The Pitbull Mastiff mix is a large-sized mixed-breed dog created by breeding an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Mastiff. This gentle giant of a dog is a relatively new dog with a moderate energy level and high prey drive for its size. Like both parent breeds, the Pit Mastiff is best-suited for experienced owners and those with a house & yard.
The Pitbull Mastiff will be the ultimate protector of the household. It’s a big dog with a big bark and a big personality. Typifying the ‘gentle giant’, expect your Pitbull Mastiff to be a bit cumbersome and occupy a large space inside your home.
Photo credit: contagphotography
Little is known about the Pitbull Mastiff mix, as it is a relatively new hybrid dog breed. Fortunately, we know plenty about the history of each parent breed. We’ll go over that history, the temperaments, and the popularity of each parent breed, to give you a better idea of why a Pitbull Mastiff mix could be your next family pet.
Pitbull Mastiff Mix – At a Glance
| Weight: | 100–140 pounds |
| Height: | 25–29 inches |
| Lifespan: | 8–12 years |
| Coat colours: | Brown, black, white, red, brindle, or a tri-colored combination. |
| Temperament: | Alert, intelligent, affectionate, playful, loyal, loving. |
| Suitable for: | Active families, active single individuals, experienced owners. |
What Does a Pitbull Mastiff Mix Look Like?
The Pitbull Mastiff, otherwise known as the Pit Mastiff will borrow different parts of its physical appearance from each parent breed. It’s generally large size will come from it’s Mastiff parent, while it’s thinner legs and well-defined muscular bodies like the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Like the Mastiff breed, you can expect your Pitbull Mastiff mix to have triangular that fold out to the side and are set high on their head. They’ll have the wedge-shaped head and longer snout than traditional Mastiffs.
Photo credit: zatsberry
Like most mixed-breed dogs, its coat color can vary. Expect your Pitbull Mastiff to have a large patch of white on its chest, while the rest of its body will either be a solid coat color or brindle.
The History of the Pitbull Mastiff Mix
Unfortunately, not much is known about the Pitbull Mastiff mix – other than that they are a recent crossbreed, likely created during the 1990s or early 2000s. We can glean lots about the Pitbull Mastiff mix from both parent breeds, let’s take a deep dive into the history of the Mastiff and American Pit Bull Terrier.
The History of the Mastiff
The Mastiff, otherwise known as the Bullmastiff, is a large dog breed bred in England in the late 19th century, at least this is our best guess – as much of the history of the Bullmastiff is shrouded in secrecy and lost to history.
The Bullmastiff was originally bred as a guard dog for property and people by gamekeepers of England’s parks to ward off hunters. Renowned for it’s huge size, the Bullmastiff was recognized by the Kennel Club in England in 1924. The American Kennel Club also recognized the Bullmastiff, in 1934.
Because of their huge size, the Bullmastiff was also used by mining companies in South Africa to guard mines during the late 1920s.
Some of the first Bullmastiffs arrived in the United States thanks to the Rockefeller family, who imported them from the UK to guard their estates in Florida.
How Popular Are Mastiffs?
Despite only arriving during the early 20th century, Bullmastiffs gained huge popularity among farmers due to their protective nature.
In 2021, the Bullmastiff ranked as the 56th most-popular dog in the United States.
Who Are Mastiffs a Good Dog For?
Given that the Bullmastiff is a giant-sized dog, it will require plenty of exercise and will lead a much happier, healthier life in a family home with a house & yard than in an apartment.
How Did Mastiffs Come About?
The Bullmastiff was bred in England in the late 19th century as a guard dog for the large properties of the English nobility. As time wore on, Mastiffs became guardians of diamond mines in South Africa and are today trusted family pets.
Bullmastiffs, and mastiff-type dogs in general make fantastic guard dogs – and were often used as ancient guard dogs by the Romans and Greeks, along with being used as war dogs.
When Did First Cross-Breed The Mastiff?
