We recently had the chance to connect with Gerhard Maale and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Gerhard , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Absolutely. One of the proudest moments for me recently was the opportunity to personally transport two of my Lone Star Mastiffs — Chewbacca and Bo-Katan — to a client in the Virgin Islands. Flying with them on a five-hour trip, seeing how calm, steady, and well-mannered they were the entire time, was incredible. Not a single accident or issue — just two rock-solid dogs proving exactly what we’ve been working so hard to create with this project.
What made me most proud wasn’t just how well they traveled, but the fact that my work is gaining recognition outside of the United States. When I first started this journey, my vision was to create dogs that could stand as true estate and family guardians — capable, reliable, and loyal no matter where they go. To now see that vision extending beyond our borders, to know that people in other parts of the world value what we’re building here, is deeply rewarding.
It was one of those moments where I could take a step back, laugh a little at how far we’ve come, and feel a huge sense of pride in the Lone Star Mastiff project.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Gerhard Maale, and I own two businesses that represent different but connected sides of my life: Lone Star Mastiffs and Lone Star Mastiffs Farms.
Lone Star Mastiffs is a breeding and training program focused on the development of the Lone Star Mastiff, a purpose-driven estate and family guardian. These dogs aren’t bred for ribbons or show standards — they’re bred to be capable, loyal, and balanced protectors.
Lone Star Mastiffs Farms is known worldwide for our superhot peppers and the products that come from them. We’ve built an ecosystem-driven farm that produces peppers without pesticides, relying on soil health, beneficial microbes, and sustainable practices. Beyond peppers, the farm is also starting to emerge in the local meat market, with goat, sheep, and turkey production becoming an exciting part of what we do.
One of the highlights of the farm is the Lone Star Pepper Palooza, an annual event we host in Winnsboro, TX. It’s become a major draw — featuring an internationally recognized League of Fire professional belt match, along with amateur pepper eating contests, a superhot wing challenge, and community events. It’s been incredible to see our local farming efforts tie into a global community of chiliheads and competitive eaters.
My path here started in the Caribbean, where my love for both hot food and guardian dogs was born. In that environment, guard dogs were a necessity and spicy food was part of daily life. Later, I went on to earn a Master’s degree in Marine Resource Management, with a thesis in microfossil analysis. It might sound far removed from farming or dogs, but it gave me a systems-based way of looking at the world: small details build into larger, resilient structures.
That’s really what connects my work today. Whether it’s creating reliable guardian dogs through careful breeding, or building a pesticide-free farming ecosystem that can withstand the Texas heat, both ventures are about legacy, resilience, and balance.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was younger, I truly believed I was invincible. I threw myself into just about every extreme sport you can think of — mountain biking, surfing, diving, and more. I never thought twice about what could go wrong, because I carried that mindset that nothing could really touch me.
That belief caught up with me when I was 18 and had a horrible mountain bike crash that damaged my knee badly. I’m actually writing this article while recovering from my sixth knee surgery — all stemming from that one accident. It’s been a humbling reminder that none of us are bulletproof, and that pushing your limits always comes with consequences.
These days, I don’t believe I’m invincible anymore — but I do believe in resilience. I’ve learned that it’s not about whether or not you get knocked down, it’s about whether you keep showing up and moving forward anyway. That mindset has carried me through both my businesses and my personal life.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering can shape a person in ways success never will. Success feels good, but it doesn’t force you to grow. Suffering strips you down and makes you face who you really are.
I’ve dealt with chronic health issues that made every day a battle. I’ve been so broke I had to choose between feeding myself or feeding the dogs — and the dogs always win. That kind of sacrifice doesn’t come from success, it comes from suffering.
I’ve even had to fight through the weight of cancel culture pushback with my Lone Star Mastiff project. It hasn’t been easy, but those moments taught me that you don’t measure yourself by the applause — you measure yourself by what you’re willing to endure and keep standing for.
Success never taught me resilience, loyalty, or sacrifice. Suffering did. And it made me into someone who doesn’t quit, no matter what.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I see the same kind of lie play out in both farming and the dog world: the picture-perfect version people show online.
In farming, especially on Instagram, you see these amazing setups — clean rows, lush plants, everything looking effortless. But that’s a farce. Real farming, especially the way we do it — regenerative, no chemicals, no soy, no GMO corn feed, no pesticides, no glyphosate — is extremely hard. It’s messy, it’s exhausting, and it eats into your profit margins. You can’t do it alone; you need a community to make it work. What you don’t see in those Instagram reels is the physical hardship, the setbacks, and the death that’s part of raising animals and farming in a natural system.
The dog world tells the same kind of lie. You see the marketing videos of perfect dogs doing sensational things — but that’s not the full story. What you don’t see is the daily grind, the heartbreak when things don’t work out, the sleepless nights, the real-life struggles behind building a bloodline or training a working dog.
The lie is that it looks easy. The truth is that both farming and breeding are hard, unglamorous work that demand everything from you. And that’s exactly why I respect them — because they’re real.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I died tomorrow, I believe the legacy that would outlast everything else would be the dogs. I’ve bred and trained a lot of dogs, and while I love the farm and the peppers, I know the impact of Lone Star Mastiffs will reach further and endure longer.
Through my dogs, I’ve brought peace of mind, protection, and joy to countless families. Every client who chose to invest in my dream and bring a Lone Star Mastiff into their lives carries a piece of my legacy with them.
When I look at these dogs — their temperament, structure, size, color, and presence — I see the reflection of my life’s work. And I know that long after I’m gone, each one of those dogs will carry forward a small piece of my soul. That’s what will remain.
The farm, while younger, is part of the same philosophy. Building a self-sustaining, chemical-free ecosystem is about leaving behind methods that respect the land and provide for people honestly. The peppers, the livestock, and the events like Pepper Palooza all serve as living proof that you can build systems that endure without shortcuts. But the truth is, while the farm represents my values, it’s the dogs that will always carry my name forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lonestarmastiffs.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lonestarmastiffs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Lone-Star-Mastiffs-Farms-100079848995607/
