The Rottweiler Mastiff mix is one of a growing list of newer dog breeds in development. These dog breeds are often called hybrid breeds, designer dog breeds, or cross-bred dog breeds.
The truth is, nearly all modern dog breeds at one time were hybrid dog breeds themselves. Over time and with expert guidance from knowledgeable dog breeds, these early crossbred dogs became registered purebred dog breeds.
Why breed two different dog breeds together? There are lots of reasons this makes sense, as we will discuss in detail in the remainder of this article.
Rottweiler Mastiff Mix
The Rottweiler Mastiff mix, or Mastweiler, is a hybrid or designer dog breed that has two different purebred dog breeds for parents. One parent is the purebred Rottweiler and the other parent is the purebred Mastiff.
But since there are different Mastiff dog breeds, it is important to talk to the breeder and discover which Mastiff breed is the parent dog of your Mastweiler rather than just assuming.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) states that the Mastiff group includes the Mastiff, the Bullmastiff, the Neapolitan Mastiff, and the Tibetan Mastiff.
Learn About the Rottweiler Mastiff Mix Dog
In this YouTube video, you can get a great visual comparison between a purebred Rottweiler dog and a Rottweiler Mastiff mix, or a Mastweiler.
There is quite a size difference, as you will readily see! The Mastiff is one of the largest dog breeds in the world and the addition of Mastiff genes can create a much larger hybrid dog depending on how the parent dogs influence the puppies.
How to Choose a Hybrid Rottweiler Mastiff Mix Breeder
Hybrid dog breeding may sound like something to be wary of. But as we mentioned in the introduction here, hybrid breeding is a time-honored method for developing a new dog breed.
But it needs to be done carefully by a breeder that truly values canine health above all other factors, including making a quick and consistent profit from puppy breeding.
Breeders with this mindset are called backyard breeders and puppy mills. Both are breeding operations that are known to produce sub-standard puppies with health and temperament issues and lots of unnecessary pain and suffering very early in life.
So let’s take a much closer look at a proper hybrid breeding program. What should you be looking for in a hybrid dog breeder? How will you know you have found a breeder that produces healthy Mastweiler puppies?
Here are some key signs to look for.
The hybrid breeder allows you to visit the kennel and meet the parent dogs
Without seeing the hybrid breeder’s kennel for yourself and meeting the Rottweiler and Mastiff parent dogs, you won’t know if the kennel is clean and the conditions are healthy.
When a breeder doesn’t allow you to visit, you have to wonder if there is some reason – something they don’t want you to see or know.
Some breeders may have a limited visitation policy when whelping is imminent and/or when puppies are very young. But most breeders will be open to a visit as long as it is safe for the puppies and parent dogs.
The hybrid breeder gives you an initial guarantee of good health
Another key sign that you have found a high-quality Mastweiler breeder is when the breeder gives you an initial guarantee of good health for your new puppy.
These initial good health guarantees typically extend for six to 12 months, but occasionally the guarantee will be longer.
The hybrid breeder shows you proof of all pre-screening health tests
One of the most vital signs to look for that you are working with a reputable Rottweiler Mastiff mix breeder is health test results.
Specifically, the hybrid breeder has tested each parent dog, the Rottweiler parent and the Mastiff parent, to be sure both dogs are free from all known genetic health issues.
You can find out what genetic health issues to watch for by visiting the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals Canine Health Information Center database.
All Rottweiler dogs should be pre-tested for these CHIC-specified health concerns or diseases:
- Eye problems.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Elbow dysplasia.
- Cardiac issues.
- Juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy (JLPP).
Your Rottweiler Mastiff mix breeder should be able to show you negative test results for your puppy’s Rottweiler parent dog. Reputable breeders are always willing and usually eager to share these results.
All Mastiff dogs should be pre-tested for the following CHIC health issues that can be passed from parents to puppies:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Elbow dysplasia.
- Eye problems.
- Autoimmune thyroiditis.
- Cardiac problems.
- Cystinuria.
The hybrid breeder gives you proof of all vaccinations and pest treatments
Another key sign that you have found the right Rottweiler Mastiff mix breeder is that you get proof that your puppy has had all the required vaccinations and pest treatments.
The required vaccinations and pest treatments can vary from one geographic area to another, so be sure to stay up to date on the ones your Mastweiler puppy will need to stay safe and healthy in their new life with you.
The hybrid breeder offers you a lifetime take-back guarantee for your puppy
One lesser-known perk of working with a responsible dog breeder is the take-back guarantee. Responsible dog breeders do not want their dogs relinquished to shelters or rehomed.
These breeders want the option to bring that puppy home and continue to oversee their journey, whether that means rehoming from the breeder’s operation or giving that puppy a new permanent home with them.
Meet the Parent Dogs: the Mastiff and Rottweiler
Another key part of choosing any new companion canine is learning about the parent dogs. This is especially important when you are thinking about adding a hybrid dog like the Mastweiler breed to your family.
