Large
10 Years
59 Kg
Working Dogs
Alert, Courageous, Docile, Loving, Loyal, Protective
The Bullmastiff is a large-sized dog breed developed in the 1860s in England as a companion dog and an estate guard dog. It has a solid built body with a short muzzle, typically weighing between 50 – 59 kg (male) and 45 – 54 kg (female). The Bullmastiff is a brave loyal dog with supreme athleticism which makes for an excellent guard dog. It is sixty percent English Mastiff and forty percent Old English Bulldog. It has a large and square head that wrinkles when the dog smells or sees something of interest. It has well-filled cheeks, a pronounced stop, a short and broad muzzle often with a black mask, black triangle around the eyes and dark ears. The eyes of the Bullmastiff are dark or hazel while the ears are triangular and folded forward. It has a large chest, deep brisket, muscular shoulders, short and straight back complimented by muscular loins and hindlegs. The feet are well-arched, similar to a cat’s feet cushioned by hard pads. The tail is carried straight or curved and reaches to the hocks. The Bullmastiff’s short coat comes in brindle, fawn or red. There is a small white mark on the chest but not on other parts of the body. An adult Bullmastiff stands between 64 – 69 cm (male) and 61 – 66 cm (female).
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Bullmastiff is a man-made breed originally developed in the 1860s in England to guard against poaching, which is a common practice on numerous large estates during those periods. It was bred by gamekeepers by crossing the tough, heavy and aggressive Old English Bulldog (now extinct) with the more docile English Mastiff. The result was a breed built for strength, size, and speed. The breed proved to be successful in fighting poachers that it gained the nickname of “the gamekeeper’s night dog”. The dog’s original colour was brindle which made for an effective camouflage, blending with the background especially at night and proved highly valuable when working against poachers. The fawn coat colour appeared when the Bullmastiff was bred with fawn English Mastiffs while the red colour is said to be a result of the breed being secretly crossed with the Dogue de Bordeaux. The breed was officially recognized by the Kennel Club as a distinct breed in 1924.
Powerful, strong, sensitive, intelligent, and quiet greatly summarizes the Bullmastiff’s temperament. Bred as a guard dog, the Bullmastiff is a courageous breed and is afraid of nothing, though usually mild-mannered in nature. An adult breed is usually calm and quiet but a Bullmastiff puppy is boisterous and loves to play. It is a sensitive breed that requires gentle touches and intensely loyal to his family. It will not do very well if left outside or alone inside the house. It is a very sociable animal that loves personal attention and companionship. It is typically level-headed with strangers but as an intelligent guard dog, it has a well-established defensive and territorial instinct.
The Bullmastiff is an intelligent breed and can be trained quite easily. Its protective instinct runs deep in the veins so it must be trained at an early age so that the breed learns to distinguish the friends from foes. It must also be trained and socialised as a puppy to live with other animals in the house because the Bullmastiff can be aggressive towards other dogs of the same sex and will not readily accept other animals into its territory. It has a stubborn streak and will often test to see if it can have its own way of doing things, so early consistent training with positive reinforcements from a firm handler is necessary.
With a very short coat, the Bullmastiff is a breed that is relatively easy to groom and maintain. It is an average shedder and regular brushing will benefit the coat and keep it healthy and shiny. The wrinkles should be inspected and clean regularly, keeping them dry all the time to prevent the onset of bacteria which can lead to skin problems. Bathe only when necessary. Use dry shampoo to keep the Bullmastiff smelling great in between baths. The ears should also be paid extra attention and should be cleaned regularly using a cleansing solution approved by the veterinarian. Brush the teeth on a regular basis (preferably twice a week) to prevent bad breath.
A Kennel Club survey found out that the Bullmastiff has a median lifespan of 7 and 8 years. It is a slow maturing dog and does not reach full adulthood until 3.5 years of age. Typical of large breeds, the Bullmastiff is affected by canine hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, bloat, and cancer. There is also a relatively high incidence of lymphoma and mast cell tumours. Arthritis also poses a problem to the breed. The Bullmastiff slobbers and drools especially after eating and drinking, when it is smelling food, when it is warm and hot, or when the dog is stressed. It also sometimes snores loudly when sleeping.
This heavyweight of a dog requires a large house and a lot of space to get enough exercise. It is not the perfect dog to keep in an apartment or condominium and will do best in a house with a large fenced yard or in the countryside where it can run and play safely all day. As a guard dog, this breed needs to stay in shape both physically and mentally to keep it healthy. Exercise must be more than two hours per day, but too much exercise however, may result in joint problems. As a breed with a short muzzle, the Bullmastiff should never be exercised during the hot summer weather.
The Bullmastiff is generally good with children if it is raised with them from a young age. While it is not an aggressive dog, it is designed to be protective and will react accordingly if it senses that a child is in danger. Because of its large size, the dog should always be supervised when it is around small children or it can easily knock them down accidentally. It is not always tolerant with other dogs, especially of the same sex but early socialisation will typically correct this problem. It is also not recommended to have two Bullmastiff males as they will try to dominate each other.
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