Bullmastiff Breed Facts
The Bullmastiff is a powerful, muscular dog that was first bred in England during the 18th century for the purpose of apprehending poachers. During the latter part of the 18th century, poachers were the bane of English country estates, and a dog was sought to assist gamekeepers in apprehending them. Unfortunately, the dogs of the day were either too vicious, or too slow, so a new breed was created by crossing the Bulldog and the Mastiff. The resulting dog was fierce, powerful, but pinned the poacher down, rather than mauling him.
The Bullmastiff was big enough, fast enough, and agile enough to excel at this job. And the dog seldom had to resort to force because even the bravest poacher was quickly frightened into submission.
Standing up to 27 inches at the withers, and weighing as much as 130 pounds, this dog just exudes power and strength. The head is huge with a somewhat undershot jaw. The coat is short, in tan red or brindle, normally with a darker face mask.
In common with most mastiff breeds, the Bullmastiff is truly a gentle giant. These huge fearsome dogs are real softies when it comes to the people close to them. They are placid, loyal and loving, and get on particularly well with children. You will however need to watch them around small kids as they can easily knock a child over by accident.
Obedience training is a must with this breed, as is early socialization and strong consistent leadership. The Bullmastiff is generally an obedient dog, but does tend towards dominance, especially if there is a lack of rules and boundaries. Male Bullmastiffs for example, can be highly territorial, and will often not accept another male dog in the household.
Median life style for the breed is 10 years, which is in line with other dogs of this size. The Bullmastiff is unfortunately prone to a number or genetic disorders. As with most large dogs they can suffer from hip dysplasia and gastric torsion, while canine cancers, entropion and progressive retinal atrophy also occur.
Up to a quarter of Bullmastiffs develop hip dysplasia. Bloat, or gastric torsion, is also common and can be prevented by feeding the dog several small meals a day, rather than one large meal. If your dog does develop bloat, it is imperative that you get him to a vet immediately.
Grooming a Bullmastiff is an easy task. All it takes is a good brushing every other day or so, to keep the coat looking its best.
The Bullmastiff may look tough and rugged, but it is not an outdoor dog. Their coat offers little protection from the elements and besides, they are sensitive souls who want and need to be close to those they love.
The good news is that they are generally calm, quiet and well behaved indoors and can even be kept in an apartment. They will however, require daily exercise outdoors.
Good names for a Bullmastiff can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online dog names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of female dog names to pick from.
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