Mastador: What It’s Like to Own a Mastiff Lab Mix

The Mastador is a designer mix between a Mastiff and a Labrador Retriever, meaning this dog is a gentle giant who is well suited to family life.

These dogs are loving and energetic, due to the traits of their parents, and are fiercely loyal guard dogs too!

If you are looking for a dog that is both loving and protective, then the Mastiff Lab mix may be perfect for you and your family.

It is recommended that you get to know this dog breed before you make your choice, so why not take a look through our complete pet parent’s guide to the Lab Mastiff mix that will give you all the information you need about this large and affectionate dog.

What is a Mastiff Lab Mix?

The Mastador, a large and loving mixed dog, is a cross breed between a Labrador Retriever and a Bullmastiff.

They are known for their loyalty and large size.

Due to this dog being a mixed ‘designer breed’, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club, however both of the parent breeds are:

• The Bullmastiff is classified in the working group by the Kennel Club
• The Labrador Retriever is classified in the sporting group by the Kennel Club

This giant dog breed is generally used as a family companion, but, can be easily trained as a guard dog (as they have a protective temperament).

They make great guard dogs due to their intimidating size (being classified as a giant dog breed over 100lb), it’s important potential owners understand this is not a reflection of their affectionate and gentle personality.

Breed Origin

Like many mixed breed dogs, it is almost impossible to pinpoint the exact origin of the Mastador.

It is understood that the Mastiff Lab mix originated in the US, but this hybrid has likely existed for a long time due to the popularity of both parent breeds:

• The Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed listed with the AKC (American Kennel Club), and they have been a recognized breed since the 1800s.
• The Bullmastiff is the 51st most popular dog registered with the American Kennel Club, and they have been recognized by the club since 1933.

Both of the parent breeds have working backgrounds:

• Labrador Retrievers were bred to be friendly and athletic, as they were used to retrieve game and waterfowl.
• Bullmastiffs were bred to be brave and large, as they were used by English aristocrats to guard their grounds from poachers.

Mixing these two breeds of working dogs creates a large, even-tempered Mastiff Lab mix with an affectionate heart and a willingness to protect their family!

Mastador Puppies

Mastador puppies are very energetic and eager to learn, which is a great reflection of their adult personalities.

If you are looking to purchase a Mastador puppy it will likely cost $1,000 USD, with some puppies selling for as much as $2000!

This is due to their designer mix status.

An average litter will be six to eight puppies, but this number can vary slightly depending on the size of the puppy.

At seven weeks old, a Mastiff Lab mix puppy should weigh about 15lb, you can then track their growth using the chart below:

Your puppy will reach maturity after at least a year, but most likely around two years of age, as bigger dogs take longer to mature both mentally and physically.

Mastador Temperament

The Mastador is naturally inclined to be protective, calm and loyal to its owners.

Due to it being a mixed breed, it can be difficult to predict which parent’s traits will be more prominent in their temperament.

The Mastador inherits its loving and social traits from its Labrador Retriever parent, and owes its courage and loyalty to the Bullmastiff.

They are naturally inclined to love their family and guard them when they feel it is necessary.

This dog is naturally active and thus playfulness is a big part of their personality. They are intelligent and so can even be trained to play more complicated games that require more complex thought processes.

Is The Lab Mastiff Mix A Good Family Dog?

Although Mastadors are not known to be big barkers, their aptitude to ‘guard’ their families and homes can lead to some yapping.

To remedy this, it is important to train your dog from a very young age to refrain from barking (especially as their booming bark and muscled body make an intimidating appearance).

It is important to supervise your Mastador when they are playing with younger children or smaller pets, as their strength and energy can be overwhelming for a weaker playmate, and this can lead to accidents.

Training your Mastiff Lab mix to be sociable with other humans and pets is key to a family suitable dog.

If properly socialized then the Lab Mastiff mix makes a perfect family pet and can live harmoniously with other dogs and household animals.

Generally they are known as a very friendly family dog with a gentle personality.

Caring For A Mastiff Lab Mix

Although the Mastador is a very good family dog, it is recommended you have some experience with easier to handle larger dogs before choosing to adopt one for your family due to their exercise and feeding requirements.

This dog needs to eat plenty of food to balance their high energy levels and exercise requirements.

They are very easy to train if you start early enough (around 8 weeks of age) and are consistent.

Food and Dietary Requirements

Daily Food Consumption
Guide	1,500 calories
Cups of Kibble

When feeding a large dog breed, you should pay specific attention to the amount you feed, especially during their first few months as a puppy.

If you overfeed you will make your puppy obese and put strain on their joints, the opposite of that is also true, underfeeding your puppy will starve them of nutrition.

You should split your Mastador’s kibble into two meals per day, this will help you avoid bloat in your dog as large meals which are fed once daily have been linked to bloat in giant dogs.

Make sure you use the best quality dog food, which is grain free and has been specifically formulated for giant dog breeds.

It is important to include plenty of protein in your dog’s diet to match its high energy levels.

Exercising A Lab Mastiff Mix

Daily Exercise Requirements
Minutes	60 minutes
Activity Level

Your Mastador is a high energy dog, because of his working parents, so he will require plenty of exercise.

Aim for sixty minutes of vigorous exercise per day (including walks and playtime), their muscly form makes them perfect for long walks and runs.

Your dog may inherit a love of swimming from its Labrador Retriever parent.

Depending on your local dog-walking laws, you may be able to walk your dog off its leash, but you should make sure your Mastiff Lab mix is well trained to respond to commands.

Training a Mastador

It is best to use positive reinforcement and clicker training when training your Mastador.

They may inherit a stubborn streak from their Bullmastiff parent, as they are often aloof and stubborn, so make sure training and socializing begins at a very early age.

Because of their love for food, they are quite easy to train.

You can take advantage of your Mastador’s sense of smell by playing hide and seek games with them; this will stimulate their brains too.

Mastador Health Problems

Most of the health concerns associated with this dog are due to their size.

Elbow and hip dysplasia, which can lead to arthritis, are common in dogs of this size.

Your Mastador will also be prone to obesity, which can be remedied by following a careful feeding schedule and making sure they get regular exercise.

Mastador Size, Appearance, Coat and Grooming

This large dog and can grow up to 36 inches, a Mastador full grown can weigh up to 150lb too (depending on the size of each of its parents).

They have a double coat, with a short undercoat and coarse appearance.

Its dense undercoat is water-resistant making them fit for swimming (if they take after their Lab parent).

Their coat can sometimes have a slight wave and can come in a variety of colors:

• Brown
• Black
• Tan
• Brown

Some Mastadors can inherit a black ‘face mask’ marking from their Bullmastiff parent.

Grooming Guide

Shedding will happen naturally twice a year, which can make this dog a bad choice for those with allergies. Using a deshedding brush can help collect shedding fur rather than allowing it to fall naturally.

You should aim to brush your dog twice weekly.

If your Mastador is a swimmer or is especially dirty, you may want to bathe them. They tend to shed any dirt naturally from their coat, so bathing outside of this can be done a few times a year.

Summary Of The Mastador Dog

The loyal and friendly Mastador is a great choice for families looking for a loving and active companion.

They need regular exercise and vigorous walks, so may not be suited for inactive people.

You can stimulate your dog mentally (with games based on their sense of smell and their love of food) or with long new walks which can last for an hour.

Regulate feeding times to avoid any health issues surrounding bloat and weight gain.

Mastiff Lab Mixes need regular brushing, and are not suited for those with severe allergies. If you want an easy to train and affectionate guard dog, then this gentle giant dog could be the perfect addition to your family.