Bullmastiffs - Breed Introduction

This sweet, intelligent, large dog makes a wonderful watchdog and a great family pet. Fearless in the defense of his home, he is also patient enough to accept small children. Due to his large size, he should have a handler who is strong and firm, and should be thoroughly obedience trained so as not to be unruly.

Bullmastiffs stand 24 to 27 inches in height (61 to 69 centimeters) and weigh from 100 to133 pounds (45 to 60 kilograms).

History of Breed

In 1800’s England, estate owners were suffering serious losses of livestock, at the hands of poachers. The Bullmastiff was originally bred as a gamekeeper’s dog to track and pin down those poachers. The breed was developed by crossing 60% Mastiffs with 40% Bulldogs, and were known early on as “the game keeper’s night dog.”

These dogs were fierce and threatening, but were trained by their masters not to bite. Instead, these dogs prefer to hunt down their quarry and hold it to the ground by pinning it under their massive weight. To this day, a Bullmastiff will

Color and Coat

The coat of the Bullmastiff is short and slightly rough. It may be fawn, brindle, or red, with black markings on the head.

Personality and Temperament

Bullmastiffs that have been properly trained and socialized are wonderful, calm, loving pets that will courageously defend their home and family. They do not attack, but rather will hold an intruder at bay or knock him over and pin him down.

Highly intelligent dogs, Bullmastiffs are thoughtful when dealing with strangers. They will only allow the stranger to pass once he has been properly introduced by his master.

Bullmastiffs become intensely attached to their families, and do best when they can live indoors and spend a great deal of time with their owners. Since these dogs are relatively lazy, they do well in homes and apartments alike. Care must be taken to provide regular exercise for this animal, and it cannot be overfed, because it has a predisposition to gain weight rather easily.

Proper training at an early age is a must with a Bullmastiff. They can be rather willful, and for safety reasons the dog must learn basic manners, including leash manners, while it is still a manageable size. They can become quite unruly if they reach maturity and do not have basic obedience training.
The Bullmastiff puppy may appear to be rather uncoordinated, but eventually grows into its own body. They are rather agile for their size, not cumbersome.

These dogs do not do well when banished to a kennel. They may or may not get along well with other animals in the house, so early socialization is a must if the Bullmastiff is to be kept with other pets. Although the dog prefers to sleep indoors and be an integral part of the family, the Bullmastiff does have a tendency to drool, slobber, and snore. This is typical of many “push faced” type dogs.

These dogs adore children and are very patient with them. Small children should be supervised in the presence of the Bullmastiff, only because he could accidentally knock them over with his large size.

Show Characteristics

This dog is large and powerfully built. He has a broad, wrinkled head. His muzzle is short, square, and dark, with large black nostrils. He should have an alert, intelligent expression with medium-sized hazel eyes.

His ears should be wide-set with a v shape, and be dark colored. His short back should be level between the withers and the loin, and his high-set tail should reach to the hocks.

Typical Health Concerns

Bullmastiffs are prone to certain hereditary diseases, including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, entropion, hypothyroidism, lymphoma cancer, and progressive retinal atrophy.

These dogs can also be prone to bloat, so it is a good idea to feed several smaller meals throughout the day rather than one large meal.

Grooming

This short-haired dog sheds little and is easy to maintain. A good combing or brushing with a firm-bristled brush is all that is needed to groom the slightly rough coat. Shampoo only when necessary, and trim the nails regularly. Since this dog bears a large amount of weight on his feet, they should be given regular attention.

Country of Origin

Bullmastiffs were developed in England.

Average Life Span

The average life expectancy of the Bullmastiff is less than 10 years.