American Bandogge Mastiff Dog Breed: Info, Pictures & Care

American Bandogge Mastiffs are big, confident dogs that are extremely loyal and protective of their families. Despite their often intimidating appearance, they’re excellent with children and get along with other household pets, as long as they’re raised with them. American Bandogge Mastiffs need confident owners that know how to communicate effectively and provide the leadership and dominance they require. When raised correctly, American Bandogge Mastiffs are fiercely loyal and protective, making them excellent family dogs.

Breed Overview

Originally, American Bandogge Mastiffs were bred to excel at personal protection and to hunt large, dangerous animals like wild hogs. American Bandogge Mastiffs aren’t an officially recognized breed by most organizations, but the consensus is that they’re a cross between a male American Pit Bull Terrier and a female Neopolitan Mastiff. Confusingly, other breeding combinations are sometimes called American Bandogge Mastiffs, the most common being a mix between an English Mastiff and an American Pit Bull Terrier or an American Bulldog crossed with a Mastiff.

American Bandogge Mastiffs have an average to slightly above-average lifespan for such a large dog and are low-maintenance in terms of grooming. They require a significant amount of exercise but are mostly inactive when inside. Despite their tendency towards dominance, an American Bandogge Mastiff raised by a knowledgeable owner will become a loyal, social member of any family. Before you run out to buy one, there is a lot more to know about American Bandogge Mastiffs to make sure they’re the dog for you. Let’s break it down.

American Bandogge Mastiff Characteristics

American Bandogge Mastiff Puppies

Adopting an American Bandogge Mastiff puppy is a big responsibility and a long-term commitment. Before bringing a Bandogge Mastiff puppy into your home, it is important to research the breed and make sure that it is the right fit for you and your family. Bandogge Mastiffs are large and powerful dogs that were originally bred for hunting and protection, so they require a confident and experienced owner who can provide them with consistent training and positive reinforcement.

When adopting an American Bandogge Mastiff puppy, it’s important to find a reputable breeder or rescue organization. A reputable breeder will be able to provide you with information about the puppy’s parents and any health or temperament concerns. If you are considering adoption from a rescue organization, it’s important to meet the puppy in person to ensure that you are a good match.

Temperament & Intelligence of the American Bandogge Mastiff

American Bandogge Mastiffs are extremely intelligent and obedient, making them easy to train, but only if the owner knows what they’re doing. American Bandogges need strong leadership, and they don’t respond well to mixed signals and unconfident training. However, experienced owners should have no difficulty training an American Bandogge Mastiff as their intelligence makes them attentive, fast learners.

Their temperament is mostly calm despite their protective qualities. When raised correctly, they will protect their families against threats and strangers while being accepting and social with other household pets. American Bandogge Mastiffs are generally suspicious of people and animals that they weren’t raised with, so socialization from a young age is essential.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🧑‍🧑‍🧒

They are excellent family dogs and are extremely good with children and other pets. American Bandogge Mastiffs are protective and loyal to any people and animals they consider part of their pack, making them excellent home defenders. Be careful introducing them to strangers since they are naturally protective of their family and are known to get defensive around strangers suddenly.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

American Bandogge Mastiffs are accepting and social with other household pets, including other dogs and cats. However, most American Bandogge Mastiffs don’t respond well to animals they weren’t raised with, so introducing another pet later in an American Bandogge’s life can create problems. They are generally aggressive towards animals that aren’t part of their family unit, so be aware of potential aggression towards pets that aren’t part of your family.

Things to Know When Owning an American Bandogge Mastiff:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

It’s probably unsurprising to you that American Bandogge Mastiffs eat a lot of food—a LOT of food. The males can reach well over 100 pounds and therefore need to eat at least two large meals per day to maintain proper nutrition. Talk with a vet about your particular dog’s nutritional requirements, and be prepared to spend roughly $50 per month on dog food. Most American Bandogge Mastiffs need between 8 and 12 cups of food per day.

Exercise 🐕

Although they are usually calm and content in indoor environments, American Bandogge Mastiffs need plenty of exercise. They aren’t as energetic as extremely active dogs like Border Collies, but they need around 1 hour of daily exercise.