Crossbreeding a Mastiff can be tricky – when you’re breeding a large-sized dog of any type, you may need to use IVF treatments when breeding them with a smaller dog. When breeding naturally, Mastiffs were usually only crossbred with dogs of similar size.
There are a few popular Mastiff mixes – likely created during the 1990s and early 2000s when crossbreeding was popular on the American dog breeding circuit – these include:
- Mastiff Labrador Retriever Mix (Mastador)
- Mastiff Rottweiler Mix (Mastweiler)
- Mastiff German Shepherd Mix (Mastiff Shepherd)
- Mastiff Husky Mix (Mastiff Husky)
- Mastiff Great Dane Mix (Daniff)
The History of the Pitbull
The Pitbull or the American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized dog bred in England in the early 19th century from the Old English Bulldog and Old English Terrier. Designed by breeders to be a fighting dog, or to participate in a blood sport known as “bull-baiting”, the broad-chested, powerful Pitbull became an immediate among ‘bull-baiting’ enthusiasts.
In 1835, the British Government outlawed the practice of ‘bull-baiting,’ sending the Pit Bull Terrier into disrepute among many dog owners. The breed was shipped overseas to the United States, where it became the American Pit Bull Terrier and is now commonly referred to as the Pitbull.
The Pitbull Terrier is most commonly found in family homes and has become a loyal companion pet for many Americans. Unfortunately, due to their history of violence and aggression, the Pitbull Terrier is outlawed in many American cities and is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. However, the United Kennel Club does recognize the breed.
How Popular Are Pitbulls?
Given that the AKC doesn’t recognize the Pitbull Terrier, it isn’t easy to garner accurate ownership and popularity statistics for this affectionate companion. The United Kennel Club does not collect population statistics.
However, other information suggests that Pitbull Terriers make up to 20% of the American ‘strong dog’ population.
Who Are Pitbulls a Good Dog For?
Pitbulls are medium-sized dogs with huge strength and power, particularly in their shoulders and chest. This makes them difficult to control when walking for some people and out of the question for the elderly.
Pitbulls make excellent companion pets in family homes with a house and yard, as they can suffer from separation anxiety, leading to destructive behavior. The Pitbull Terrier needs daily exercise, too.
How Did Pitbulls Come About?
Pitbulls were first bred in England in the early 19th century to participate in a blood sport called ‘bull-baiting.’ Bull baiting was a game where an angry bull cow was released into a field with a Pitbull, or other terrier-type dogs (Boxers were also used in this capacity), and bull either won when it killed the dog, or the Pitbull won when it outlasted the bull’s stamina and the bull collapsed from exhaustion.
This brutal ‘sport’ ended in 1835, after being outlawed. Between 1845 and 1860, the Pit Bull Terrier was brought to the United States, where it became the American Pit Bull Terrier (named so by the United Kennel Club), after the UKC recognized the breed in 1898.
Since then, the American Pit Bull Terrier has carved out a life in the United States as a companion and working dog, being used as a police dog in roles such as drug enforcement.
When Did First Cross-Breed The Pitbull?
Given their murky legal status in the United States, the American Pit Bull Terrier is often the target of crossbreeding to circumvent some of the legislation surrounding them. Besides this angle, the Pitbull is often crossbred with dogs of a similar size, as a way to temper their sometimes-aggressive personality traits.
Popular Pitbull crosses include:
- Rhodesian Ridgeback Pitbull Mix (Rhodesian Pit)
- Pitbull Catahoula Mix (Pitahoula)
- Greyhound Pitbull Mix (Grey Pit)
- Shih Tzu Pitbull Mix (Pit Shih)
- French Bulldog Pitbull Mix (French Pit)
How Important Is a Dog’s Temperament to Your Family?
One of the most important parts of a dog is its temperament – that is, how it interacts with other animals and people. This part of being an owner – or a future dog owner – should account for at least some of your research prior to buying or adopting your dog.
