20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Mastador

As a gentle giant breed, Mastadors are about as far as possible in comparison to its almost homophonic counterpart—the matador. Although, the Mastador dog breed can look quite intimidating, its size is really misleading in many ways. Don’t get us wrong, however, because this type of dog will do what it can to protect the ones it loves. Because of this, Mastadors have long been known as some of the best family dog breeds you can have. They are absolutely adorable in every way, and they easily fit into all sorts of family dynamic. If you’re thinking about owning one of these amazing dogs, here are 20 things about Mastadors that you should know beforehand.

1. They have great parent breeds

The Mastador breed is what it is because of where it came from. Every single trait and personality characteristic of the Mastador is derivative of another breed’s. The Mastador is a mix of two greats in the dog world: the Labrador retriever and the Bullmastiff. Both dogs are forces to be reckoned with known for their smarts, their strength, and their size. Mastador gets the best of both those worlds all rolled up into one incredibly large but cute package.

2. They have an interesting history

Labrador retrievers’ roots hail from Newfoundland, Canada. The Bullmastiffs are originally from the UK. Although their parent breeds come from these far off places, the Mastadors were likely to come from the United States. Unfortunately, the history stops there. No one knows for sure when or where the Mastador breed actually started. Much like other designer dogs, it’s likely that the Mastador was the result of a pure breeding accident. Many Mastador-lovers like to believe that the breed was the result of intentional breeding, but so far no documentation has been found to support that idea.

3. They can’t be registered

As great an animal as Mastadors are, unfortunately they can’t be registered with the American Kennel Club or the AKC. The AKC has certain breed requirements for registration, and the Mastador is not a pure breed. The Mastador parent breeds are both registered with the AKC—the Labrador retriever in 1917 and the Bullmastiff in 1934. If a dog is not registered under the AKC, it means that it can’t compete in AKC dog shows. AKC registration also comes with a few advantages for a dog buyer. It’s not a mark of quality, but it does let the buyer know that the breeder has taken the necessary steps to screen the puppy for genetic disease and other health-related issues and more.

4. The breed is a young breed

Even though we don’t know much about the specific history of the entire Mastador breed, we do know when they started popping up. About 15 to 20 years ago, Mastador pups started to come around. In terms of dog breed histories, that’s fairly young in comparison to some breeds that have been around for centuries. The Basenji breed from Africa, for example, is thought to be the oldest in the world. Although European explorers first reported seeing the breed in the 1800s, archaeological research has shown that the Basenji had roots that date as far back as 6,000 BC. Cave paintings from that time depicting the Basenji have been found in Libya.

5. They can eat quite a bit

Much like their Labrador parents, Mastadors can easily eat anything in sight. This is a trait that needs to be redirected quickly to maintain a Mastador’s good health. This breed does extremely well on high quality dry food, and it can consume anywhere from 3 to 6 cups of food daily. Try to get dog food made specifically for large and athletic dog breeds.

6. They are easy to train

Given that Mastadors are highly intelligent animals, they also happen to be incredibly easy to train. Of course, training will come easier the younger a puppy starts training, but you can even teach an old Mastador some new tricks. They do extremely well working with more than one trainer, as long as you let the Mastador know that you’re the Alpha of the group.

7. They are large animals

There’s no doubt that Mastadors are large creatures. The question really is how big do they actually get. Mastadors can get significantly bigger and heavier than their parent breeds. One pup can weigh anywhere from 85 lbs to 140 lbs. They range mostly in the 100s, but some dogs have been known to weigh anywhere from 160 lbs to even 200 lbs. Males tend to weigh more than females.  All this only means that there’s more of the Mastador to love than anything.

8. They are loyal and protective

This is one of the many reasons why Mastadors are great family pets. Aside from just being so cuddly and huggable, Mastadors are extremely loyal animals. They are natural-born protectors. After all, their parent breed, the Bullmastiff, was originally developed in the 19thcentury to be guard dogs. If the Mastador feels that its family is under attack, it will do whatever it can to protect it.

9. They need affection

Mastadors are generally regarded as loving and affectionate creatures. For the most part, they are even-tempered and gentle with humans and even other pets. However, this kind of temperament is rooted from a wholesome family dynamic. Mastadors need affection in order to feel like they belong. They need regular positive interaction with humans in order to maintain this temperament. Without it, Mastadors get bored and can even get destructive.

