Mastapeake 

85-140 lbs
24-28"
United States of America
Mastiff
Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Mastapeake is a hybrid, a large working dog that is an intentional cross between the English Mastiff, a guard dog with a massive physique, and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, a tireless retriever that specializes in fishing waterfowl out of the frigid ocean waters. The resulting hybrid is a very large and tenacious animal who is loyal and devoted to their family. These are very active dogs when they are out and about, but if given adequate exercise, they can be relatively calm at home, particularly after they have matured. They are cautious of strangers and may not get along well with other animals, particularly other dogs. Their alert and suspicious nature make them excellent watchdogs, but they are generally too large, active and vocal to make particularly good neighbors in an apartment setting. Early training and socialization is needed to help this canine to become a pleasant and dependable member of the family.

purpose Purpose
Hunting , Guarding, Family Companion
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Chesapeake Bay Retriever and English Mastiff

Mastapeake  Health

Average Size
Male Mastapeake  size stats
Height: 26-30 inches Weight: 105-160 lbs
Female Mastapeake  size stats
Height: 24-28 inches Weight: 85-140 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Pulmonic Stenosis
  • Canine Hip Dysplasia
  • Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) or Bloat
Minor Concerns
  • Entropion
  • Ectropion
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Osteosarcoma
  • Cataracts
  • Retinal Dysplasia
  • Exposure Keratopathy Syndrome
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Urolithiasis
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • vonWillebrand’s Disease
  • Degenerative Myopathy (DM)
Occasional Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Biopsy
  • Electrocardiogram
  • Radiographs
  • Thyroid Testing

Mastapeake  Breed History

The Mastapeake is a designer dog, a deliberate cross between the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, an exceptional hunting dog that specializes in retrieving waterfowl from the icy ocean waters of the Chesapeake Bay, and the English Mastiff, an intimidating but good-natured giant of a dog. Mastiff-type dogs have been portrayed in artwork dating as far back as 2500 BC in Asia and were recorded as accompanying the armies of Hannibal, marching alongside them as they crossed the Alps. As accomplished hunting companions and naturally protective guard dogs, they were favored both by peasants and by landholders in England due to their easy-going and steadfast natures. World Wars I and II had an unfortunate impact on the population of Europe’s canine’s however, particularly in regards to the more massive dogs like the Olde English Mastiffs. This breed’s very size put them in a double jeopardy; they were large, steadfast, and strong enough to be utilized to pull munitions carts out to the front lines, resulting in the loss of many dogs, and as a pet and farm dog they were too big for the general population to feed during periods of rationing. By the end of both of the wars, the numbers of English Mastiff dogs was significantly reduced and at one point there were just fifteen dogs that were found worldwide that were able to contribute to the gene pool. Mastiff puppies had to be imported into England from the limited populations of both the United States and Canada to help revive the breed. They have seen a resurgence in popularity since then and are currently the 28th most popular breed according to the AKC. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a much newer breed than the Mastiff and is one of just a few breeds developed in the United States of America. The history of this breed can be traced back to two unrelated St. John’s Newfoundland dogs that were saved from a shipwreck off the coast of Maryland in the early 1800s, a red colored male named Sailor who was rehomed and a black female named Canton. Both dogs were exceptional retrievers in the icy cold waters of the Chesapeake Bay and were bred extensively for their skill, although not to each other. They were often mixed with Flat-Coated and Curly-Coated Retrievers, and the result was the creation of a well-built brown dog that was an exceptional swimmer and an unending drive to retrieve, sometimes retrieving as many a one hundred ducks a day from the frigid waters. 

Mastapeake  Breed Appearance

The combination of the Mastiff and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever produces a hybrid that is very large, typically ranging from 85 to 160 pounds, with powerful musculature, long legs, and a deep chest. They have broad heads, though not usually as large as the purebred English Mastiff, and while they may inherit the extremely shortened muzzle of the Mastiff, the medium-length square shaped muzzle of the Chesapeake is more commonly seen. Mastapeake crossbreed dogs have almond shaped eyes that may range in color from a very dark brown to the characteristic amber or golden colored eyes of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, they may also have some wrinkling around their muzzle, and their medium length triangular ears hang down next to the sides of their head. This hybrid sports a double-layered coat, usually consisting of an extremely dense, water-resistant undercoat covered by a short, fairly coarse layer of close-lying fur that is typically straight, although the Chesapeake Bay heritage occasionally contributes a decidedly wavy or curly texture to the coat.  Mastapeake dogs are usually solid in color, in varying shades of golden, roan, red, and brown. They may also have small white or black markings on their chest or feet and possibly black face masks. 

