The Mastidoodle is a big, cheerful teddy bear of a dog with a loyal and protective streak. A large Mastiff Poodle mix, this designer hybrid dog has a quick mind and agile frame. Mastidoodles are bred from historically working dogs that hunted, protected, retrieved and guarded. These intelligent dogs therefore make affectionate companions, as well as great working, service and even family dogs. As long as they are well trained with positive reinforcement methods, and have plenty of socialization as puppies. Today we’ll share the typical breed traits, characteristics and temperament you can expect from a Mastidoodle dog. We’ll give tips for finding a healthy, friendly puppy and deciding whether they are the right fit for your family.
Contents
- What are Mastidoodles?
- Mastiff Poodle mix history
- Mastidoodle size
- What to Mastidoodles look like?
- Grooming, shedding and allergies
- Are Mastidoodles friendly dogs?
- Training, exercise and health
- Are Mastidoodles good family pets?
- Mastidoodle breeders and puppies
What is a Mastidoodle?
A Mastidoodle is a Mastiff Standard Poodle mix. They are large, lean dogs with floppy ears and strong personalities. This cross breed is both recent and rare, with fans travelling long distances to find a puppy from these very different doggy lines.
Purebreds vs Designer Dogs
The Mastidoodle is classified as a designer breed. This means it is bred from two purebred dogs, in this case a Mastiff and a Poodle. The first part of making an informed decision is to be broadly aware of the perceived strengths and weaknesses of designer breeds in comparison to purebred dogs.
Those who advocate for purebred dogs argue that breed purity guarantees a certain predictability in a dog’s traits, health concerns, and physical characteristics. It allows you to know what you’re getting with a greater degree of certainty. The flip side is that purebred dogs can suffer from a range of health and physiological problems resulting from inbreeding.
The greater genetic diversity of a designer breed, proponents argue, affords “hybrid vigor,” which more than offsets the increased physical differentiation you’ll find in a designer breed. This research into pedigree dog preventative care provides an interesting insight into the breeding efforts to address purebred health challenges.
Where Do Mastidoodles Come From?
Mastidoodle were first developed as little as twenty years ago in the US. The main part of their history and heritage comes from their parent breeds.
The Poodle is believed to have originated from Germany over 400 years ago. Although much of the breed’s early development and refinement occurred in France. This breed was developed to be a water hunting dog. To this day that hunting streak is evidenced in the breed’s passion for water, natural agility, and obvious intelligence.
When the Romans invaded Britain in 55 BC they encountered a huge and courageous dog which easily trounced Roman breeds. Unsurprisingly, the warlike Romans took some home with them and used them for fighting wild animals in the Coliseum. Over the centuries they became popular as guard dogs. Today, they’re pets and companions, noted for their vigilance and loyalty.
How Big Are Mastidoodle Dogs?
The Mastidoodle could weigh 55 to 100 pounds and measure 15 to 30 inches tall. Its features will vary significantly depending on which of the parent breeds has greater influence.
Standard Poodles stand around fifteen inches tall and weighs between fifty and seventy pounds. They have a well-proportioned, squarely built frame which gives the breed its proud, almost haughty stance.
The Mastiff is a much larger dog. Its height typically reaches around 25 inches and its weight ranges between 55 and 75 pounds. This is an athletic dog with a strong musculature and an alert, agile bearing.
Mastidoodle Appearance and Characteristics
The Mastidoodle will typically have a domed forehead, drooping ears, and almond shaped eyes that are equal parts soulful and intelligent. Colors can be black, brindle or cream.
The Mastidoodle is likely to be a large and solidly built dog, with a striking physical presence derived from both its muscular Mastiff and its proudly upright Poodle pedigrees.
Mastidoodle Grooming
A Mastidoodle’s grooming needs will vary. If your Mastidoodle puppy has inherited its coat from the Poodle side, its coat will be more wavy. You will need to groom at least every other day to deal with matting, burrs, and debris.
Maybe the coat of your Mastiff Poodle mix comes more from the Mastiff side. Then its coat will be shorter, less wavy, and considerably easier to maintain. It is also important to check a Mastiff Doodle’s ears every week or so. They’re particularly prone to infection and irritation.
Are Mastidoodles Hypoallergenic?
This mix’s coat types vary a fair bit. If they are at the curlier end of the spectrum they can be low shedding and therefore hypothetically a good match for owners with mild dog allergies. However, you won’t know this until your dog is much older. It’s also worth remembering saliva carries allergens, and the Mastidoodle can be quite a drooly dog. We therefore don’t recommend this mix to someone with a dog allergy.
Mastidoodles Temperament Traits
The Mastidoodle is intelligent, adaptable and forms strong bonds with their families. They are wary or aloof with strangers, and therefore benefit from plenty of socialization as puppies. People are often surprised at how patient and nurturing they are, given their imposing size.
