The Pitbull Mastiff mix is exactly what the name suggests, this is a hybrid dog between an American Pitbull Terrier and a Mastiff.
People can be biased when it comes to Pitbulls and Mastiffs, because of their size and history, however, their bad reputation for aggression is untrue and is often blown out of proportion.
This mixed-bred dog can be a soft, lovable, and friendly boy who thrives on your love and will become devoted to you.
They are on the large side, being classified as a giant breed, but, this won’t stop them from trying to be a lap dog to get a cheeky cuddle on the couch.
This mix is very time-consuming and will need a lot of commitment from their parent, so it’s best to find out more about them to see if they’re right for you.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is a Pitbull Mastiff Mix?
The Pitbull Mastiff Mix can be a cross between any Pitbull and Mastiff breeds (as there are a quite few), but, the most popular breeds used is the American Pitbull Terrier and the Neapolitan Mastiff.
However, an American Staffordshire Terrier and Bullmastiff can be used for this mix too.
Historically, both breeds were used in blood sports like bear-baiting before it was outlawed, Pitbulls and Mastiffs were bred to be powerful and aggressive, but, today they are friendly, loyal, and the perfect companions:
- Pitbulls more recently have been used for scent work and have also become a popular companion breed – having historically been known as “nanny dogs”.
- Mastiffs were very popular in England as guard dogs, but, became very rare after the world wars, now their population has been rebuilt thanks to US breeders providing Mastiffs to breed with.
As this is a crossbred dog, it is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, however, one of their parent breeds, the Mastiff, is recognized by the Kennel Club.
Pitbull Mastiff Mix Appearance
As a crossbreed, this powerful and strong dog can vary in appearance, depending on their parents’ genes. It can also depend on which breed of Pitbull the puppy’s parent is (it could be an American Staffordshire Terrier or Pitbull Terrier).
Whatever specific parent genes your puppy will inherit, they will be giant sized breed with well-defined muscular body.
They have stocky builds and broadheads, they may have a somewhat squared nose (like the Mastiff). It can also inherit the Mastiffs wrinkles around their head, eyes, and muzzle.
Height and Weight
These crossbreeds can become very large – this is thanks to the Mastiff parent’s genes.
As males a fully grown Mastiff can grow up to 230lb. Compared to the 60lb of the Pitbulls.
Weight of a mixed breed puppy is heavily dependent upon their parents’ size. A fully-grown Pitbull Mastiff Mix can grow to be fully mature at between 18-24 months weighing between 100-140lb.
There is no way to be sure how big this breed will grow, but, they tend to be on the giant size with males tend to be larger than females.
Coat Color
A Mastiff Pitbull Mix color will be either: brown, black, white, red, or brindle.
Their coat may be bi (e.g. brindle), tri-colored, or it could be a solid color.
Some of these mixes also have markings on their face, like a Pitbull has; going from the nose up in-between their eyes.
They can also have the markings that Mastiffs have where they have a ‘black mask’ on their face, chest markings, and feet markings.
Coat
Even though crossbreeds can be unpredictable with appearance and temperament, you can be very certain that your Pitbull Mastiff Mix’s coat will be short and fine (as both parent breeds have similar coat types).
This short coat is easy to maintain.
Occasional brushing will keep your pooch looking his best, aim for once or twice a week – Mastiff’s are notorious for their low grooming requirements.
Brushing promotes a healthy coat by distributing natural oils. Don’t bath them too often, as this can wash away those oils, but its best to wash when they start producing that doggy odor.
Pitbull Mastiff Mix Personality and Temperament
Like with your dog’s appearance, as this breed is a hybrid, there is no way to predict how they will behave, but, we can look at each parent breed to get a better idea about their temperament.
A Pitbull Mastiff Mix is like every Pitbull and Mastiff, loyal.
They are affectionate companions, who are sweet natured and friendly. They make the best companion dogs thanks to their sweet and loving nature!
Both parent breeds are very affectionate and loyal, so it’s no surprise this mix will be as well. They will form very strong bonds with you and your family.
However, these strong bonds can mean that this crossbreed can be prone to suffering from separation anxiety. For this reason, it’s probably best to make sure you don’t leave your dog alone for too long (more than three hours at a time), as they will become destructive and start chewing anything they can get their paws on.