For example, if you live in an apartment building, you’re not going to adopt a dog that may cause furniture damage (or bark excessively) due to separation anxiety. Likewise, you’re also not likely to adopt a Pug if you’re an outdoorsy, active family unit buying or adopting a dog to have an adventure companion – because that Pug is not going to be it!
Make temperament a part of your puppy-quest research and you won’t be surprised when the dog displays certain temperamental behaviors, or you’ll know how to use training and positive reinforcement to make corrections as necessary.
What is the Temperament of the Pitbull Mastiff Mix?
Despite its Pit Bull genetic makeup, the Pitbull Mastiff mix is unlikely to be a hyper-aggressive dog. The Mastiff’s ‘gentle-giant’ persona will likely overcome any of that. You can expect your Bull Mastiff mix to be a very affectionate and loyal dog, with a fierce protective streak – a big dog with a big bark.
Given their large size and energetic nature, Pitbull Mastiffs aren’t for novice dog owners. They need plenty of exercise and prefer to be outside for extended periods.
Is The Pitbull Mastiff Mix Friendly?
The Pitbull Mastiff mix is generally a very friendly dog with an affectionate temperament.
Is The Pitbull Mastiff Mix Easy to Train?
You may experience some initial stubbornness with the Pitbull Mastiff mix regarding training. Though they do respond well to commands, the Pitbull is known to be stubborn and hyperactive, which can cause it to become distracted when in-training. The Mastiff is an independent breed, which doesn’t make training plain sailing.
How Much Can A Pitbull Mastiff Mix Weigh?
The average weight of a Pit Mastiff is between 100 and 140 pounds! This makes them one of the heftiest dog breeds out there!
How Tall Can A Pitbull Mastiff Mix Get?
The average height of a Bull Mastiff mix is between 25 and 28 inches tall.
Similar-Sized Breeds
There are a few similar-sized breeds to the Pitbull Mastiff mix. These include:
- Great Dane
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Saint Bernard
Does the Pitbull Mastiff Mix Shed?
Thankfully for you, the Pitbull Mastiff mix has a single coat, that’s low-maintenance and won’t shed very much throughout the year.
How Much Exercise Does A Pitbull Mastiff Mix Require?
Both parents are giant breed dogs, with the exercise regimen of a professional athlete – expect your Pitbull Mastiff mix requires a lot of exercise. This should include about 45 minutes of daily walking, including mental stimulation exercises, such as fetch or a large KONG toy, filled with treats.
How Long Can a Pitbull Mastiff Mix Live?
The average lifespan of a Pitbull Mastiff mix is between 8 and 12 years.
What Health Conditions Could the Pitbull Mastiff Mix Have?
- Hip Dysplasia (Hip joint inflammation)
- Elbow Dysplasia (Elbow joint inflammation)
- Dental Diseases
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy (Cardiovascular Disease)
How Can You Find a Pitbull Mastiff Mix Puppy For Sale?
Before you search for a Pitbull Mastiff mix puppy for sale, consider seeing if your local animal shelter or vet clinic has a Pitbull Mastiff mix for adoption. Adoption is a far less costly process than buying from a breeder.
If your in-person quest for a Pitbull Mastiff mix fails, try searching for one online at AdoptAPet.com.
How Much Does a Pitbull Mastiff Mix Puppy Cost?
If, however, you’re still interested in purchasing a Pitbull Mastiff mix puppy – ensure that you do so from a responsible breeder. You should expect to spend between $350 and $2000!
Trying to buy a Pitbull Mastiff shouldn’t be a complicated process. However, you should do your best to search for a responsible breeder and avoid backyard breeders properly! To make this process easier, we’ve written an article on how to find and work with a reputable breeder.
Is the Pitbull Mastiff Mix the Right Breed For You?
If you’ve been looking for a large dog that can double as a family companion and guard dog, the Pitbull Mastiff might be exactly what you’ve been searching for!
If you’re unsure if the Pitbull Mastiff is the right dog for you, we have compiled dozens of other breed guides for you to browse and find the dog that’s right for you.