Mastador Breed Guide

What is the history & origin of the Mastador?

Despite being a relatively new designer breed, there's very little documentation on when crossbreeding first purposefully took place. Of course, there's every possibility that Mastadors, as we know them today, have existed since the early 19th century, given that both their parent breeds would have been present in Britain since that time.

English Mastiffs are an ancient breed of dogs, which have existed as guard dogs in Britain for other 2,000 years! Labrador Retrievers, on the other hand, had their origins in Newfoundland, where they were used as fishing dogs. They were first introduced as a breed in England around 1800. Random breedings of Mastadors could, therefore, have occurred any time since.

It is thought that Mastador started life as a designer pup sometime around the 1990s in North America. In the time since these designer dogs have risen in popularity as family pets and have been recognised by several different kennel clubs.

These include International Designer Canine Registry and The American Canine Hybrid Club. However, they are currently not recognised by the American Kennel Club.

Who are Mastador dogs best for?

Mastadors are a popular dog breed amongst families due to their sociability and dedication. Like most dog breeds, Mastadors prefer busy households with lots going on. They like having lots of family members to interact with and protect. If you're looking for a good guard dog, Mastadors are instinctively good at keeping watch.

They're also a great family dog option if you have other pets, as they are generally quite friendly towards other dogs and cats that they live with.

However, they can show an independent side, influenced by their Mastiff parent. Mastiff Lab mix puppies can be left alone at home for around 5 hours, while adult Mastadors can be left for 10. This makes them a good fit for workers who are away from home a lot.

However, dog owners need to carve out a significant portion of their day to exercise this mixed breed dog. They require around one hour of exercise per day. Although they enjoy running in big gardens, Mastadors ideally need two decent-sized walks per day in addition to this.

How much grooming does a Mastador need?

You don't need to worry about getting a Mastador booked in for a professional groomer; in fact, you barely even have to worry about grooming the dog at all! They shed minimally, and you could get away with only brushing their thin coats just once a week.

This all changes during shedding season, when you'll have to commit a little more of your time to brushing. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as grooming can be a nice bonding experience between you and your Mastiff and Lab mix pup.

Bathing really depends on how dirty your dog gets from playing - as well as how frequently.

Do Mastador bark much?

This crossbreed is not noted for being particularly big barkers, similar to their parent breeds. The occasional bark at a stranger in the street or another dog is to be expected from all pups, but a barking habit in a Mastador may be a cause for concern. It could be a sign of pain, boredom, hunger, confusion, anxiety - the list goes on!

If you're noticing a lot of barking from your Mastador, try to figure out what's causing the barking or mention the problem to your vet.

Do Mastador bite?

You may find your Mastador puppy biting you as they start to teeth, which you could resolve by swapping out your finger for a chew toy. You could also try lightly hitting them on the nose whenever they do it and saying 'no' to get it into their head that it's not something they can do.

As with a lot of things, positive reinforcement works a lot better than giving them a loud verbal telling-off.

If none of the above works, try conveying to your pup that biting causes you pain. If they see that they're causing you soreness, they'll stop as their main goal is to keep you safe.

What is the temperament & personality of a Mastador?

The temperament and personality of a Mastador depend entirely on which parent breed they take the most genes from. The Mastiff influence could create a more reserved but brave in the face of danger. If the Mastador takes more from the Labrador Retriever side, then they'll grow to become more outgoing and sociable.

Before adopting, it would be a good idea to get to know the parents first to get a rough idea of their personalities.

They're generally friendly and willing to listen and take commands but can become destructive when bored. They're also quite sensitive to being told off, so you should always try and show kindness in your reprimands.

Mastadors are not naturally aggressive dogs but may respond negatively to being mishandled. For this reason, you must teach your kids how to handle a Mastador correctly.

What is the weight & size of a Mastador?

Like most dog types, male Mastador tends to be bulkier than females. Generally, they tend to weigh between 38 and 72 kg. In terms of height, a Mastador will fall between 71 and 91 cm.

How much training does a Mastador need?

Mastadors have a lot of energy but can stay calm long enough for you to train them. They quickly grasp the world around them in puppyhood and are eager to learn more from their master. They will learn commands quickly and, being a work-orientated breed, can easily pick up patterns.

They are also food-orientated, so they enjoy a treat whenever they complete a task successfully. It's important to substitute a treat for hugging and petting now and again to avoid overfeeding them.

Like most dog breeds, Mastadors can be very sensitive to being told off for something, so you should aim for positive reinforcement as much as possible.

What are some of the most common health issues for a Mastador?

Sometimes, the intent of crossbreeding is to eliminate some of the health issues that each parent dog faces. Sometimes, this works out, but other times it doesn't. For this reason, a Mastador may still be predisposed to several health issues associated with both Mastiffs and Labradors.

These health issues include elbow dysplasia, canine hip dysplasia, retinal dysplasia, cataracts, Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) or Bloat, and obesity. The risks of a Mastador puppy suffering from any of these can be extremely narrowed down through regular vet check-ups and abiding by strict exercise and eating plans.

What is the lifespan of a Mastador?

If exercised daily and fed well, Mastadors can live a healthy life of between 10 and 15 years.

How much should you feed a Mastador?

Being a fairly active dog, a Mastador requires a steady diet to keep its energy levels up. For this reason, they require around 780g - 1460 g worth of food per day, spread out over several meals. Some would recommend feeding them kibble, while others claim that raw dog food is best for Labrador Retriever mixes.

To be on the safe side, ask your vet to determine what type of food would be best for your dog specifically and how much food you should give them per meal and per day.

What is the price of a Mastador in Australia?

Mastadors are a designer dog breed and, for that reason, can sell well over their average price. Given their rare breed status, you can expect a Mastador to sell for well over $1,000 in Australia.