The Bullmastiff is a large dog in the Working Group. It was originally bred in the 19th century by gamekeepers as guard dogs and one that can immobilize a poacher. It is a combination of the English Mastiff and the Old English Bulldog. The UKC first recognized the breed in 1924. The American Kennel club recognized them as a distinct breed in 1935.
The Bullmastiff is a strong, athletic and muscular dog. It is docile and very obedient if the proper training is done. These characteristics have led to its popularity as a family pet.
According to the AKC standards, the Bullmastiff male will stand 25-27 inches at the withers. It’s weight will range from 110-130 pounds. Females are a bit smaller and should stand 24-26 inches and 100-120 pounds. Breeders strive to maintain these standards in an effort to maintain the agility and not too cumbersome to perform the jobs it was meant to perform.
According to the AKC, the acceptable colors for a bullmastiff are fawn and brindle. The fawn can range from light tan to dark red. The brindles have a striped overlay of red or fawn. There should be no white markings on the body, except on the chest.
The stately bullmastiff is a confident and docile dog. It is very loyal to its family, remains calm and loving yet courageous. They do become very attached to their families. They are known to get along with other dogs, but caution needs to be used when introducing a male to a male. While they may get along with the family cat, they may not get along with strangers animals.
Proper training and socialization will help your bullmastiff be a great companion to children. Their size requires parental supervision. It is not uncommon for this large dog to knock a child down accidentally.
The independent nature of the bullmastiff can be curtailed with proper training. If trained, the dog will look to the owner for permission before acting instinctually. Here again, socialization and obedience training with the participation of the entire family will teach the dog to obey any family member. Their speed and agility are obvious when you see their muscular and athletic body in motion. Rarely will they be aggressive.
Several potential health issues are common to the bullmastiff. It is slow growing and does not stop growing until it reaches the age of two or two and a half. The life span is eight to ten years. Some of the more common things that face the bullmastiff are:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Lymphoma
- Entropion: this is a condition that causes the lower eyelid to fold inside towards the cornea.
- Retinal atrophy
- Arthritis
- Bloat
Most of these things are common to large dogs. It is important to buy good stock. This can be assured if you buy from a reputable breeder. They will have the paperwork available from the veterinarian that will indicate if the parents have any of the potential congenital problems.