Both Pitbulls and Mastiffs were used as family-home guard dogs, therefore, their crossbreed will be a good watchdog. Because of this, the Pitbull Mastiff Mix will be very protective over their family and do not warm up to strangers quickly. They can often be aloof to household guests.
Because of their strong guard-dog temperament you can feel safe with this dog in your house.
Pitbull dogs are known for not being friendly to unfamiliar dogs. For this reason, you should ensure you introduce your Pitbull Mastiff Mix puppy into a home with no other pets.
You should also socialize your puppy early by exposing them to lots of different dogs.
Is A Pitbull Mastiff Mix A Good Family Dog?
This breed is undoubtedly loyal and loving, however, they may be too big for small children to be around.
If socialized and trained correctly, they would never purposely hurt a human, however, because of their size accidents can happen.
For this reasons, this crossbreed is best suited with families with older children.
Make sure you teach your kids basic dog body language, and let them know when to give dogs some space. Always supervise your kids with these big dogs.
He will love the affection a big family can give them.
How to Train a Mastiff Pitbull Mix
Pitbull Mastiffs are intelligent, but, a Mastiff is known for being strong willed. They can be stubborn at times, so it is best to have patience during training sessions and keep them fun and consistent.
This mix will have a strong and dominant personality, because of this they need a confident trainer.
Always use positive reinforcement when training your dog. It leads to the best results and doesn’t cause problematic behavioral problems that coercive or aggressive techniques do (avoid using punishment, as this leads to behavioral problems).
Give your giant dog a giant reward when they follow your command (give them a treat or some praise).
It is best to start training as soon as you bring your dog home, as they can grow fast and its best to train them when they are still a manageable size.
The Pitbull Mastiff Mix will be friendly, but, socialization is very important for when they’re adults. They will need to be exposed to a range other people, children and dogs as a puppy.
You want to expose them to as many dogs as possible when they are small, as the Pitbull genes can cause them to be aggressive towards dogs, so you want to make sure they know how to socialize with dogs correctly and in a safe way.
Keep training sessions fun and short, this hybrid can get bored and destructive pretty quickly.To prevent them chewing your furniture, give them sturdy toys that wont break easily under their powerful jaws.
You can try puzzle feeders to test their intelligence.
Training a dog needs to be fun for the dog, in fact, play has been proven to improve a dogs memory and relieves stress.
Caring for a Pitbull Mastiff Mix
This crossbreed should not be taken on lightly; he is large, full of energy, and doesn’t like to be alone.
They are not suited to apartments, due to their large size and need to run around. This dog needs an active family, who can spend time with him, and has experience of giant breed training / ownership.
Exercise Requirements
Pitbulls are a very energetic and tenacious dog, however, the Mastiff is not.
The best rule of thumb is you will know when they want to go for a walk as they may become destructive.
These dogs will need around one hour of exercise each day to keep them healthy and mentally stimulated.
Most Mastiffs are well-known for letting their owners know when they are tired on walks by plonking themselves down and not getting back up.
It is probably best to walk a Pitbull Mastiff Mix on a leash, as they can become unpredictable when around unfamiliar dogs.
Because of their giant breed classification, you need to make sure you don’t overexercise your puppy during their growth phase – this is true until they mature.
They can suffer from gastric torsion, so it is best to avoid exercise immediately after they have eaten and make sure they don’t eat too fast.
Grooming and Shedding
Thankfully, despite their high training and exercise requirements, grooming will be low maintenance. They won’t shed too much, so you don’t have to worry about that.
Occasional brushing to promote natural oils for their coat is more than other. Bathing is only really needed when they start smelling of doggy odor.
This mix may inherit the Mastiffs wrinkles on their face, which will need regular inspection and cleaning.
They may also inherit the Mastiffs drooling, so its best to keep wipes at hand!
You should be regularly trim their nails, you can do this yourself, or take them to the local groomers, where they are more prepared for larger dogs.
Make sure you keep their ears clean of wax and debris to prevent ear infections and brush their teeth regularly or give them a dental stick alternative.
Feeding and Diet
Pitbull Mastiff mixes need a balanced doggy diet to be healthy, just like people, this is especially true for giant breed dogs because of their specific calcium and protein requirements:
- Proteins are essential to a dogs’ diet, this provides them with amino acids they cannot produce themselves
- Dogs also need dietary fats to give them energy
- They also need a variety of minerals and vitamins to stay healthy
How much dog food you feed your dog is dependent on their forecasted adult weight. A Pitbull Mastiff Mix is a big dog, so they will need more food than the average dog; around 4.5 cups of kibble for 100lb.
