General Information

Dog NameBullmastiff
Other NamesGamekeeper's Night Dog
Scientific NameCanis lupus familiaris
Breed TypeMastiff
GroupWorking
ExtinctNo
Country of OriginUnited States of America (USA)

Physical And Size

Min Life Span8
Max Life Span10
Min Ideal Weight for male48
Max Ideal Weight for male55
Min Ideal Weight for female45
Max Ideal Weight for male55

Ranking

Intelligent Rank
Trainability
Playfulness
Affection Level
Social Needs
Barking
Watchdog Ability
Territorial
Mouthiness
Adaptability

Characterisitics

TemperamentIntelligent, Sweet, Protective
Prey DriveYes
Fighting DogYes

Friendliness

Stranger FriendlyMedium
Child FriendlyHigh
Cat FriendlyLow
Apartment FriendlyMedium
Senior Citizens FriendlyMedium
Service DogMedium
Search and Rescue DogMedium
Biting PotentialHigh

The Bullmastiff is not too active, but he has obedience, agility, tracking, and carting, and he makes a good therapy dog. He is an intelligent, quick and study but he is not big on repetitive training.

The Bullmastiff does not love other dogs, especially if they are of the same sex. It’s difficult to house a male Bullmastiff and another male dog of any breed together. Even dogs that live in peace for years can one day become implacable enemies. Bullmastiffs also have a high prey drive and many bullmastiffs cannot live with cats for those reasons.

Origin and history

The Bullmastiff  breed was recognised in the mid 19th century, by English gamekeepers who needed a large, quiet, fearless dog with large speed to hold poachers

Poaching eventually declined and Bullmastiff took on a new role as a guard dog. As a result of the mastiff influence, fawn coat with the black mask can become more common as well.

In 1924 England kennel club recognized the breed and the American kennel club followed the suit in 1933. The first Bullmastiff was recognised by the AKC in 1934.

Are they child friendly?

Yes, Bullmastiffs are child-friendly because they are patient and protective with children. But,they are large and can accidently knock over or step on a toddler. If you have a children, take their age and size into consideration when deciding whether to buy a Bullmastiff dog.

As with every breed, teach children how to approach and touch Bullmastiffs and always supervise any interactions between the dogs and children to prevent any biting or ear pulling or tail pulling. Teach your child never to approach any dog while he is eating or sleeping.

facts of bullmastiff
Bullmastiff Dog with Kid.
source:pininterest.com

Behavior, Temperament and Personality

Behavior: The intelligent Bullmastiff dog is a terrific family dog. His behavior is loyal, loving, good natured and sweet, although he can be aggressive when he feels that he or his family is threatened.

Temperament: The temperament is affected by the number of factors including heredity and training Puppies with good temperaments are curious and playful. They approach people and be held by them.

When Bullmastiff is trained, he is calm and dependable and set boundaries when he is young and give him consistent training. A Bullmastiff raised in this way is docile and easygoing and will accept the strangers. But he is aggressive with other dogs.

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Trainability

Bullmastiffs need training at small age and that is throughout their life. It is said that early training and socialization with stargers help curb unwanted aggression.

Bullmastiff dogs are very smart and easy to train. Puppy classes are required for general socialization and training. They love training and learning and both make for a better companion and build a good relationship with the owner and family.

Bullmastiff thrive on positive teaching methods. They excel in obedience,agility and herding and even barn hunt and lure coursing and owners will discover something fun to do with their dogs. They may be stubborn but are trainable.

There are many circumstances where over-training your Bullmastiff dog can be harmful and even undo all the hard work you and your puppy have put in. Positive reward based training is important for your dogs.

Facts

Some of the facts related with Bullmastiff dogs are as follows:

  • The Bullmastiff dogs have red, fawn or brindle color
  • Bullmastiff will drive out unknown animals from their yards
  • Bullmastiffs do not show energy and are satisfied with short daily walks
  • Bullmastiffs are working breed
  • Bullmastiffs have height of 24-27 inches
  • They have weight of 100-130pounds
  • They has have life span of 8-12 years

Health issues

General HealthHealthy
Common Health IssuesEntropion, Hip Dysplasia, Kidney Problem,
Lymphosarcoma, Progressive Retinal Atrophy,
Osteosarcoma, Heart Problem, Cancer
HypoallergenicNo
Vaccination RequiredCanine Parainfluenza, Rabies,
Canine Distemper, Leptospirosis,
Canine Parvovirus,
Kennel Cough, Canine Coronavirus
SheddingModerate Shedding
DroolingHigh Drooler
GroomingEasy and Minimal Grooming Required
Weight Gain PotentialHigh
Separation AnxietyModerate Chance
AllergiesNone
Diets and Supplements27% Crude Protein
8%-12% Fat
Fish Oil
Probiotics
Antioxidants

Bullmastiffs are healthy but like other breeds, they are prone to certain health issues. Some of the health problems are given below:

  • Hip dysplasia:  It is a condition in which the hip joint does not fit with the thighbone
  • Elbow dysplasia: It is caused by the different growth rates of three bones that make dog’s elbow
  • Hypothyroidism: It is caused by the deficiency of thyroid hormone
  • Entropion: It is a condition in which the eyeball is rolled inward
  • Subaortic stenosis: It is a condition where the aorta narrows below the aortic valve
  • Cystinuria: This results in the formation of kidney stone or bladder stones
  • Cancer: cancers found in bullmastiff include lymphosarcoma, osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma and mast cell tumors
  • Panosteitis: Its primary sign is sudden lameness
  • Skin problems: Bullmastiffs have skin that can be prone to rashes, sores, and irritations

Colors

Bullmastiffs are found in following different colors:

  • Brindle
  • Red
  • Fawn

Puppies

Cost

The average cost of the Bullmastiff dog is about $1000-$2000 USD.

Size

The height of male Bullmastiff is 64-68cm and female is 45-54cm. The weight of male is 50-59kg and weight of female is 45-54kg.

Which breed are they similar to?

Some of the breeds similar to Bullmastiff dogs are as follows:

  • Greater Swiss Mountain dog
  • Komondor
  • Kuvasz
  • English Mastiff
  • Bernese Mountain dog
  • Boxer
  • Pinscher

Visit Doglime to know more about different dog breeds.