Muggin vs Gran Mastin de Borinquen - Breed Comparison

Both Gran Mastin de Borinquen and Muggin are originated from United States. Gran Mastin de Borinquen may grow 57 cm / 23 inches higher than Muggin. Gran Mastin de Borinquen may weigh 46 kg / 102 pounds more than Muggin. Gran Mastin de Borinquen may live 3 years less than Muggin. Gran Mastin de Borinquen may have more litter size than Muggin. Gran Mastin de Borinquen requires Low Maintenance. But Muggin requires High Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Molosser dogs
Companion dog
undefined
United States
United States
Height Male:
61 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
10 - 14 cm
3 - 6 inches
Height Female:
56 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
8 - 10 cm
3 - 4 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 68 kg
99 - 150 pounds
12 - 22 kg
26 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
41 - 57 kg
90 - 126 pounds
10 - 20 kg
22 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 12
6 - 8
Size:
Large
Small
Other Names:
Mastín Borincano, Puerto Rican Mastiff
Carlin Pinscher Pug Miniature Pinscher Mix, , Pug-Pin, Pugscher, Min Pin Pug Mix
Colors Available:
cream, black, brindle., Fawn
brown, black, golden, white and everything in between , cream
Coat:
Short and harsh
short and fine
Shedding:
Minimal
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Loving, Loyal, Sweet
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
High Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
No

History

The Gran Mastín de Borinquen is also referred to as the Puerto Rican Mastiff or the Mastín Borincano and is actually native to Puerto Rico.

The dog seems to have originated long ago already during the 16th century. Its a dog that descends from a number of dogs, and the dog from these crosses became a huge, ferocious dog.

For centuries the Gran Mastin de Borinquen was used to protect the estates of the Spanish nobility. Today the breed is considered rare and it isn't recognized by any major kennel club as a standardized breed.

mugginThe Muggin is not a purebred dog but rather a cross breed. The hybrid dog population has exploding in the United States in the past ten to fifteen years. A lot of the success of crossbreeding can be attributed to the marketing of these dogs as “Designer Breeds”.

Designer breeds are developed because someone wants some of the characteristics of Breed X and some of the characteristics of Breed Y. Therefore, Designer breed XY is developed. In order to understand this hybrid dog, you need to understand the two purebred breeds they come from. The Muggin is the result of crossing the purebred Pug and the purebred Miniature Pinscher or Min Pin. So, we need to look at the origins of these two purebred breeds.

They are also referred to as Pin Pugs, Min Pin Pug, Pug Pin, Pugscher and were originally the Carlin Pinscher. However, these days there are other breeds besides the Pug and Min Pin making up the gene pool for the Carlin Pinscher. Because of this the Muggin has been separated from the Carlin Pinscher. The American Canine Hybrid Club has accepted the Muggin name for the Pug Min Pin cross.

Pugs are originally a Chinese breed and they were companions rather than working dogs of any kind. During the Han Dynasty they were the dogs of royalty. At the same time there were dogs very much like the pug in Japan and Tibet. The Pugs came to Europe by way of trades with the Dutch who then brought them to Europe. They were named the Mopshond and they caught the eye of the royalty in Europe as well.

Pugs were imported to the United States after the U.S. Civil War and in 1885 they were recognized by the American Kennel Club and called Pugs.

The Min Pin traces its origins to Germany a few hundred years ago. They were “ratters”, guarding the house and stables from all types of vermin. Most dog people believe that the Min Pin is much older than this, perhaps by thousands of years. Yet there is no detailed history to support that. Most believe the breed comes from the German Pinscher line. There might also be some Daschund and Greyhound in that line.

They were once called the Reh Pinscher. This was their name when they came to North America in 1919 and then the breed was renamed in 1972. The Miniature Pinscher Club of America was started in the early 1900’s while the AKC recognized the Min Pin in 1929. Today the Miniature Pinscher is a family dog, a companion.

The Muggin is a loving and loyal dog. All they want is for you to be happy and to share that happiness with them. They can also easily become a one person dog and bond intensely with that one person. They are not a hybrid that you can leave home alone while you go to work for 8 to 10 hours a day. No, the Muggin needs attention and lots of it. Despite this they are great with both kids and other dogs.

Because they are a cross breed, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club. However, some hybrid registries do recognize the Muggin. These include the Designer Breed Registry, the International Designer Canine Registry, The Designer Dogs Kennel Club, the American Canine Hybrid Club, and the Dog Registry of America.

Description

The Gran Mastin de Borinquen is a large dog. He stands roughly between 56 and 71cm and weighs in at between 41 and 68kg.

He is well muscled with a large head and short floppy ears but until recently the ears have always been cropped. The nose is black, the eyes dark brown and small and he has an alert, intelligent look to him.

These days the tail is kept long and it is held low. The coat is short in length and harsh with the colour being fawn, black, cream or brindle. You'll also find some small inclusions of white on the coat.

Temperament:

Loyal and protective, the Gran Mastin de Borinquen forms a strong bond with his master, becoming aggressive with any stranger who comes too close to his owner.Its a dog that has been taught to be aggressive so he isn't the best pet to choose if you have children in the home. He isn't the best dog either for first time dog owners, particularly if the person isn't a strong, firm person around him, showing who is boss.

However there are people who have had their pet trained and socialized and who claim he makes a wonderful family pet. The way a dog is brought up can play a large role in the way he turns out.

