Bull mastiff

Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff is a powerful dog, which was originally a cross between the English Mastiff and the Olde English Bulldogge. Originally bred to find and immobilize poachers, the breed has proven popular as a family pet.

History

Bred by English gamekeepers in the 1800s to assist English wardens or gamekeepers guard estates. As a result the Bullmastiff is known as the Gamekeeper's Night Dog. The Bullmastiff was a cross of 40% Old English Bulldog, not the short, chubby Bulldog of today) and 60% English Mastiff for its size, strength and loyalty. They bark much less often than other breeds, however, when they do bark it's generally worth checking.
The Bullmastiff was recognized as a pure-bred dog in 1924 by the English Kennel Club.
In October, 1933, The American Kennel Club recognized the Bullmastiff. The first standard for the breed was approved in 1935.
The standard has undergone several revisions since then. The most current version is available on the AKC web site.

Appearance

Size
Males should be 25 to 27 inches tall (63.5 to 68.5 cm) at the withers and 110 to 130 pounds (50 to 59 kg). Females should be 24 to 26 inches (61 to 66 cm) at the withers, and 100 to 120 pounds (45 to 55 kg). Exceeding these dimensions is discouraged by breeders as they are too big to do their jobs.

Coat
Short and dense, giving good weather protection.

Color
Red, fawn, or brindle. Except for a very small white spot on the chest, white marking is considered a fault.

Temperament

A Bullmastiff should be fearless and confident, yet docile.
A Bullmastiff is courageous, extremely loyal to its family, calm, and loving.
It has a very strong protective instinct and will defend against any threat to its owners, as well as any threat to its territory.
Bullmastiffs become intensely attached to their families.
Their protective instinct combined with their great size and natural wariness of strangers means that early socialization and obedience training is essential.
A male Bullmastiff should not live with another male dog.
The Bullmastiff can get along extremely well with children provided the dog has been properly trained and socialized.
Parental supervision must be maintained when they are with children; they may knock smaller children down accidentally because of their large size.
A Bullmastiff, because of its history, is a very independent dog, and likes to make its own decision. However, with good training, a Bullmastiff will look to its owner for "permission" to act on its instincts. Obedience training with all members of the family will teach the dog to look to them before taking action.

Health

Prone to cancer. Beware of hip dysplasia, tumors, and some eyelid problems. They are also prone to boils on the lips and PRA (eyes). These dogs tend to bloat. It is a good idea to feed them two or three small meals a day instead of one large meal.
Bullmastiffs will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is relatively inactive indoors and a small yard will do. They can not tolerate extremes of temperatures.

These dogs tend to be lazy so provide regular, moderate exercise. Be sure to exercise and not overfeed him, as he tends to put on weight. They need to be taken for a long daily walk.

Lives Under 10 years