10. They might have a short lifespan

The average dog lives anywhere from 12 to 16 years. The Mastadors generally live anywhere between 10 to 15 years. The shortened lifespan of Mastadors may be due to underlying health conditions. Their lives will also depend largely on the kind of lifestyle they live, what they eat, and how they are cared for. To help a Mastador live a longer and healthier life, it must have a good balance of proper diet and exercise.

11. They have health issues

Unfortunately, the Mastador dog breed comes with a host of underlying health conditions that may or may not present itself. These conditions are generally genetic in nature and can only be controlled. Some of the more common Mastador health issues include hip dysplasia, which is common in large dog breeds. They can also suffer from respiratory issues as brought on by the brachycephalic syndrome. Other issues may be eye related such as cataract disease and progressive retinal atrophy.

12. They don’t need much exercise

Believe it or not, Mastadors don’t need as much exercise as you might think. There are a lot of larger dog breeds that require a lot of exercise, but not the Mastador. The Mastador may be large, but it is not energetic at all. Since it doesn’t have a lot of energy to expend, its exercise needs are low. A nice walk around the neighborhood or just a little bit time for free play is enough to keep the Mastador healthy and strong. At least one hour of low-level exercise per day should suffice.

13. They don’t need much grooming

Mastadors are fairly easy dogs to groom. This is a great thing especially for their size. They do tend to shed a moderate amount of hair—possibly an amount that would have to be cleaned on a daily basis. Regular brushing of a Mastador’s coat will help control the shedding, and it will also keep the coat shiny and healthy. Bathing should only happen when necessary. A Mastador’s teeth and ears should be regularly cleaned, and its nails should also be clipped.

14. They bark on purpose

Not known to be barkers, Mastadors bark when there’s reason to. Although these dogs will bark randomly on occasion, it will tend to bark only if there are intruders to warn you about. This is part of the Mastadors protective instinct and should be heeded by owners when it does happen. A mastador may also bark if it’s starting to feel bored or lonely to let you know that it needs your company.

15. They get bloated

One common thing that many Mastadors experience is bloating. It’s similar to what humans feel when a lot of food is consumed in a short amount of time. This is why it’s important for Mastadors with bigger appetites to eat at least twice a day instead of one. If a Mastador consumes 6 cups of dry dog food each day, split that amount into two servings of 3 cups instead of one serving of 6 cups. It will prevent your pup from feeling the pain of bloating.

16. They require room

This is an obvious one, but Mastadors definitely need room. Although they can survive in small spaces, it wouldn’t be the most ideal situation for the dog of this size. Apart from needing room to roam around, it will also need room for exercise, grooming, and curious interaction. Mastadors have a tendency to become couch potatoes if they’re not motivated, intrigued, or inspired, and this is not a good thing for Mastadors. When they start to feel these hallmarks of getting bored, they might start chewing your house apart.

17. They are immaculate jumpers

Although a Mastador may never do it for fun, jumping is actually something they are very good at. Given the size and strength of some of these dogs, Mastadors can clear a 6-foot fence with no problems. The Mastador probably got this trait from its Bullmastiff parent, especially since Labrador retrievers are not the best jumpers. This is a skill that should be carefully trained. If a Mastador happens to jump on a human because of excitement or attack, that person will definitely get hurt.

18. They have beautiful coats

Mastador breeds come in a variety of coat colors. Their coats are short, and they are generally dense on the body. Proper care is required to maintain the health of their coats. As far as coat colors are concerned, Mastadors are known to come in a wide variety of colors: black, brown, yellow, red, fawn, brindle, silver, or charcoal. Their coats may come in a solid color or a mix of any of these colors.

19. They can have a lot of puppies

Mastadors produce some of the cutest puppies around. In one pregnancy and delivery, a Mastador female may have anywhere from 6 to 10 puppies. Caring for puppies take a lot of work, and they will generally need a lot of attention up until they are about 18 weeks old. Technically, female Mastadors can be impregnated every heat season, which is ever 24 months. However, proper breeding regulations state that you should avoid breeding every season to ensure the safety of both the mother and the puppies.

20. They are quite pricey

If you intend on getting a Mastador puppy, make sure you’re ready to pay the costs. On average, a Mastador pup will cost anywhere from $900 to $2,000 depending on the breed. This cost will not include any other fees. Adopting a Mastador may cost a little less, but there are also adoption fees you’d have to pay. There have been a few Mastadors that have exceeded that price range in the past, and you also have to consider the cost of taking care of the dog as well. From food to grooming and health, the cost to maintain a Mastador can go up fairly quickly. As always, we recommend buyers to inquire at adoption agencies and humane societies before they buy direct from a breeder. There are way too many dogs out there without homes for adoption not to be the first option.

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