You can spread this over 2-3 meals a day for a mature dog and always ask your vet if you have any doubts.
Deciding on what to feed your dog is a personal choice, whether it is dry food, canned or raw.
It is best to make sure you are giving him the highest quality ingredients and avoid filler ingredients such as corn syrup, as this is high in carbs and can be harmful.
Known Health Problems
As a crossbreed, they are generally healthier than pure breeds, as there is more genetic diversity, decreasing risks of predispositions of disease.
However, this mix can still inherit health issues from their parents, some of which can include:
- Hip dysplasia can develop in large dogs, affecting their joints and causing pain
- They can suffer from gastric torsion – causing bloat
- Kidney disease preventing toxins being filtered from the blood
- Obesity is also a common problem, caused by overeating and a lack of exercise
With little planning ahead you could get reimbursed for every vet bill from now on!
Exam fees are included, which saves you around $50-$250 per sick visit.
PetPlan covers injury and disease in every adult tooth — not just the canines.
Not all providers cover hereditary conditions linked to breed. PetPlan does.
How Long Do Pitbull Mastiff Mixes Live?
They will live for around 8-10 years providing they are given the right exercise, diet, and love.
Buyer’s Guide
So, you think the Pitbull Mastiff Mix is the dog for you? The next step is finding a reputable breeder. This will be more difficult because of their hybrid nature.
When you see a puppy you like, contact the breeder to ask to see them with mom and the litter. If they don’t let you see her, chances are they are not trustworthy.
Seeing mom is important because mom’s maternal care towards the puppy can affect a puppy’s behavior. Low levels of maternal care can cause the puppy to develop unwanted behaviors – you want to make sure this puppy was cared for by mom!
When you meet with the breeder, ask them questions like: what are you feeding the puppies, what kind of socialization have they been exposed to, how many litters has mom had?
A trustworthy breeder will ask you questions as well, making sure you are suitable for their puppies.
They will also provide health certificates for mom (specifically hip and elbow scores) and will let you know if the puppy’s vaccinations are up to date.
As this is such a large dog, the breeder should take part in genetic screening to prevent hip dysplasia genes being passed on from parents to puppy.
Puppies should be at least 8 weeks old to leave mom and come home with you.
How Much Do Pitbull Mastiff Mixes Cost?
These crossbreeds can cost from to $350 to $2,000 USD. The more expensive puppies should be from breeders who have a pedigree purebred parent (i.e. Mastiff) with full health screens.
Quick Breed Summary Table
| Breed Characteristics | |
| Size: | 25 to 30 inches tall |
| Weight: | 100 to 140lb |
| Lifespan: | 8 – 12 years |
| Coat: | Short and firm |
| Color: | Brown, Black, White, Red Or Brindle |
| Do They Shed: | Low |
| Temperament: | Loyal, Friendly, Sweet Natured |
| Intelligence: | Highly intelligent |
| Socialization: | Not dog or pet friendly |
| Destructive Behavior: | Will chew when bored |
| People Skills: | Weary of strangers |
| Good with Children: | Great with children, best with older children |
| Activity Levels: | Activity needs can vary, but will need around 1 hour of exercise a day |
Summary
This large crossbreed is best suited for active families with older children. The Pitbull Mastiff Mix will prefer a big house with a backyard.
Sweet-natured and protective of their family, they do not like unfamiliar dogs and other pets and have been known to be dominant and strong willed.
They have a lot of energy and will need a lot of exercise each day. Be prepared for this, as they can get destructive and boisterous when they haven’t been active for a while.
This cross-breed won’t be too difficult to groom, only occasional brushing is needed for their short coats.
Don’t be put off by the Pitbull’s bad reputation, because, with the right socialization, this mix is one of the friendliest dogs.
More American Pitbull Terrier and Mastiff Mixes
Want an American Pitbull Terrier mix or Mastiff mix but aren’t keen on the Pitbull Mastiff mix? Check out these other hybrid dog breeds:
American Pitbull Terrier Mixes
- German Shepherd Pitbull Mix
- Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix
- Pitbull Boxer Mix
- Pitbull Lab Mix
- Rottweiler Pitbull Mix
- Pitbull Corgi Mix
- Pitbull Husky Mix
- Pitbull Dachshund Mix
I have a beautiful pitmastiff awesome boy very loveable
I have a Mastiff Pit-bull and I wouldn’t trade him for nothing in this world. He’s very well train, he’s destructive but only of the toys I give him, nothing last for over 2mins. He’s huge, about 120lbs.
