Ultimate Mastiff (Dogue de Bordeaux & Neapolitan Mastiff Mix): Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

The Ultimate Mastiff is a large and powerful hybrid dog that is the result of crossing a purebred Dogue de Bordeaux with a purebred Neapolitan Mastiff. While it not known exactly when the breed was first developed, Ultimate Mastiffs are thought to have first appeared in the United States sometime in the early 2000s.

The breed is known for their size and strength, and given that their parents are both giant breeds, this is hardly surprising. While extremely loyal and affectionate dogs, they have a mind of their own and can be quite stubborn, a trait that can make them difficult to control.

Ultimate Mastiffs are extremely protective of their owners. They are always ready to intervene in any situation in which they sense that their family may be in danger, a trait that can be quite problematic because there is a fine line between being having a protective dog and one that is aggressive and dangerous.

The Ultimate Mastiff Puppies

Anybody considering purchasing an Ultimate Mastiff puppy should be aware that these dogs need strong and consistent leadership and a great deal of training and socialization. They are not a dog that is suitable for novice owners; put simply, an untrained or poorly raised Ultimate Mastiff will be, at best, unpredictable and quite likely, also dangerous.

Raised properly and given the attention they need, this Neapolitan Mastiff Dogue de Bordeaux mix can be fantastic dogs, but with this breed, you will only get out of them what you’re prepared to put in. Be ready for an adventure of a lifetime once you welcome an Ultimate Mastiff into your family.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Ultimate Mastiff

1. Ultimate Mastiffs are big droolers

Due mainly to their large upper lips, Ultimate Mastiffs drool quite a bit. Unfortunately, it is not something that can be changed, so if you want one of these powerful dogs, you will need to get used to cleaning slobber off your floors, walls, and furniture.

2. Many Ultimate Mastiffs like to swim

If you have a river, pond, or lake that is suitable for them to swim in, you will find that taking your Ultimate Mastiff for a swim is a great way for them to get some exercise.

Just keep in mind that they are often not fond of other dogs and may try to chase any other animal that they see. So, you may want to limit your dog’s swimming sessions to places and times where you’re alone.

3. Ultimate Mastiffs tend to suffer halitosis

Halitosis, or bad breath, is a common problem with Ultimate Mastiffs. Bad breath in dogs can be produced by several factors but is usually a result of periodontal disease caused by a build-up of plaque and tartar. Ideally, you should clean your Ultimate Mastiff’s teeth about twice a week with a canine toothpaste and seek advice from your vet if you notice that your dog has particularly bad breath.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Ultimate Mastiff 🧠

Ultimate Mastiffs are sweet, simple, and loving dogs. They adore their owners and tend to become protective of them. They love to play games and run about with their owners, but they will just as happily curl up on the mat next to you for a lazy day.

Ultimate Mastiffs aren’t the most intelligent of dogs and can be quite stubborn, but they’re not stupid and will learn how to behave if they receive the training and attention that they need.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Ultimate Mastiff needs to live in a home where they have access to a large secure yard.

They do generally get on with children; however, keeping an Ultimate Mastiff in a house with young children is a significant risk. Due to their size, it is entirely possible for an Ultimate Mastiff to accidentally knock over a small child and cause them a serious injury. They are also not the most tolerant of dogs and are known to be aggressive when provoked, meaning you will need to keep a close eye on them whenever they are around children.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Ultimate Mastiff is not well suited to a house where there are other pets. They are known to be aggressive toward other dogs, particularly those of the same sex, and they will quite likely be aggressive toward other small pets.

If you really must keep another pet with an Ultimate Mastiff, we recommend getting another large dog of the opposite sex. Ideally, both dogs should be purchased as puppies at roughly the same time and raised together.

Things to Know When Owning an Ultimate Mastiff

Despite their size and the challenges that their overprotective personalities create, if you are prepared to put in the work, an Ultimate Mastiff can be a loving and loyal companion.

Unsurprisingly, the Ultimate Mastiff also makes for an excellent family watchdog. After all, it would be a foolish thief who would consider breaking into a property in which a dog their size was living!

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

When it comes to food, the Ultimate Mastiff is also an ultimate eater. If you’re not careful, they can quickly put on too much weight, which can lead to avoidable health complications, including diabetes, joint issues, and back problems. Thus, it is important that you carefully manage your dog’s food portion sizes and ensure that they are eating well-balanced and nutritious meals.

Ensuring that your dog eats well is particularly important when they are a puppy, as meeting their specific nutritional needs while they are growing and developing plays an important part in helping to reduce or prevent long-term health problems.

Ideally, you should feed your dog a premium quality dry dog food that has been specifically formulated for both their size and age. Several dog food providers prepare stage-of-life dog foods for giant dogs, and selecting one of these is the easiest way to ensure that your dog gets the well-balanced and nutritious meals they need.

