Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff is a powerful dog, which was originally a cross between the English Mastiff and the Olde English Bulldogge. Originally bred to find and immobilize poachers, the breed has proven popular as a family pet.

Size

Males should be 23 to 25 inches tall (58.4 to 63.5 cm) at the withers and 110 to 130 pounds (50 to 59 kg). Females should be 22 to 24 inches (55.8 to 60.9 cm) at the withers, and 100 to 120 pounds (45 to 55 kg). Exceeding these dimensions is discouraged by breeders as they are too big to do their jobs. As the breed has aged it has become more like the bulldog due to bad breeding it has actually become a slightly smaller breed.

Color

Any shade of brindle, fawn, or red is acceptable in the AKC (American Kennel Club). The fawn is a light tan. Red can range from a light red-fawn to a dark rich red. Brindles are a striped overlay of the fawn or red. A Bullmastiff should have no white markings, except for on its chest where a little white is allowed. See breed standard under external links for additional details

Temperament

A Bullmastiff should be fearless and confident, yet docile. A Bullmastiff is courageous, extremely loyal to its family, calm, and loving. It has a very strong protective instinct and will defend against any threat to its owners, as well as any threat to its territory. Bullmastiffs become intensely attached to their families. Their protective instinct combined with their great size and natural wariness of strangers means that early socialization and obedience training is essential.

Bullmastiffs can also get along with other dogs too but like any should be socialized. The Bullmastiff can get along extremely well with children provided the dog has been properly trained and socialized. Parental supervision must be maintained when they are with children; they may knock smaller children down accidentally because of their large size.

A Bullmastiff, because of its history, is a very independent dog, and likes to make its own decisions. However, with good training, a Bullmastiff will look to its owner for "permission" to act on its instincts. Obedience training with all members of the family will teach the dog to look to them before taking action.

Health

The lifespan for a Bullmastiff is generally from eight to 11 years. A Bullmastiff will not stop growing until it is about two and a half years of age. Bullmastiffs are prone to certain hereditary diseases including:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Entropion
• Hypothyroidism
• Lymphoma cancer
• Progressive retinal atrophy, a particular problem since the trait is an autosomal dominant one.
• Arthritis
• Bloat

History

Bred by English gamekeepers in the 1800s to assist English wardens or gamekeepers guard estates. As a result the Bullmastiff is known as the Gamekeeper's Night Dog. The Bullmastiff was a cross of 40% Old English Bulldog, not the short, chubby Bulldog of today) and 60% English Mastiff for its size, strength and loyalty. They bark much less often than other breeds, however, when they do bark it's generally worth checking.

The Bullmastiff was recognized as a pure-bred dog in 1924 by the English Kennel Club.

In October, 1933, The American Kennel Club recognized the Bullmastiff. The first standard for the breed was approved in 1935.

The standard has undergone several revisions since then. The most current version is available on the AKC web site.