They love any kind of exercise and will happily run, swim, and retrieve. This mix can make great watchdogs, if not guard dogs too.
Are Mastidoodles Aggressive?
More vigilant than aggressive, they make great guard dogs and generally have a home-loving streak. The Mastiff x Poodle is intended to blend those traits. This results in an extremely affectionate and intelligent dog who develops a strong attachment with its family.
It’s important to remember that your Mastidoodle puppy will be a random mix of its parents’ personalities and also that they may take more strongly after either of their parents.
Mastidoodle Training and Obedience
Both Mastiffs and Poodles respond very well to positive reinforcement training. Given the Mastidoodle’s likely blend of a Poodle’s intelligence with a Mastiff’s eagerness to please, training should typically be relatively straightforward if approached correctly.
The Mastidoodle may inherit a strong protective streak from the Mastiff side of its family tree, so it’s important to play close, early attention to socializing Mastidoodle puppies.
Given the likelihood that your Mastidoodle puppy will be an extremely bright and perceptive animal (especially if its Poodle pedigree is dominant), you may also need to be creative in finding fresh challenges and approaches throughout the training process.
Health Issues and Special Needs
Beginning the process of looking for a Mastidoodle puppy and speaking with Mastiff Poodle cross breeders? Then it’s important to do your own research into the breed’s health issues and special needs. Issues to consider with Mastidoodle dogs are:
- Elbow and hip dysplasia
- Eye diseases
- Hypothyroidism
- Addison’s disease
- Heart disease
Are Mastidoodle Dogs Good Pets?
If you seek an active family dog with a home-loving streak and an eager, inquisitive intelligence, the Mastiff and Poodle mix is a great option to look at. For a Mastiff Poodle to be a good fit, you’ll need to be ready to commit to a steady regime of training and exercise.
It’ll also be important to include your dog in much of your family’s home life. They’ll expect nothing less!
In terms of health, always be vigilant about checking on the parent’s test results. Gather as much information as you can about your Mastidoodle puppy’s background before making a decision. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to find another breeder.
Mastidoodle Puppies and Breeders
This is a rare mix, but don’t be tempted to go with the first breeder you find. There are two important things to consider with a Mastidoodle, health and temperament.
It’s important to make sure that you check with English Mastiff Poodle mix breeders that they screen their pups for genetic problems and can provide paperwork to verify a clean bill of health. If you can, it’s a great idea to meet the puppy’s parents.
Visually checking their condition may provide some important clues on potential health issues for your Mastidoodle puppy. Additionally, always ask for evidence of health tests of the Mastidoodle’s parents. If the breeders are not forthcoming, we suggest you find a different breeder.
Likewise make sure you meet both parents, especially the Mastiff parent. They are unlikely to be warm with strangers, but they should be calm and have a clear bond with their owner.
Learn More About Mastiffs and Poodles
References
- Farrel 2015. “The Challenges of Pedigree Dog Health: Approaches to Combating Inherited Disease.” Canine Genetics and Epidemiology.
- Pedersen et al. 2015. “The Effect of Genetic Bottlenecks and Inbreeding on the Incidence of Two Major Autoimmune Diseases in Standard Poodles, Sebaceous Adenitis and Addison’s Disease.” Canine Genetics and Epidemiology.
- AVMA Group Health, 2005. “Veterinarians Underuse Human Health Care Prevention Tactics.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
James Brown says
i presently have a English Mastiff. She is 11 years old and failing. I have always had a dog. They range form a miniature poodle to a Chow. I have never had a dog as loving as my Mastiff (Penny). Now I want a Mastiff-doodle and can’t find a breeder. Big dog tremendous amount of sheading. I have look for over a year with no luck. There was one breeder I almost bought a dog from but she wanted to rent the dog not sell it.
Diane Toffolo says
How much is a Mastiff poodle mix are?
Evie says
My grandson is Special Needs and loves dog videos. We’ve been interested in finding a poodle mix, due to allergies in the family. I assume with the poodle mix, these dogs would be hypo-allergenic, is that correct? Do they carry the drooling characteristic of the of the Mastiff? The combination of poodle and mastiff sounds like a great mix!
Meg Austwick says
Hi Evie, some Poodle mixed breeds will be low shedding, but it will entirely depend on the coat type they inherit from their parent breeds. Sadly, no dog breed is 100% hypoallergenic, but low shedding ones can cause fewer allergies. We have a complete guide on the topic which you can read about here.
Julie says
The mastiff is atleast double/triple the weight you say they should be.
Laurie says
You’ve got the height and weight of a mastiff way under what the standard is.