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Bullmastiff

loyal / affectionate / brave
Working Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

25-27 inches (male)

24-26 inches (female)

Weight

110-130 pounds (male)

100-120 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy

7-9 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    60% 60%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    100% 100%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    50% 50%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    20% 20%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    60% 60%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    100% 100%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    50% 50%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    20% 20%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The Bullmastiff is a huge, strong guard dog who tracked and held poachers in Merry Old England—merry, we imagine, for everyone but poachers. It is fearless at work and submissive at home. Bulldog and Mastiff crosses produce bullmastiffs. The Mastiff, a close relative of the Bullmastiff, is slightly larger. This is still a lot of dogs even if it can reach a height of 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 100 and 130 pounds. The large, broad head, which comes after the initial impression provided by the Bullmastiff’s size, communicates the essence of the breed. The dark eyes, high-set V-shaped ears, and broad, deep muzzle all work together to present the intelligence, alertness, and confidence that make the Bullmastiff a superior protector and family companion. Faux, red, and brindle coats are available. These are trusty and dependable animals, but just like with any large guard dog, parents must start training and socialization when the puppy is still manageable.

What To Expect When Caring For a Bullmastiff

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Large and having substantial bone, bullmastiffs are a breed. Breeders make a point of maintaining the norm and avoiding excessive creatures. This working breed needs to be physically and psychologically sound to perform the duties of a security dog. Breeders of responsible Bullmastiffs support the American Bullmastiff Association Health & Research Committee and check the hearts, hips, and elbows, thyroid levels, and eyes of their breeding stock. Like many dogs, both purebred and mixed, Bullmastiffs are susceptible to cancer, as well as bloat, a sudden and potentially fatal swelling of the abdomen; owners should become knowledgeable about these conditions as well as what to do in the event that bloat occurs. Breeders and owners must collaborate in order to breed because environment and heredity both affect a breed's health.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Hip Evaluation
  • Thyroid Evaluation
  • Elbow Evaluation
  • Cardiac Exam
  • Ophthalmologist Evaluation

Grooming

Although seasonal shedding is to be anticipated, unexpected hair loss should be considered as a potential issue. The healthiest environments and a balanced diet are crucial for coats. Dogs should get regular grooming so that shedding can be controlled, and they should get bathed as necessary. It is important to keep an eye on the skin and coat to make sure that there are no problems with oiliness or dryness. These might be connected to your diet or perhaps even your allergies.  

Exercise

Bullmastiffs enjoy their daily workouts. While some people are more sedentary than others and some people are naturally quite active, moderate exercise should be promoted. The breed prefers brisk walks and outdoor play, but secure fencing is required for outside spaces. In order to keep the dog safely contained and to prevent outsiders and other animals from invading the Bullmastiff's area, fencing is essential. Puppies shouldn't be overworked, especially while their growth is accelerating. Bullmastiffs make excellent walking companions but are not the best breed for those looking for a canine running partner.    

Training

For Bullmastiff puppies, early socialization and training are essential. The breed has a tendency to have a strong will, therefore early-on training will benefit both dogs and owners. Early on, rules and routines should be established, and dogs should follow them as they mature. In order to guarantee that puppies are introduced to other dogs and that parents have access to training support and information, many breeders will urge new owners to enrol in neighborhood puppy classes. Bullmastiff training should start from away and be a part of the lifelong relationship between dog and owner because these breeds can thrive in agility, obedience, rally, even scent work and tracking.  

Nutrition

To guarantee slow and consistent growth, the majority of Bullmastiff breeders advise feeding adult dog food or large-breed puppy food to puppies. For people, two meals per day is a good schedule, and several little meals are better for pups so they don't have to digest a lot of food at each meal. Exercise is not advised right before or right after eating due to the possibility of bloating. Bullmastiffs should be kept slim, especially as puppies because their systems can become taxed by their rapid growth.  

History

The Bullmastiff’s moniker, “The Gamekeeper’s Night Dog,” aptly describes the breed’s early development.

Poachers found the huge country estates and game preserves of the English aristocracy to be enticing targets from the middle to end of the 19th century. Poachers may be subject to the death penalty if caught, so they had nothing to lose when coming into contact with an estate’s gamekeeper. “Penalties were severe,” noted a breed historian, “yet poaching seemed impossible to eradicate by mere laws.” When confronted, they might decide to shoot it out with the gamekeeper rather than go to the hangman.

In response, gamekeepers bred dogs that were large, quick, and courageous enough to chase and pin a man who was wandering the grounds late at night. Finally, by breeding Mastiffs and Bulldogs at a ratio of 60% Mastiff and 40% Bulldog, they discovered the ideal combination of breeding material. The new species was intelligent enough to follow instructions, manageable enough to hold a poacher without mauling him, and intimidating enough to scare the living daylights out of any invader.

It was inevitable that competition over who owned the highest-quality Bullmastiffs grew among British gamekeepers. It was only a short step for the Bullmastiff into the show ring after competitions and displays of the greatest specimens were held.