Working Dog Group - Bullmastiff

Bullmastiffs breed that was formed by crossing Bulldogs and Mastiffs. Bullmastiffs had to be bred for a long time to come under the category of purebreds. Used as a breed for gamekeepers, these dogs were taught to tackle, track and catch poachers. They were fierce in nature, but were taught by their owners not to bite trespassers. Popular as hunting dogs, they were also used in army and police.

They are usually strongly built dogs that are huge in size. They have a wide skull and broad nose with large nostrils. They have wide set of eyes and droopy ears. Their tail is also strong and they have a prominent characteristic of drooping cheeks that give the face a squared look. They have small and rough coat of hair that is easy to maintain.

The dogs can grow up to approximately 25 to 27 inches and the bitches can grow up to 24 to 26 inches. Both the genders can weigh up to approximately 100 to 120 pounds. A dog heavier than this will be less agile and lazy. They are prone to arthritis, bloating and cancer; hence their health should be taken care of. They need regular walks to support their canine impulse of immigration.

Bullmastiffs are great dogs with a good sense of loyalty for their master. They are unrelenting with intruders and can knock them down fearlessly when the situation demands. But they are also very patient with children and very affectionate towards them. They are obedient by nature but also need to be disciplined firmly in order to keep them from turning into fierce killers.

These dogs are very powerful and tend to pull their masters with their leash as they grow up. Thus they should be carefully and persistently taught to avoid doing so. A breed that is highly intelligent, these dogs do not loose temper often, neither are excessively aggressive. The master of the dog should train the dog properly with firm discipline that allows him to remember his place in the house.

With correct training and proper socializing skills, these dogs can prove to be a boon for its master. Even then, it is necessary for the masters to be around when there are children around the bullmastiffs as they accidentally tend to knock them down due to their size. The legendary tale of the breeding of this dog makes it an independent canine by nature. They can be trained to be obedient, though not completely surrender to their master. Disciplining them to complete submission of authority is also not advisable.

They tend to live for a short period of eight to ten years of life. They are intolerant towards severe temperatures and need pleasant climate to live happily in. Also, they are fairly active hence cannot live in an apartment if their need for exercise is not properly taken care of. You need to have a house with a small backyard to keep them from creating ruckus. These dogs have a tendency of drooling due to heavy genetic influence of a mastiff on them. The puppies are very intelligent and can make out the variations in their master’s tone. Thus they need to be addressed affirmatively, instead of scolding them. They are very sensitive and emotional in nature. Therefore they should not be sent away in a kennel as a part of punishment if they make any mistakes.

Bullmastiffs can be great companions and good guardians.