Ideally, you should start your dog off with puppy food, then at 12-15 months old, transition them to an adult dog food and later in life, to food prepared for a mature aged dog. As for serving size, we recommend taking your dog’s total daily portion, as set out on the packaging of your chosen dog food, and breaking this into two evenly portioned meals, one of which you should give them in the morning and the other you should give in the evening.

Exercise 🐕

Ultimate Mastiffs are large dogs that are surprisingly quick and agile for their size, particularly during the first five years of their lives. They need a moderate amount of exercise and mental stimulation to stay fit and healthy, and this can take the form of a daily walk or run and should be supplemented by plenty of outdoor playtime in their own yard.

If at all possible, you should vary the routes that you take each day on your walk or run to keep them interesting for your dog. We strongly recommend keeping your Ultimate Mastiff on a leash at all times while they are in public. While it may be tempting to take your dog to a dog park to play with other dogs, this is generally not recommended, as Ultimate Mastiffs can become quite aggressive and could quickly and easily injure or kill most smaller dogs should a fight occur.

Training 🦮

If you want to own an Ultimate Mastiff, training is an absolute necessity. Ideally, you should start socializing your puppy with other dogs as young as possible, and obedience training should become part of your daily routine from the day that you bring your puppy home from the breeder.

Ultimate Mastiffs need a strong leader, somebody who is firm and consistent, and this is where being an experienced dog owner comes in. A new Ultimate Mastiff puppy will challenge you as they grow. They will push back and start trying to ignore your wishes and instructions, and if you let them, they’ll soon believe that they are the leader of the pack, not you. At which point, you’ll have a powerful 130-pound dog with a strong will that is almost impossible to control, and if it comes to this, you’re going to have an extremely hard time turning things around.

Grooming ✂️

When it comes to grooming, this is at least one area that is reasonably easy with an Ultimate Mastiff. They only shed moderately, don’t require much in the way of bathing, and need only be given a quick brush once a week to keep their coat looking its best. Of course, you should also check that their ears are clear every week or two, and they may need their teeth cleaned and nails clipped from time to time, but these things are not particularly difficult to do.

The one important thing you should do, though, is get your new puppy used to being groomed while they are young. That way, when they get bigger and stronger, you don’t need to struggle with a large and powerful dog who doesn’t want to be brushed or have their nails clipped.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Like many giant breeds, the Ultimate Mastiff is susceptible to having issues with their hips and other joints later in life. This has more to do with their weight than any specific hereditary condition and is a problem that can be reduced by ensuring that you keep your dog at a healthy weight.

Of course, as with most breeds, there are a few other specific health conditions to which the Ultimate Mastiff can be susceptible.

Male vs. Female

With many breeds, there is little noticeable difference between male and female dogs. However, when it comes to giant breeds like the Ultimate Mastiff, some noticeable physical differences are worth considering before you purchase a puppy.

Adult female Ultimate Mastiffs tend to stand between 23 and 28 inches tall, while males can grow to stand somewhere between 26 and 30 inches tall. While this is only a couple of inches, the real difference comes in when you consider the weight and strength difference. Females usually weigh no more than about 150 pounds. In comparison, males can grow to weigh up to 30 pounds heavier and significantly stronger than females.

From a purely practical sense, the difference in size between males and females can be the difference between having a big and powerful dog that you can physically control, and having one that may be so strong that unless you are also strong, you have little hope of being able to restrain physically.

Consequently, if you are considering buying an Ultimate Mastiff, it is vitally important that you take the time to genuinely assess your own ability to raise and train a large and powerful dog, as well as your ability to physically control one. Considerations should include whether you feel that you’d be better off with a slightly smaller and less powerful dog.

Of course, physical differences aside, some behavioral traits vary between the sexes, such as males being slightly more solitary and more likely to wander than females, and females in heat being more territorial. However, unless you plan to breed from your Ultimate Mastiff, we always recommend spaying or neutering your dog, which aside from preventing unwanted pregnancies, will have the side benefit of essentially eliminating these negative behaviors.

Final Thoughts

The Ultimate Mastiff is an exceptionally large and powerful dog that in the hands of an experienced owner, can make a loving and loyal companion.

They are an extremely protective breed and make excellent property guardians. Yet, they’re not dogs that like to be left alone for long periods.

Ultimate Mastiffs, like many of the giant breeds, need a strong and consistent owner — somebody who won’t lose their patience with them when they get a little hard to handle, and somebody who has the time and desire to train them properly and is willing to put in the effort required to ensure that they grow into a safe and well-balanced dog.

Featured Image Credit: Marry Kolesnik, Shutterstock