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Mastidoodle (Mastiff & Poodle Mix): Info, Pics, Puppies, Facts & Traits

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By Nicole Cosgrove

mastidoodle outside

Height: 25 – 36 inches
Weight: 90 – 120 pounds
Lifespan: 8 – 13 years
Colors: Fawn, cream, brown, black, brindle, gray
Suitable for: Large homes, experienced dog owners, multi-pet households, owners looking for intense companionship
Temperament: Sweet, calm in the home, fun, affectionate, strong-willed

The Mastidoodle is the beautiful bundle of joy, created by his purebred parents, the Mastiff, and the Poodle. If you are looking for a living and breathing larger-than-life teddy bear, this is the best pooch for the job.

His parents are very different from one another, but together, they have created a designer doggy who is well-balanced, polite, fun, and sweet. He gets along with other dogs, and he is suited to families with young children, and very adaptable.

But, he isn’t suited to everyone. You will need a large home with access to a private yard if you want to make this boy happy. Size doesn’t always matter, but it will for this guy. He also needs a strong-willed owner who can show him the ropes. And to ensure that he understands that he is the pet dog and not the boss.

If you can offer him these things, and you are looking for a big fluffy giant, this could be a match made in hybrid heaven. Are you curious to find out more about this canine? Let’s jump straight into the details.

Divider 1Mastidoodle Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Of all the mixed doodle breeds, this guy is certainly one of the rarest. This means that you need to be prepared for the long and hard search that is ahead. If you are impatient and are desperate for a dog to join your family in the next few months, this will not happen with the Mastidoodle. He is rare, but this is definitely a huge part of his appeal.

It also goes without saying that the Mastidoodle is a huge dog. And do you know what giant dogs need? Lots and lots of space. He might not be as big as his Mastiff parent, but you can be sure that he is much bigger than his Poodle parent. This might sound obvious, but many families don’t realize just how much space giant dogs need. One thing’s for sure, this dog is not suited to the small apartment lifestyle.

The Mastidoodle can be an obnoxious dog if you allow him to be. For this reason, we suggest that that only an experienced dog owner takes him on. He will inherit a degree of stubbornness from his Mastiff parent, who is a strong-willed pooch. Thankfully, his smart Poodle genes should alleviate this, but do not expect a fully obedient dog in this guy.

He can also become overprotective, too, if he is not trained and socialized adequately as a pup. His Mastiff parent, although sweet and loving with his family, isn’t too keen on strangers. He is courageous and takes his role as family protector very seriously. Thankfully, his Poodle genes will make him more accepting of strangers.

The Mastidoodle needs more exercise than most giant dogs, and that is because of his Poodle parentage. Poodles are livewires who were traditional duck hunting dogs, and so they have a lot of working energy that they need to expel. If they become bored, they will leave a trail of destruction behind them. So, you need to be able to commit to time exercising him.

He also needs more grooming compared to other dog breeds too. Again, you can blame the Poodle for this. His long and wavy curls need daily grooming to keep him looking his best and prevent any tangling. And with his big body, you can expect that it will take longer to brush him compared to a Chihuahua.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Mastidoodle

1. The Mastidoodle may shed less than other dogs.

His Poodle parent is a hypoallergenic dog, which means that he sheds less than most dog breeds. But his Mastiff parent isn’t, and for this reason, you cannot count on the MAstidoodle to be a hypoallergenic dog.

2. The Mastidoodle may or may not drool.

To drool or not drool? That is the Mastidoodle question! And it is one that you will find out after welcoming him into your home. His Mastiff parent is known to be a heavy drooler, but his Poodle parent isn’t. This means that you need to be prepared for a little doggy drool in your life.

3. The Mastidoodle is genetically unpredictable.

He is a mixed dog, and as such, he can take after either parent. As a rare hybrid breed, he will likely be a first-generation pup. This means that there is no breed standard and no expectations about which parent he may turn out like. For this reason, you need to make sure that you love both of his parent’s breeds.

The parent breeds of Mastidoodle
The parent breeds of Mastidoodle: Left – Mastiff (Olga Aniven, Shutterstock) | Right – Poodle (chili71, Pixabay)

Divider 3

Temperament, Personality & Intelligence of the Mastidoodle 🧠

In addition to the traits mentioned in the ‘before you buy’ section, a few more characteristics are worth mentioning. Just like most giant dogs, the Mastidoodle is a sweet and gentle giant. He is one of the soppiest sweethearts in the canine kingdom, so you need to be prepared for the onslaught of puppy kisses!

He is calm in the home, and he hopefully shouldn’t knock too many things over. This is also great news for the younger ones in the house. When he ventures outside, he is lots of fun too. His well-balanced temperament means that he is suited to most families.

The Mastidoodle is a very intelligent dog thanks to his Poodle parent, who is ranked as the second most intelligent dog on the planet. But, if he inherits his Mastiff parent’s stubbornness, his intelligence might not matter anyway. Because if this guy doesn’t want to do something, he sure will not do it.

This means if you are after a fully obedient dog, you might want to stick to the purebred standard-sized Poodle. Thankfully, he will do as he is told most of the time.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Mastidoodle makes an excellent pet for most families. As we have already mentioned, you just need to make sure that you have the right environment for him to do well.

