Ultimate Mastiff Dog Breed

Other names:
Neapolitan Mastiff Dogue De Bordeaux
Neodeau Mastiff

The Ultimate Mastiff is ultimately gigantic, ultimate wrinkly and ultimately slobbery. Part Neapolitan Mastiff and part Dogue de Bordeaux, they will certainly be alert, watchful and loyal. Don't let their looks fool you though, they are not usually aggressive and are sweet and affectionate towards their owners/families. Members of this breed are excellent with children and good with other pets if they are trained and socialized from the start, otherwise they may be territorial with other dogs. This big dog is considered moderate maintenance due to low grooming needs (other than cleaning drool) and medium exercise requirements. They sometimes get a bad rap for being hard to train, however, they are actually very trainable by an experienced big dog owner.

Ultimate Mastiff Breed Details

Ultimate Mastiffs are product of two very impressive breeds. Both the Dogue de Bordeaux and the Neapolitan Mastiff were loyal guardians of person and property; DDBs also have fighting history baiting bulls, bears, jaguars plus hunting boar (and, surprisingly, herding). These dogs were purposefully bred to look gargantuan and scary but they are pretty even-tempered and not usually aggressive. These loving, affectionate canines are recommended for an owners that have experience with large breeds. Consider the following Untimate Mastiff facts:

PROS

  • Lovely companion for children
  • Usually good with other pets
  • Low maintenance coat
  • Exercise needs are not too difficult for the average person
  • Highly trainable for an experienced big dog owner
  • Can spend reasonable amounts of time alone
  • Not aggressive towards visitors
  • Loyal, watchful and alert
  • Looks and size are enough to deter many would-be intruders
  • Sweet and loving temperament towards owner/family
  • Enjoys moderate exercise with owner such as long walks, swimming, hiking

CONS

  • Not an apartment dog, ideally needs a large yard
  • Not hypoallergenic and drool will be abundant
  • Needs about an hour of daily outdoor exercise
  • May take extra patience to train and you must be capable of being dominant
  • May be reserved around strangers
  • Not an intensive workout partner
  • Large size needs supervision around small children
  • May be territorial towards other dogs
Type
Hybrid
Lifespan
5 - 10 yrs.
Height
23 - 30 in.
Weight
110 - 150 lbs
Friendliness
OverallFamily FriendlyChild FriendlyPet FriendlyStranger Friendly
Maintenance
Easy to GroomEnergy LevelExercise NeedsHealthShedding Amount
Behavior
Barks / HowlsEasy to TrainGuard DogPlayfulnessWatch Dog
Ownership
Apartment DogCan be AloneGood for Busy OwnersGood for New OwnersIntelligence

Ultimate Mastiff Breed Description

The Ultimate Mastiff, like both parents, will be a very large dog-- giant even! She will weigh somewhere in the range of 110-150 pounds and will be stocky and muscular in appearance with a sizable tail. She has a large, broad, wrinkly head with a wide mouth and small nose, however, the muzzle is not as short as the Dogue de Bordeaux. The coat is short, soft coat is often black, mahogany, fawn, tawny, blue, brindle and cream; they may sometimes have mask markings on the face.

Ultimate Mastiff information that cites these dogs as un-trainable is misleading. Both parent breeds are very trainable, the problem lies within the sheer size. Inexperienced dog owners that cannot firmly and consistently let the dog know they are the "pack leader" will find this too much dog to handle. Those that can will find this breed to be an excellent loyal companion-- treats and affection are necessary for all breeds. To cut back on any territoriality these guys may have for other dogs, it's best to socialize them as early as possible.

These dogs may appear big and tough but they are actually extremely sweet and affectionate. They are loyal, alert and will be watchful for their family or owner. Although they may remain distant or observant towards strangers they should not be aggressive. Other than their humongous size they make lovely friends for children. If well socialized they can get on great with other pets, however, Mastiffs are sometimes said to be a bit territorial towards other canines. Another plus, they will be fine while you are gone about your daily activities.

He will have a medium amount of energy to be burned off each day. A few long walks, trips to the dog park and even swimming are activities this breed will enjoy. A large, fenced yard is recommended as is 45 mins to an hour of daily exercise.

Ultimate Mastiff Health

Although hybrid such as the Ultimate Mastiff will probably have fewer health problems than a purebred Neapolitan Mastiff or Dogue de Bordeaux, they still have relatively short lifespans compared to other breeds. This crossbreed usually lives somewhere between 5-10 years and can be susceptible to common health issues of both parent breeds. We recommend visiting both parent breed pages to familiarize yourself with such issues.

A few common parental issues include:

  • Hip Dysplasia & Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Diseases and Disorders (PRA, Ectropion, Cherry Eye)
  • Heart Problems (Cardiomyopathy, Aortic Stenosis)
  • Infections within skin folds
  • Bloat
  • Hypothyroidism

If you are purchasing a puppy from a breeder, take the time to choose one that has an excellent reputation and keep in mind that routine veterinary visits are important, even if your pet seems well.

Ultimate Mastiff Health Concerns

Below are potential health concerns associated with Ultimate Mastiffs.

Bloat
Hip dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
Heart problems
Skin infections
Eye diseases

About this Article

Authored by:Dog-Learn
Updated:December 18, 2016
Menu