- Bullmastiffs are great with children and a natural protector and thinks itself a true family member and if trained correctly a great pub dog and their behavior and manner when in public does them credit beyond belief, However they can suffer with separation crisis so if you both work forget it, Stubborn and idle be expensive due to health issues, they take over the sofa and your lap.
- The Bullmastiff is a large dog that needs a committed trainer. They can be stubborn when it comes to obedience training but due to the size of this dog training is a must. Early training and socialisation with other animals and people will help develop a well-rounded dog.
- The Bullmastiff is the result of breeding an English Mastiff with an English Bulldog, and after several generations they were officially recognized as a breed in their own right in the mid-1920s in Britain, and shortly followed by the US in the early-1930s.
- The Bullmastiff is a large strong breed of dog that has been used as a guard dog for many years. This majestic dog has a short coat that lies flat on his body. Coat colours include fawn, brindle and the dog may have black markings on the head.
- Bullmastiffs are especially prone to a life-threatening heart condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM , in which the heart becomes so large, thin, and weak that it can no longer effectively pump blood to the body.
- The Bullmastiff is known to be slightly more territorial and hostile than the English Mastiff, and will drive unknown animals from his territory, so it is important to ensure that you have fenced-in land.
- The Bullmastiff is very powerfully built, but not cumbersome, with a broad wrinkled head and a fairly short, square, dark muzzle (about 1/3 the length of its whole head).
- The Bullmastiff is a strong and powerfully built animal that possesses great intelligence and a willingness to please, making them ideal family companions and protectors.
- The Bullmastiff is a very adjusting dog that can do just fine in an apartment; it does better in a house with a fenced yard, ‘fenced’ being the important word here.
- The Bullmastiff is a giant breed with an average lifespan of 9-10 years, known to suffer from some common conditions like hip or elbow dysplasia, bloat, and cancer.
Contents
Life expectancy
Bullmastiffs have a shorter life expectancy than many other breeds. On average, they live between 7 and 9 years.
Training
Bullmastiffs should be relatively easy to train if training is started at a young age and continued consistently. An important theme arising in literature around Bullmastiff training is the need for the owner (or borrower) to be respected and known as the dog’s leader. Given the Bullmastiff’s size and predisposition for guarding, if left untrained, the breed can become unruly, difficult and could knock people over. That said, Bullmastiffs react very well to having a purpose and knowing who’s boss. Obedience classes are a very good way to ensure Bullmastiff puppies are socialised and trained to understand basic commands. Training should also take place at home to ensure they know their place in the family pecking order. Treats and pawsitive reinforcement should help ensure Bullmastiffs are engaged and ready to please.
Barking
Bullmastiffs are not known for excessive barking but bark with a cause. This dog is very reserved unless aggravated.
Breed
Breeds such the Bullmastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Pyrenean Mastiff, Spanish Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, Cane Corso, and many others fall into a large category of “Molossers”, which are of Mastiff-type, but are thus not Mastiffs and should not carry genes from Terrier lines, contrary to the Boerboel, which may carry terrier genes.
Social
With good socialization as a puppy, Bullmastiffs are good with children. However, no dog should be left alone with small children.
Energy
The Bullmastiff is not a high-energy dog. One longish walk every day should take care of the required exercise. But play sessions, trips to exciting places and other highlights should be incorporated as they will otherwise tend to get bored.
Health
The Bullmastiff is a strong breed but it comes with a string of health conditions commonly occurring within its pool of dogs. First is the sheer size and weight of the dog: it is affecting the dog’s structure including joints and articulations. There are also some inherited cancers that are present including lymphomas.
Coat
The Bullmastiff has a short, neat, single-layer coat that will shed moderately all year long and more profusely when the seasons change.
Temperament
The docile Bullmastiff temperament makes him an intriguing mixture of confidence and compliance.
History of Bullmastiffs
- In 1924 the English Kennel Club recognized the Bullmastiff as a purebred.
- In 1928, the diamond mining company De Beers imported Bullmastiffs to South Africa to guard the mines.[9]
- In 1934, the AKC recognized the Bullmastiff.
- In 1938, the diamond mining company De Beers imported Bullmastiffs to guard their South African mines, and these dogs were subsequently integrated into the Boerboel gene pool.