The Bullmastiff – German Shepherd mix is everything you need if you love big and intelligent dog breeds. If you know how to handle their energy and size, they can be fantastic pets for any dog lover out there.
But, what do you really need to do if you want to become a proud owner of a Mastiff Shepherd? Are there some special requirements for these guide dogs? Here’s what you need to know about this glorious dog breed.
1. The Breed’s Temperament
While every dog is individual, there are some common personality traits in almost every Bullmastiff – German Shepherd crossbreed. If we explain this breed in just a few words, we could say that Mastiff Shepherds are gentle giants that are somewhat stubborn.
Mastiff Shepherds are generally calm, gentle, and docile cuties. They are fairly quiet dogs that are exceptionally good with children. You can leave most Mastiff Shepherds with your kids and be confident that nothing wrong will happen.
However, we would still recommend socializing every puppy as early as possible. This way, you’ll make sure your mixed puppies are trained out of any possible aggressive behavior. Nevertheless, in this hybrid breed, Mastiff genes ensure that your pooch is very laid back and a real sweetheart.
At the same time, Mastiff Shepherds have a lot of features from the German Shepherd side of their family tree. The most important GSD trait they have is their loyalty. A Bullmastiff – German Shepherd mix is very protective of his human parents.
If you don’t socialize him well, then he may even be hostile toward strangers. This shouldn’t be a surprise as both pup’s parents are excellent guard dogs or even herding dogs. This makes a Mastiff Shepherd somewhat similar to a Doberman.
It’s essential to train and socialize your four-legged companion early on. This is likely the only way you will ensure that the sweet part of his personality overrules.
2. Health Risks
As it is with any large dog, a Bullmastiff – German Shepherd mixed doggy can experience certain health issues. Most of these issues are size-related and are shared with many dog breeds, such as the Labrador, the Husky, the Pit Bull, or the Cane Corso.
These concerns include joint issues, stomach problems, eye diseases, elbow dysplasia, bloat, indigestion.
The average Bullmastiff lifespan is around seven years, but some of these problems can significantly shorten a breed’s lifespan.
On the other hand, a German Shepherd usually lives longer, between ten and 14 years. On average, a Bullmastiff – German Shepherd mix will live eight to 12 years.
3. Joint issues
Joint issues are a common concern with all giant dog breeds. As your pooch grows older, you can expect him to experience some problems with walking. This may even influence his everyday activities.
The most common joint issues that a Bullmastiff – German Shepherd mix experiences are elbow and hip dysplasia. These two issues can be a massive problem for your beloved pet.
One of the things that worsen a dog’s joint health is a lack of activity. If a dog doesn’t spend enough time running outside, his bones will suffer.
However, another thing that worsens a dog’s bone health is a poor diet. If you don’t give your canine proper nutrition, his health will suffer. Not to mention that a Mastiff Shepherd’s weight affects his bones.
If he is overweight, it will cause problems for his joints. If your pup is chubby, then he’s more likely to experience severe joint aches.
Dogs that are in pain are more likely to nip at you, especially if you accidentally touch the sore area. If your friendly dog suddenly shows signs of aggression, it can be a warning sign of a painful disease or injury. Joint problems are the main reason why an older dog suddenly becomes grumpy.
4. Eye diseases
Another common concern for any Bullmastiff – German Shepherd mix owner is eye diseases. Cataracts and blindness can occur in older dogs, and both will impact the life quality of your four-legged best friend.
A somewhat safer, but still painful disease your pup can experience is a cherry eye. This disease is caused by the prolapse of a dog’s third eyelid. This leaves a visible pink or red lump in the corner of your pet’s eye.
Cherry eye can disappear on its own, but it’s always better to contact a vet. If left untreated, this issue can lead to irritation and dryness. Inflammation of the affected eye isn’t uncommon either.
If a severe infection happens, your dog will be in a lot of pain. On very rare occasions, this may even cause blindness.
Usually, cherry eye isn’t a reason to panic. However, it would help if you didn’t leave anything to chance. A vet should check any changes in your dog’s eye. Think about how you felt the last time you experienced some eye irritation! Don’t let your pooch be in pain any longer than it already has to be.
5. Stomach problems
Probably, the most severe health issue with any large mixed breed is connected with the stomach and the digestive system. If you’ve ever owned a Golden Retriever or a Great Dane, you’ll know what we’re talking about.
Common digestive problems are prevalent among big dogs; therefore, it’s essential to give your dog proper nutrition. Otherwise, he might experience some painful (and smelly!) stomach issues.
However, the most dangerous thing that can happen is bloating. Bloating occurs when a canine’s stomach fills with food, fluid, or gas. This makes the stomach expand and put pressure on surrounding organs.
On some occasions, both ends of your pup’s stomach may twist. This causes a lot of pain and discomfort for your pet, and it will lead to indigestion in a very short time.
What is the most concerning about this health issue is that your dog may not show any bloating symptoms for a very long time.
Because of this, it’s essential to get your dog to the vet if you suspect any stomach issues. While gassing and a painful tummy are normal, this may become something much worse.
6. Grooming
On most occasions, Bullmastiffs have a short coat that doesn’t shed too much; therefore, you likely won’t spend a lot of time grooming them. Still, these dogs can get smelly if you don’t bathe them regularly.
Opposite to that, some German Shepherds do have medium or even long coats. Their fur has several layers, so you need to groom them often. In fact, there is an ongoing joke about this breed as being a “German Shedder”.
As it is with any mixed breed, it’s challenging to predict what a Bullmastiff – German Shepherd mix’s fur will be like. Some German Shepherd features will certainly remain, so be prepared for a bit more care than a purebred Bullmastiff would need.
If your Mastiff Shepherd has a short coat, you won’t have too much to worry about. Give him a monthly bath, and this should be enough. Just make sure you brush him before a bath. This is a good trick to prevent shedding.
In the case of a medium-length coat, you can expect to brush your pooch every other day. Bathe him when needed, but try to make this happen at least twice a month. Thick German Shepherd fur won’t go too well with a Bullmastiff’s smell.
If you end up with a dog that has long layers and a thick undercoat, prepare to brush him daily. You may even want to take him to a groomer once or twice a year to keep his fur untangled. Also, it would help if you bathe your dog regularly.
7. Training
Training is crucial for any dog, especially if you’re dealing with a large breed. If you want to have a good pup, then you need to teach him how to behave. This is a rule regardless of a dog’s breed. Socialization, care, and proper training are the keys to a well-mannered dog.
On no occasion should you leave your Bullmastiff – German Shepherd mix untrained. They are a large, powerful, and highly intelligent mixed breed that will likely be mischievous if left to their own devices like an old puppy.
When dealing with such a large breed, you should start with obedience training as soon as you have a somewhat older pup. In fact, the best time to start training is when he is around eight weeks old. This is considered the adequate age when a puppy should join your family.
So, why is training so necessary for a Mastiff Shepherd? Let’s look at his ancestry. Bullmastiffs are strong and stubborn dogs. Despite their mild temperament, they can easily overpower a human. German Shepherds, on the other hand, are high-energy dogs, and they can be quite destructive if left unattended.
When you mix these two breeds, you get a large dog that will want to cuddle and run around simultaneously. If you don’t work with him, then you will likely end up with a gigantic dog that will make a mess everywhere. The worst part is that you can hardly control such a big canine.
Because of this, most experts don’t recommend Mastiff Shepherds to novice dog owners. You’ll have to devote many hours and a lot of energy to obedience training and socialization. This has to start the moment the dog joins your family.