This article was really informative and helpful, thanks.
Please I don’t have ready access to a trainer, my pup is four months old, super energetic and quite destructive already but she is everything to me! How do I go about training her please? I’m not sure I can do it all by myself or that I’d know what to do.
I have 4 female Pitbull Mastiffs and they all have different personalities but are all very loyal and very loving. We love them so much!
my puppy Nibs is the sweetest, hes a big momma’s boy and a sucker for his dad. This month he’s turning 7 months, and the potty training is almost 100%. Nibs loves to chew his toys, loves swimming, chasing ducks (wont get close) and hump his teddy bear lol…
Our Baby is the best thing to happen to us.
He loves everyone, plays well with other dogs and children… loves to give kisses and whines lightly when excited, sounds adorable. Nibs is about 60-70 lbs and still growing.
I’m looking for a bullmastiff she can be 3 to 4 months old can be bred with anything for puppy.
Or if you are looking to get rid of the mother I would be interested in her as well.
I have an idea for a sled dog to run the Iditarod. And I want to start out with a bullmastiff mix then I will be breeding her puppies to the next animal and those puppies to the next animal then the final breeding will be with a Siberian husky. And that will be my sled dog team to run Iditarod.
My 120 pd blue nose pit mastiff is 9 years old and still runs around like a puppy. This article is absolutely bullshit! Do your research. People who look up, “how long does this bread live” are mostlikely trying to understand their most beloved baby’s life term. Shame on you. Smh
Thank you for speaking up ,, I also have Blue nose pit mastiff and he is the sweetest dog on the planet fiercely loyal and protective. We decided to check his he would protect us so husband poked me and lightly hog my arm and In a jiffy the dog got between us so my husband couldn’t get to me but he did not nibble or bite and I was so thankful !
We adopted him from a local shelter !
So happens that the month of October for some reason is a free adoption month( I didn’t know that ) but went there just to look at the dogs I had lost mine 4 months prior and swore never another dog it plain and simple is too hard to loose them , long story short he was adopted twice and RETURNED TWICE ??just makes my blood boil,,,when I heard that and after talking to the pound girl I decided to take him home. I fell in love with him immediately husband was iffy about this BUT they are almost inseparable !
He just loves to be with us we and we did notice that about a year after WE adopted him HE finally completely adopted us !
we will do everything in our power to feed him the best and make sure he always has the best of the best so that he will have a long happy life ,, frankly we can’t figure out how ANYONE could let a dog like him go he was found as a stray and he was chipped so he definitely was someone’s pet !!
So thank you all that go to the shelter and adopt these wonderful loyal dogs we need to find a way for people to understand that these dogs are amazing companions as for the rest of the close minded folks shame on you ,in the real world that would be considered being a racist !!
Selma V
Very true. I had a Spanish mastiff whose projected life span was seven years. He just passed away at fourteen years. We just got two bull mastiff puppies for our twenty five acres. We already have one elderly pit dalmatian who loves animals and people, a black lab, a terrier mix, five cats, goats, rabbits and chickens. The puppies are hitting it off with everyone. And they’re super interested in meeting people. We’re taking them to town regularly while still small.
My mastiff pitbull is almost 2 years old now. Everything in this article is so true about him. He is the best dog ever! We spoil him to death because we love him so much! He gets the best of everything he needs! Thank you so much for opening my eyes to the why of the way he is. He has made our lives complete!
I just bought a pit mastiff he’s 5 weeks and I want to start training him but I’m not sure when I should start or where to even begin anyone know any good trainers?
We had French massive the female tequila had two litters when she turned two years only had 3 pups.we lived on a farm we had other dogs! She got lots of exercise they would run & play. Before she turned 8 she got really sick;( and died they said that some purebreds don’t make it pass 8 she almost made it !
The male French massif same thing died just before he was going to turn 8 he was such a teddy bear so big sad
Then are purebred malemute huskie he made it till 10 he had cushion disease & that was sad watching him suffer we put him down but we were told the medication might make him feel better but nope 🙁