Hi all,

My husband and I just acquired a pit bull/mastiff mix from a dear friend who recently passed away. So far Zeus seems to listen very well, has had no accidents or mishaps in our house and appears to be very loving. My question is does anyone know what we should expect in the future from this breed? Such as temperment, aggressiveness or just about any other info. We have an 18 month old grandson and to be honest we are just a little leary about having this type of dog around him. Should we be concerned? As you can tell, we don't know anything about this breed so any and all info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all!!!!!

Both breeds are supose to be people friendly by nature,but if the dogs are not breed to eachs standard you will not know what the temperment of your dog will be.
Mixing breeds is not always a good idea.

How old is this guy? No one can tell the exact temperment of a mixed breed because all mixed breeds are different. Although, both of those dogs are awesome and I love them both (hence my username... it is neapolitanpitbull meaning Neapolitan Mastiff Pit Bull because I love both mastiffs (esspecialy neapolitans!) and pit bulls). I am sure he will grow up to be an excellent dog. Good luck!

Hi,

Zeus is 15 months old. Our friend (who passed away) got him when he was 8 months old. So he only had him for about 7 months. He is very well behaved and we have had no problems with him as far as behavior, listening or chewing. We have, on the other hand, discovered that my husband has allergies. We didn't know this until we got Zeus because we have not had any other animals for many years. I'm not sure what we're going to do but it really saddens me to think that we may not be able to keep him. I've grown rather attached to this gentle beast. I still am a little leary about having him around my grandson though. You just never know.

Thanks for the input.

Tami

Hi there

Mastiffs are very smart and loyal dogs. Very protective of their 'family' (owners and kids)!! Pit bulls can be aggressive if not trained and mistreated in anyway. My sister has 5 children and they had pitbulls. These can also be very loyal and protective of the people and house they live in. My sister's pitbulls were never ever a problem around the kids and half of kids were born after they got the dogs. Just watch your grandson jumping on him like a 'pony'!!! and also pulling the ears and tail and hitting the dog on the head.

Hi
I have raised both breeds and found them to be loving loyal kids. However until recently I have never owned a mix of the 2!! About a month ago my landlady found a dog that had been dropped off on a busy road and brought him to me!! I already have a full grown cat, with a bad attitude!!! LOL The dog appears to be about 1 1/2 to 2 years old and I'm pretty sure hes a mix breed pit bull mastiff. He and the cat get along great, he's a very loving well behaved dog!! I can't imagine why someone would drop him off, he's beautiful!! He loves all people, and is relucantly willing to allow me to do things to him he's not familiar with (like putting him in the bath tub lol) Just loves everyone he comes in contact with and does very well in my house, he is a snorer and a bed hog!!!

With a mix breed, it is trial and error that will indicate nature and tempermant. Research both breeds and it may give you an indication of what types of nature you may expect to see. If introduced carefully with children, both these breeds, regardless of reputation, are quite capable of being a wonderful, loyal and patient play mate. (did you know that the pit bull has been referred to as the nanny dog? A well bred pit bull should be very human friendly!)

I would strongly suggest that your grandson is never left unattended with the dog however, even if there ends up being a wonderful bond, the size of this dog in comparison to a toddler can cause a few mishaps, an overly excited, jumpy or playfull response can knock a little one around.

Gentle introductions between the two a good start, we have always found introductions through screen doors a good start, as they can get up close, the dog can have a good smell and investigate, but you have the advantage of a physical barrier protecting both of them from each other.

Both APBT and mastiff breeds may be dog aggressive, however with fun, gentle and regular socialisation, you may be able to keep a check on this.......however I have also known both breeds to be very dog friendly, and all they want to do is play with the other dogs around them.

[Devils93]

I just got an 11 week old female pitbull mastiff mix... She is awesome, beautiful markings and such a loveable personality. Briefly had her around my beagle who resides at my mothers house and her golden retriever, and they were having a ball. I was always against pit bulls, but I also understand with the right home they can be one of the best family dogs.

[gotambull?]

Both pitbulls AND mastiffs are wonderful family dogs, and your new dog will most likely become your grandson's new best friend.

The dog aggressive and "problem" pits are exceptions to the breed and have to be made that way. It is bred into them to be especially human sensitive, not aggressive. Just remember all the horror stories come from irresponsible owners.

However, like has been mentioned, mixed breeds can be different, and you definitely don't want to start him off on the wrong foot. Whenever introducing him to new things, do it gently to let him have time to react, never force him. And the screen door is a great idea for introducing the grandson.