A large home with access to a large yard is one of his most essential requirements. But he also needs a family that can spend most of their time with him. As well as stimulate him throughout the day to prevent him from becoming bored and problematic.

He is excellent with young children, and you’ll find that he will become very fond of the family’s younger members. Because of his large size, you will need to supervise him just in case of accidental bumps with his big derriere.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

As long as he is socialized well with other dogs, he will get along with most other pets. But, if he isn’t, there is a big chance that he will not be able to live with other pets. His protective Mastiff genes might make him wary of other animals, which is why his training is necessary.

The only pet that he will not be able to live with is ducks and other birds. This is because of his Poodle parentage. His Poodle parent is a traditional German duck hunter, so you will need to keep him well away from ducks and other winged creatures.

Divider 4Things to Know When Owning a Mastidoodle:

Now you know more about the Mastidoodle in all of his giant teddy bear glory, here is a list of his day-to-day needs.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Mastidoodle is a large dog with an equally large appetite. He will consume between four and five cups of food every day, depending on his age, size, and activity levels. His monthly food bill is not going to be cheap, that’s for sure.

Like his Mastiff parent, he is likely to be a greedy pup, and he will eat anything and everything in sight. If you don’t want him to eat you out of house and home, or you want to avoid expensive vet bills, you need to keep food under lock and key. This guy doesn’t care if it’s toxic. If it fits in his mouth, he is going to swallow it.

You should feed him a diet that is specifically designed for large breed puppies. This is particularly important during puppyhood. This is because they contain the optimum nutrients that large and giant dogs need, and they help to control his rapid bone growth. In turn, this could decrease his chances of developing bone diseases such as hip dysplasia.

Exercise 🐕

The Mastidoodle is an energetic dog for his size. You need to set aside at least an hour every day for his exercise routine. His exercise doesn’t need to be too intense, and it shouldn’t be either to protect his heavily laden joints. But a long and brisk walk around your local park or neighborhood will suffice for most of the week.

Because he is an intelligent and active dog, you should mix up his activities to keep him interested. A simple change of scenery or a frequent visit to a local doggy park to meet new friends will benefit him. And it will top up his socialization skills too.

Being a doodle mix, he will be fond of the water, so you should try to include this in his exercise routine. He will love you for it, trust us. Just remember to pack plenty of large towels to dry him down, especially if you don’t want to ruin your vehicle upholstery.

Training 🦮

The Mastidoodle will need to be socialized well as a pup if you want him to grow into a polite and confident puppy. As you already know, his Mastiff genes might make him a little overprotective, but his Poodle influence should calm this down. But with ample socialization and obedience training as a pup, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Mix him with as many other dogs and animals as you possibly can when he is young, and this will teach him that most dogs are friends and not foe. Also, mix him with unfamiliar humans, as well as new sights and sounds, and this will increase his confidence too.

He can be a stubborn dog, and so you need to be persistent with your training. Never give in to a Mastidoodle, because as soon as you do, he’ll remember that he can win you over. Keep training sessions fun and engaging. And with a treat in your hand, he will do as you say, most of the time.

Grooming ✂️

The Mastidoodle has an intense grooming schedule, and with his sheer body mass, you can expect that you will spend a lot of time grooming him. He will usually inherit the Poodle curls, but he will have shorter hair like the Mastiff dog. With Poodle curls come lots of responsibility, and you’ll need to brush him daily to ensure that they do not tangle.

You should invest in a comb or pin brush to keep matting at bay, and also a slicker brush to pick up all of his dead hair and any dirt. You should bathe him every six to eight weeks to keep him looking and smelling his best.

Mastiffs are well known for their drooling potential, and many owners comment that they have a strong doggy odor. The Mastidoodle may or may not drool and smell more than most, but with frequent and thorough grooming, this should keep the smells at bay. When it comes to the drooling, a packet of tissues will do the job.

Health and Conditions ❤️

The Mastidoodle is a relatively healthy dog who will enjoy a lifespan of 8 to 13 years. This might seem short, but for a giant dog breed, this is slightly better than average. Keep this guy happy and healthy with regular exercise and the right nutrition, and you could keep him with you for longer. And be sure to keep up to date with trips to the vets.

Minor Conditions
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Pulmonic stenosis
Serious Conditions
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Entropian
  • Ectropion
  • Cataracts

Divider 5Male vs. Female

The main difference between male and female Mastidoodles is their size. The males tend to be larger than females. In some cases, this could be 30 pounds difference, which might be enough to persuade you to get one gender over the other.

Instead, his training and the right family environment have a much bigger impact on their personalities than their gender.

Divider 3Summing Up the Mastidoodle

The Mastidoodle is one of the most giant doodle mixes out there, so if you are looking for a lifesize teddy bear, this is a fantastic option for you. He is adorable, cuddly, sweet, and much more.

He needs plenty of room, lots of company and stimulation throughout the day, and strong leadership. But if you can provide him with this and everything else mentioned in this guide, you are bound to get on well. Like all giant breeds, you need to have the finances and resources to look after him well.

If you can meet all of his needs, he will be the best canine companion that you could ask for. The Mastidoodle is a turner of heads in the street, and it’s safe to say that he will be a stealer of hearts too.


Featured Image Credit: Page Light Studios, Shutterstock

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