Train and socialize your Gran Mastin de Borinquen because he is inclined to be strong-willed and for a large, aggressive type of dog, you want him to be obeying you.

muggin puppy - descriptionAs previously mentioned, the Muggin is a cross between the Pug and the Miniature Pinscher. They are small, shave sturdy legs, floppy ears, and a wrinkled forehead for the most part. Like all hybrids however, all first generation dogs do not look the same. Some might resemble the Min Pin more and others the Pug. Some might have the stockier body of the Pug and the short tail of the Min Pin. Or one could have the Pug’s curly tail and the athletic body of the Min Pin. The snout can be short or long, the ears heavy and floppy or small and thin.

Their coats will usually be fine and short, and colors can vary a lot. They might be black and tan like a Min Pin, or more like a Pug with a solid color of cream, brown, black, white or golden. They also tend to shed quite a bit no matter which parent they take after the most. They will either have brown noses and black eyes or brown eyes and black noses or any combination of black and brown.

If Muggins are only bred to Muggins the second and third generations will resemble each other more than the first generations will. However, at this point many breeders will try to strengthen the breed by occasionally adding in to the gene pool other dog breeds.

Characteristics

Noble, courageous and loyal, a trained, socialized Gran Mastin de Borinquen who has learned simple commands such as sit, down, come, stay, lie-down and heel will be an absolute pleasure to have around and be a well behaved, obedient companion for you.

Your Gran Masin is a dignified, loving animal, but because of his size and his origin, bred to be aggressive, he isn’t looked upon as the first choice when you’ve got small children in the home. With the right owner – fair, firm and loving - he makes a splendid pet.

Children friendliness

muggin dog - characteristicsThey are good with children but should be supervised.

Special talents

Energetic and loving little dogs.

Adaptability

Very adaptable if taken for walks or has space in a yard. Can live anywhere under those circumstances.

Learning ability

Very intelligent but strong willed dog. Needs strong leadership from their person.

Health Problems

Your Gran Mastin de Borinquen can get to 12 years of age with good care. Mastiff-type dogs like this can be prone to eye problems as well as having to tackle joint problems such as hip dysplasia.

Other issues that can appear in this breed, but are unlikely be cancer, bloat, hypothyroidism and von Willebrand’s Disease which is a bleeding disorder.

Remember to do daily inspections of your Gran Mastin de Borinquen for fleas and ticks, particularly during the Summer month. Toxins introduced into the body by a tick bite for instance can make your pet seriously ill so that veterinary intervention is required.

muggin puppies - health problemsThe first generation of Muggins may face all the health issues of either or both their parents, while second and third generations tend to have less health issues, They types of issues the first generation of Muggins might face include:

Nerve Degeneration – Degenerative Myelopathy or Dm – causes paralysis and eventually fatal.

  • Hip Dysplasia – causes lameness and arthritis.
  • Epilepsy – can be treated with medication to prevent seizures.
  • Patellar Luxation – kneecap movement can cause lameness and arthritis.
  • Hypothyroidism – responds to medication.
  • Demodectic Mange and skin issues including allergies
  • Eye issues – including cataracts and Cherry Eye.
  • Yeast and Staph infections
  • Myotonia Congenite -Rare disease cause muscle contractions and stiffness.
  • Von Willebrand’s – inherited clotting disorder – no treatment unless needing surgery
  • Congenital Magaeshphagus – enlarged esophagus from birth is treatable.
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes – small dog hip joint disorder causes lameness.
  • Liver Issues – cause discomfort and could be fatal
  • Reverse sneezing – minor issue not serious but may sound like the dog is choking.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

The Gran Mastin de Borinquen, with his short coat, is a relatively low maintenance breed. Brush him at least twice a week to keep the coat free of loose hairs. Other grooming requirements are keeping his ears clean and dry. You can ask about alcohol wipes at your local pet shop to use in his ears. Check the nails too and remember to brush his teeth a couple of times a week to avoid dental decay.

Exercise:

You won't find the Gran Mastin de Borinquen being a particularly high energy dog but he also isn't a couch potato. If you enjoy a walk every day for your own good health, include him in these walks and give him a game of ball every now and again.

Diet:

This Mastiff -type dog is large, and they tend to be fairly lazy, not using up great deals of energy. Young dogs however use up more energy and will require a diet with good quality protein.

Dogs that have been spayed or neutered as well as senior dogs will require less calories. If you buy commercially manufactured food, check the labels carefully and buy high quality food for a large breed.

Don't just feed your Gran Mastin kibble everyday but alternate it sometimes, mixing in some raw meat into his kibble or mixing in some cooked chicken, rice and vegetables.

Feeding the puppy

muggin dogs - caringThis crossbreed has a definite propensity to overeat and become obese from puppyhood. Feed the puppy a small dog dry food 3-4 times a day a total of ¾ of a cup to 1 cup.

Feeding the adult

Again don’t over feed the adult Muggin or he will become obese easily. Feed at least twice a day one to one and half cups total.

Points for Good Health

High Energy

Games and Exercises

With the athleticism of the Min Pin taking precedence over the less active Pug, the Muggin is a fairly active dog. The Muggin is also not effective by the Pug’s difficulty with heat and cold. They love to go on long walks and need exercise to keep from being bored and destructive. However, remember there is a Pug in your Muggin and if she is not into exercise don’t try to get her to do more than she can.

You do want your Muggin to get enough exercise to fend off any tendency to be overweight. They are good at agility, jogging, obedience and watchdog activities.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Muggin vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Muggin vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Muggin vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Muggin vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Muggin vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Muggin vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Muggin vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Muggin vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Muggin vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Muggin vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Muggin vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Muggin vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Muggin vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Muggin vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Muggin vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Muggin vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Muggin vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Muggin vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Muggin vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Muggin vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Muggin vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Muggin vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Muggin vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Muggin vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Muggin vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Gran Mastin de Borinquen vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison