Mastador Dog Breed

Below are details and specs for the Mastador dog breed.

As one of the biggest dogs on record, Mastadors can weigh between 100 and 200 pounds and stand 28 to 36 inches in height.

Mastadors are exceedingly gentle, lovable and playful dogs. They are very good with children and other pets — especially when socialized early — and will be alert but not aggressive to strangers.

Mastadors are low- to medium-maintenance dogs, but they are not for everyone. Due to their remarkable size and habits (i.e., drooling, flatulence and snoring), they are quite a bit to handle. Bathing (or getting them to a groomer) can be a chore in itself. On the other hand, exercise is straightforward and they are generally healthy.

The Mastador is a newly noted hybrid for which there is very little history. The two parent breeds, however, have been around for a very long time.

The Mastiff is one of the oldest known dogs, and has been recorded for approximately 2,000 years. Bred for protection and all-out war, the Mastiff's ancestors — Tibetan dogs called molossers were employed against Alexander the Great in 4th century B.C.; after being taken to Greece, the Romans adopted them and, as the empire spread, so too did the various Mastiff breeds alongside the centurions that claimed for their emperor. In the immediate aftermath of WWII, a writer named Piero Scanziani tasked himself with reviving the breed (which in Britain and Italy had nearly been wiped out). The Mastiff was probably exported from Britain to North America in colonial times; the first Mastiff club was not founded until 1879, however, and the Mastiff was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) a few years later in 1885.

The Labrador Retriever has a long history too, although not nearly as long as that of the Mastiff. Despite the name, Labradors don't hail from Labrador but from Newfoundland. They were first noted in the early 19th century when they were exported to England; it only took a few decades of the nobility referring to the breed as "Labradors" before the name stuck sometime in the 1870s. It took a while more for Labradors to be fully appreciated in the United States; they were not officially recognized by the AKC until 1917. Although the breed was acknowledged, it took another few decades before their popularity became nation-wide.

The Mastador is a large to massive-sized dog that will inherit the characteristics from both parent breeds. Some will get more Mastiff (and noticeably so; they will be huge!) whereas others will get a majority of aspects from the Labrador Retriever side. Generally, Mastadors are huge dogs with lithe, muscular bodies. They tend to possess a deep chest, a medium-length snout, long legs, a long tail and large ears that are usually floppy. The Mastador's coat should be short and smooth and a bit silky.

Mastadors come from hunting dogs on one side (Labs) and former dogs of war on the other (Mastiffs). Nevertheless, they are as friendly as they are massive — and despite the size, he will want to be a lapdog — or at least the biggest, hairiest footstool you'll ever have! Then there is the drooling, flatulence and snoring; if that bothers you, adopting a Mastiff may not be for you. If you can endure this for a decade or longer, he'll be one of the happiest dogs on the planet. He is relatively easy to train but he may get a stubborn streak from his Lab side, so be ready to establish yourself as leader of the pack immediately.

Due to their very big bodies, Mastadors may have joint and obesity problems, but they may also have ear problems if their ears are not inspected and cleaned (especially if there is a bad smell) regularly. In later life, they may have heart problems too but regular trips to the veterinarian can aid in early detection and maintenance. Their life expectancy tends to be 8 to 15 years.