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Mastapeake  eyes
Brown
amber Mastapeake  eyes
Amber
Nose Color Possibilities
black Mastapeake  nose
Black
brown Mastapeake  nose
Brown
Coat Color Possibilities
cream Mastapeake  coat
Cream
brindle Mastapeake  coat
Brindle
sable Mastapeake  coat
Sable
fawn Mastapeake  coat
Fawn
red Mastapeake  coat
Red
brown Mastapeake  coat
Brown
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Mastapeake  straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Mastapeake  Breed Maintenance

The Mastapeake doesn’t have a particularly taxing grooming requirements; their coats are generally short and stiff and they tend to be quite good at shedding both dirt and water, so in ideal conditions, they should only need bathing a few times a year. It is important to note, however, this dog is very active and gets into its share of ponds, mud puddles, and briar bushes when given the opportunity, and these behaviors may necessitate a few more baths throughout the year. They should also be rinsed off whenever they have been swimming to prevent later irritation to the skin. The undercoat of this hybrid is frequently extremely dense, like that of the Chesapeake, making it less likely to tangle and mat, but weekly brushing is needed to remove shed hairs from the coat and undercoat as well to distribute the dog's natural oils from the skin to the coat. During the spring and fall this dog may shed more than usual, and will need brushing several times a week during this period. 

Brushes for Mastapeake 
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Mastapeake  requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Mastapeake  Temperament

This crossbreed is typically a friendly but reserved breed with strong protective instincts that can be passed down through both the Mastiff and the Chesapeake breeds. The Mastapeake is a very large and powerful canine that can be a bit rambunctious during their long adolescence, though they tend to be calmer as they mature. Any interactions that occur between children and these canines should be closely supervised to prevent muscle and joint strain on the part of the dog or bumps and bruises on the part of the child. These large to giant-sized dogs are generally friendly and gentle with their family but they are more cautious and reserved towards strangers and can occasionally display aggression towards other dogs. Proper socialization and early training will help to mitigate these tendencies and hopefully prevent any territorial behavior, over-protectiveness, or aggressiveness from taking root. This canine is typically intelligent enough to train, however, both the Mastiff and the Chesapeake are known to have a stubborn streak and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever tends to rebel against overly repetitive training methods, so in order to get the best results from this breed, training should focus on dynamic and creative methods.  

Mastapeake  Activity Requirements

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an active and extremely athletic dog breed that requires a great deal of exercise each day. Fortunately for the owners of these hybrids, the Mastiff contributes a more placid temperament and the Mastapeake dog doesn’t require nearly as much activity as the Chesapeake Bay Retriever parent breed. In the majority of cases, this particular crossbreed is quite satisfied with just an hour or so of vigorous activity each day, preferably in several shorter exercise sessions. Mastiffs can be rather boisterous when they are young and although they usually outgrow it by the time they have matured, that doesn’t occur until they are around three years old. It is important to remember that overly strenuous activity and activities that involve jumping or leaping can cause stress and damage to the joints of very large and giant sized dogs like the Mastapeake, particularly when they are young. Walks should be short but frequent, and leaping, jumping, and roughhousing should be minimized, particularly during adolescence. This dog is particularly well suited for swimming, sometimes even inheriting the webbed toes of the Chesapeake, and swimming is a great way for large dogs to get exercise without stressing the joints.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
9 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Mastapeake  Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$2.80 - $3.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$80.00 - $90.00
food bag monthly cost

Mastapeake  Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Mastapeake  size stats at six months
Height: 17.0 inches Weight: 77.5 lbs
Female Mastapeake  size stats at six months
Height: 16.0 inches Weight: 67.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Mastapeake  size stats at 12 months
Height: 25.5 inches Weight: 115.0 lbs
Female Mastapeake  size stats at 12 months
Height: 23.5 inches Weight: 95.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Mastapeake  size stats at 18 months
Height: 27.0 inches Weight: 120.0 lbs
Female Mastapeake  size stats at 18 months
Height: 25.0 inches Weight: 100.0 lbs

Mastapeake  Owner Experiences

Duke
7 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Running
Listens, obey’s commands, kind of scares easily and very lovable
3 years, 4 months ago
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