those breeds. We already have a 9mo boxer and he is spoiled rotten. (all my fault) I also have kids from school age to 1 year. I found a Mastador at my local Animal Shelter she is only 5 weeks old and they said I would have to wait two weeks before I could take her home. So I am using this time to make sure she would be the right pet for our family. Are they good with kids and other dogs? How large do most Mastadors get? I know how big labs are and I have researched Mastiffs but there really wasnt anything other then your site about the mixed breeds of the two? Could you give me a little over site and let me know what you think of one of them beautiful dogs joining our large family of 7 including our boxer. So lots of kids and other animals.Thanks
-- Heather

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Heather-we had a lab/mastiff at 5 weeks old...found in a dumpster. He was loyal, affectionate, NEVER aggressive except would raise his hackles when he sensed I was uncomfortable with someone...ie: soliciter at the door who looked suspicious. As he grew older he became more aggressive to dogs but we never had a chance to socialze him to other dogs. FANTASTIC with the birth of each of our three kids. Let them crawl all over him-he never touched their stuff. He would have shared the food in his bowl if you wanted. He was very active when young, never destructive in the house. He grew to 130 pounds. Had occasional bouts of arthritis in his hips. He survived cancer twice. At age 10 1/2 he developed bloat (a condition giant dogs can get) and died. I am also looking to find another like him. People used to cross the street on a walk with my stroller and not ask about the baby but about the dog! That is how special he was. Godd luck to you!
Elizabeth

JMKKBU said...

The size depends on the gender and which type of mastiff your potential mastador is mixed with. She will be big regardless, bigger than a lab. Buford has never shown any agressive towards anything or anyone. He is smart but stubborn. He loves to play with other dogs and gets along fine. The only concern I would have with kids is that he loves to jump and he's 5 month and already 45 lbs. (we got him at 2 months and 8 lbs.)I don't think he has any idea of his size. Good luck...

Moosey said...

Hi Heather, we have Rocco, who at 1.5 years is now about 100 lbs. Like the other poster said, the size depends on what type of mastiff he is mixed with (and if it's purely mastiff). We are not sure Rocco is a pure mastiff mixed with lab.

All dogs' personalities are different, but what I found with Rocco and what most other mastador owners tell me, mastadors are gentle giants. They are very intelligent and learn quickly like labs (very eager to please). But like a mastiff, they aren't quite as hyper and energetic as a pure lab.

We don't have kids ourselves, but Rocco has been very gentle when we have our 8 year old niece visit. He's also been great around my 4 year old nephew. He seems to understand that little kids can't be jumped on. And he didn't mind when the kids climb on him. Rocco also seems to love everyone and all dogs. (He loves the dog park).

I think if you can adopt a mastador, you'd have a loyal, loving family member, and you'd be very lucky!

Anonymous said...

I love all your dogs, i'm about to adopt a beautifull little guy from rescue league. I'll keep ya posted

Anonymous said...

Not much I can add, but Bud (may he rest in peace) used to follow our then 1.5 year old neice around, was very gentle with her (and everyone else) but no one else was allowed to pick her up (our neice that is). He would just stand sideway between anyone and her... it was absolutely adorable. He greew to be just over 100 pounds. Enjoy, I know we did

Anonymous said...

I got a mastador a year back and is really to great to have him. He is almost like a family member and even my vet likes him a lot.great to play wit and the funny part is he also loves my cat and has never harmed her s he is agrresive at times but can be handeled by the owner.mastador are more energitic than lab or mastiff

Anonymous said...

I have sammie. Sam's mom is a black lab and his dad an english mastif produce of a dog park. he is a year and is 100 lbs he is a playful dog but very very strong he is food agresive in a vocal way. he can jump over my head loves to run. he is beautiful and smart but if you don't work with them right away your in trouble.

Anonymous said...

i have a mastador i have not had hime for very long he likes me more tha nanyone else in the family and follows me every where i think a mastador would be a great choice my dod (Rufus) does jump but i think he can be trained out of it and he almost is every morningwhen i go out to feed him thats when he jumps and he always peees a little bit he cant really come inside cause after he attacked one of my geese we are not sure he should be put with a 2 pound dog and yes i know labradords are bird dogs but it still worries me but the gooses attacked hime also

Unknown said...

Bill said.
I am on my second Mastodor, Chewbakka is a big beautiful Bull Mastiff/Choclate Lab cross. 12months old, 93lbs and runs everyday. I call him the Walmart greeter at the dog park. He has to make the rounds and say hi to every dog. Not a mean bone in his body.
He is getting a tad bit stubborn at this particular time, kinda like a teenager but lots of love, hugs and a firm hand when needed and he will be fine. My first one was Hooch. and he was big and lovable.
Raised two kids with him. They do get protective of the kids and family but not in an aggressive way. I always thought Hoochs aggression would be in proportion to how aggressive the aggressor decided to be.
Chewey finished his first session of training at 11months and did great.
Good luck, you will not be disappointed. Just remember, they can get big. Chewy will likely get to about 130lbs +- and 6" taller then now. He is half way up my thigh. Enjoy