So in this section, we will get up close and personal with the Rottweiler and the Mastiff, two beloved purebred dog breeds and the parents to your Mastweiler puppy.
Rottweiler meet and greet
The Rottweiler ranks at number eight on the American Kennel Club’s list of the 197 most popular purebred dog breeds. This is a really high ranking!
According to the AKC breed profile, the Rottweiler is a true guardian dog breed. This dog’s main qualities are loyalty, loving nature, bravery, and strength.
Rottweilers that are well-bred and properly socialized and trained are known to have velcro dog tendencies with their own people but tend to be reserved with strangers.
Rottweilers do not always get along well with other dogs or other family pets. Other pets must be confident to get along with a Rottie. Rottweilers can make great family guard dogs but are too large and strong to be recommended for families with little kids.
The American Rottweiler Club states that adult male Rottweilers may weigh anywhere from 95 and 125 pounds and are between 24 and 27 inches tall. Adult female Rottweilers typically weigh 75 to 95 pounds and are between 22 and 25 inches tall.
These dogs are compact and heavily muscled and reportedly have one of the strongest bites of any dog breed. This has landed Rottweilers on dangerous dog lists in many areas, which may impact your living situation or homeowners insurance premiums.
The Rottweiler has a typical life expectancy of just nine to 10 years. This is a short lifespan even for a large dog breed and the main reason why is a high incidence of canine cancer.
Rottweilers have a short, flat, double-layer coat that sheds all year long and seasonally goes through a big shed. This means you won’t have to do a lot of grooming and brushing but you will have to do a lot of sweeping and cleaning.
According to the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, or UFAW, osteosarcoma (bone cancer) is so common in Rottweilers that up to 12 percent of all dogs are affected. The typical age of diagnosis is eight years old.
Researchers are not sure why Rottweilers are so unusually prone to this aggressive form of cancer. At this time there is no way to pre-screen parent dogs or puppies to determine whether osteosarcoma is likely.
Mastiff meet and greet
According to the American Kennel Club’s list of the 197 most popular dog breeds, the enormous Mastiff is the 33rd most popular dog breed.
The AKC Mastiff breed profile says that Mastiffs are working dogs characterized by extreme courage, dignity, and good-natured temperament.
As the Mastiff Club of America explains, Mastiffs are descendants of the largest known dog breeds, the Molosser, and the Alaunt. These massive canines could do it all and often did it in service to their people.
Modern Mastiffs know they are big and strong, which gives them a correspondingly mild temperament. This is why Mastiffs are known to be gentle and loving with small children. However, they are not as good as other family pets or other dogs.
These dogs are very loving and loyal to their people but reserved with others, which is common with guard dog breeds.
Mastiffs have a double layer, short, flat coat – but a lot of it! These dogs shed all year long and go through a heavy shed seasonally. So you won’t have a ton of coat maintenance but you will want to invest in a durable high-capacity vacuum cleaner.
The Mastiff breed can easily top 200 pounds in adulthood. Male adult Mastiff dogs typically weigh between 160 and 230 pounds and female adult Mastiffs can weigh 120 to 170 pounds.
The breed typically stands between 27 and 30 inches tall (paw pads to shoulders).
Life expectancy for a giant dog breed like a Mastiff is distressingly short. These dogs live just six to 10 years on average. Unfortunately, the larger the dog, the shorter the lifespan. Researchers still do not know exactly why this is the case, however.
Mastiffs are so large and tall that their sheer size can make them hard to train and control when they don’t want to do something. It is essential to start socialization and training very early in life while their size is still manageable.
Get to Know the Mastweiler Dog
So now you know more about the Rottweiler and the Mastiff, parent dog breeds to the Mastweiler. You can see how the Rottweiler and the Mastiff are quite different in some key ways and very similar in other ways.
What can you expect as your Rottweiler Mastiff mix puppy grows up? How big will your adult dog become? What type of temperament can you expect?
This is where a knowledge of hybrid dog breeding is literally essential. The earliest stage is when two different purebred dog breeds are crossbred. This is called the F1 stage.
Puppies born from a cross of two different breeds will have the most variability in every trait, from appearance and temperament to lifespan and coat color. You have to be open to be surprised if you choose an F1 Mastweiler puppy.
The second stage is called F1b breeding. In this stage, one purebred dog is crossbred with one F1 Mastweiler dog (from a different genetic line). The puppies are still going to look and act quite differently depending on which parent dog they most favor.
The F2 breeding stage crosses two F1b hybrid Mastweiler parent dogs. At this stage, you may see more uniformity in important traits. The breeding stages continue from here – F2b, F3, F3b, F4, and so forth.
In the later stages, Rottweiler Mastiff mix puppies start to look and act quite similar to one another both within each litter and between litters.
If you have strict size or temperament requirements in your puppy, you definitely want to work with a later-stage hybrid Rottweiler Mastiff Mix dog breeder.
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