One or two medium-length walks per day are usually enough physical exercise, but they also need daily mental stimulation. American Bandogge Mastiffs love puzzle toys, food-related games, and other forms of interaction and mental engagement. It is important to provide them with enough physical and mental exercise to meet their needs and keep them happy.

Training 🎾

American Bandogge Mastiffs are easy to train for experienced dog owners. They are exceptionally intelligent dogs and will respond well to owners that know how to communicate effectively with dogs. Well-trained American Bandogge Mastiffs are very obedient and are attentive to their owners. They are social dogs and thrive on structure and communication, so training them is important and rewarding for both the owner and the dog.

We do not recommend the American Bandogge Mastiff for first-time dog owners because they will find them difficult to train. An untrained or poorly trained American Bandogge Mastiff will often display dominant, aggressive behavior, which can be exceptionally dangerous due to their size and strength.

Grooming ✂️

American Bandogge Mastiffs do not require much grooming. They are short-haired dogs and aren’t excessive shedders but do benefit from regular brushing. A bare minimum of one to two thorough brushings per week is a necessity.

They are generally clean dogs but do drool an above-average amount, so the area around their mouths needs special attention. Regularly wiping the folds around their mouths is essential for keeping them clean and healthy.

• See Also: 11 Best Dog Shampoos 

Health and Conditions 🏥

American Bandogge Mastiffs are generally healthy dogs, although, like most dogs, they have some common health issues you need to look out for.

The only serious conditions American Bandogge Mastiffs are prone to is bloat. Many large breeds are plagued by bloat, a condition where a dog’s stomach becomes overfull of gas, food, or fluid. As the stomach expands, other organs get squeezed, leading to severe complications. If left untreated, bloat can ultimately cause difficulty breathing, decreased blood flow into and out of the heart, tears in the stomach lining, and death.

You must familiarize yourself with the signs of bloat if you own an American Bandogge Mastiff and seek emergency veterinarian assistance as soon as you notice the signs. Signs of bloat include excessive drooling, restless behavior like pacing, a visibly swollen stomach, and retching without vomiting. If you see your dog exhibiting any of these signs, bring them to a vet immediately.

American Bandogge Mastiffs are also susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, eye diseases like progressive retinal atrophy, and skin problems. Most of these conditions develop slowly as your dog ages. Some are treatable, and others require behavioral modifications to avoid, so be aware of them, especially as your dog gets older.

Male vs Female

Male American Bandogge Mastiffs are usually 25% larger than the females in both size and weight. Males are more prone to aggressive tendencies and dominant behavior, but both males and females require strong leadership from an experienced owner. Both males and females are fiercely loyal and protective of their families and make excellent guard dogs.

3 Little-Known Facts About the American Bandogge Mastiff

1. There’s More Than 1 Breed Combo

There are several accepted breed combinations commonly referred to as the American Bandogge Mastiff.

2. They’re Gentle Giants

Despite their intimidating size and appearance, American Bandogge Mastiffs are gentle giants around children.

3. They Can Cost Quite a Bit

The most expensive American Bandogge Mastiff puppies can fetch prices upwards of $2,500 from top-of-the-line breeders.

Final Thoughts

The American Bandogge Mastiff is a gentle giant around the family, including small children and other household pets they consider part of their pack. Around strangers and other animals they weren’t raised with, American Bandogge Mastiffs are fiercely defensive and won’t hesitate to neutralize anything they deem a threat. They are a breed that bites first and asks questions later.

Despite their mighty stature and fierce visage, properly socialized and trained American Bandogge Mastiffs make great family pets. However, they are confident, naturally aggressive dogs that need a strong-willed owner that knows the ins and outs of canine communication. American Bandogge Mastiffs thrive with strong direction from an owner they view as the pack leader and, without such a presence, can develop behavioral problems and aggression. We do not recommend the American Bandogge Mastiff for new dog owners since the potential for disaster is high if they don’t know how to interact and train dogs.

Featured Image Credit: ChameleonsEye, Shutterstock