The bullmastiff dog breed is among the loyal and trusting breeds. This canine is neither a bulldog nor a mastiff- it is a combination of both. Therefore it inherits both of their characteristics. The canine is not only the best companion for your kids but also enjoys the body hugs and belly rubs that you give him. However, this does not make it less alert or active.
Developed in the mid-19th century, these canines were one of the strongest breeds. In the 1890s, the gamekeepers needed a fearless breed. There had been several experiments for forming this breed but nothing seems to truly work. Finally, when the bulldog was made to breed with a mastiff, it created one of the perfect dog breeds. The Bullmastiff dog breed not only had the caring personality of the Mastiff, but also the aggressiveness of the Bulldog.
The appearance of a Bullmastiff is enough to hold down an intruder. In 1933, the American Kennel Club came to recognise this as a breed.
Distinguishing features of Bullmastiff
The Bullmastiff dog breed is mostly a lovable dog. If you are fond of sweet and big dispositions, these dogs can be the right choice for you. These dogs are calm most of the time and have infrequent barking levels. The breed is also known to be the largest working dog.
| Size | The Bullmastiff dog breed is larger compared to any other breed. The size of a male Bullmastiff is 110-130 lbs.However, the size of a female Bullmastiff is 100-120 lbs. |
| Height and Weight | Known to be heavy dogs, this breed has a height and weight larger than any other dog breed.Generally, they have a height of 24-28 inches and weigh about 100-140 pounds. The male bullmastiff is larger (25-27 inches) and heavier (110-140 pounds) compared to the female bullmastiff who has a height of 24-26 inches and weigh 100-120 pounds. |
| Coat Type and Colour | The coat of a Bullmastiff dog breed is dense and short. This coat type helps the breed from all types of seasonal changes.This breed has three coat colours namely:Reddish-brown,Fawn,Brindle. These colours can have certain streaks of light on their coat. Traces of white can also appear on the chest of this breed. |
| Lifespan | It is sad to know that these wonderful dogs don’t get to live more than 6-9 years. |
| Price | The cost of a Bullmastiff puppy in the USA is $1,000. However, the price can rise to $2,000 depending on its breeding.In India, this breed is priced at ₹45,000. Here also, the cost can rise to ₹80,000 depending on the quality of the breed. |
Appearance of a Bullmastiff:
The Bullmastiff dog breed has some resemblance to a Bulldog and a Mastiff. It has a wrinkled forehead; something that is common to a Bulldog. The short and square muzzle of this breed resembles the Mastiff. Mostly they have hazel dark eyes with a black nose. The black accent surrounding the eyes makes it look droopy. They also have V-shaped ears that hung down most of the time.
Developed from the two strongest breeds, the Bullmastiff is all-powerful. It has a large square looking body that can be very heavy, once it is on you. This attractive dog has a sturdy build up with a focused gaze. Although he might appear sad all the time but it is completely the opposite. The lineage of Bulldog gives him the most adorable face of all time. The breed also has a tail that is high on its rear end. Therefore, it easily reaches the hocks of the dog.
Bullmastiff Temperament and Personality:
The Bullmastiff dog breed is a sweet cuddling breed that wants nothing more than your attention. This breed can be next to you, all the time. However, this temperament is not naturally built. Proper training since the puppy stage makes it this way. But certain characteristics are received by birth. The canine is well-socialized. It likes spending time with humans, especially children. But controlling a Bullmastiff is not always an easy man’s job.
This breed is very easy-going and can fit in perfectly with families. But, it also requires proper training to control their energy since they are packed with a lot of it. If you are a new dog owner, adopting a Bullmastiff may not be the best option for you. Another drawback of this breed is that they are not very fond of other dog breeds, particularly if they belong to the same sex. They also have a high prey drive. This is the reason why they cannot live with other pets, especially if it is cats.
Common Health Issues of a Bullmastiff:
The Bullmastiff dog breed is an energetic dog. Yet, there are chances for them to encounter disease or disorder. On the bright side, Bullmastiff does not have any genetic disorder. This factor makes them the fittest breed of all. However, the breed still has a chance of getting affected by some health issues. These are:
- Allergies: Considered as out-going animals, this breed can be allergic to various things like fleas and food. To overcome this situation, the breed should be treated with immunotherapy (allergy shots).
- Cancer: The Bullmastiff dog breed is prone to cancer like Hemangiosarcoma which originates from endothelial cells. There can be sudden blood loss or even collapses in such a condition.
- Cardiac Diseases: Sub-Aortic Stenosis (SAS) is a type of cardiac disease which is common among Bullmastiffs. Here the left ventricle of the heart that connects to the aorta gets narrowed, causing a heart murmur.
- Eye Diseases: The most common disease that every dog faces is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). For some dogs of this breed, it can begin from the age of 2 months. Some dogs even start facing degeneration after 1 year.
- Hypothyroidism: This condition occurs due to insufficient thyroid hormones in the body. As a result, there can patch all over the skin of the dog and even infertility.
- Kidney and Urinary: The most common health issue for this breed is kidney failure. This can occur out of old age. However, diseases like glomerulonephritis and Renal Amyloidosis can also attribute to kidney failures.
Understanding the disease of your dog is a tough job. Therefore, you must leave it to the veterinarian. The vet conducts DNA tests to ensure if your dog is affected by any disease. Also as owners, you should have primary knowledge about your breed’s primary diseases. You can also take the help of the American Bullmastiff Association for further assistance.
Detecting a Bullmastiff:
Detecting a Bullmastiff dog breed is easy. Their appearance says a lot about them. However, if you are not looking forward to getting fooled, you may learn about the ways to detect a purebred Bullmastiff.
- Check the weight of the breed. Since they are the heaviest, you will face no difficulty in identifying them.
- Consider the head portion of the breed. Their broad and flat forehead with wrinkles resembles their face. The droopy ears make the face look square.
- Check the eyes. The breed has small eyes with a dark tint.
Grooming and Shedding:
The coat type of the Bullmastiff dog breed makes it easier to groom them. They have a short and fine coat. Therefore, it is easy to maintain. Also, they do not shed much but they do experience seasonal shedding. Therefore, you can bathe them easily. However, they do not require much bathing. If you observe unusual shedding, it may lead to a serious problem.
The skin and fur should be checked regularly for fleas or allergies. As an owner, you should clean the ears of your bullmastiff at regular intervals. Ears covered with coffee ground wax materials show signs of allergy in the ears. Make sure you trim the nails of your dog twice a month. This will prevent stones from getting stuck into the nails. One of the positive sides of grooming is that it creates an unbreakable bond with your dog. This feature also makes them perfect guard dogs.
Feeding of a Bullmastiff:
Since the Bullmastiff dog breed is an energetic dog, it requires proper food. 3 ¼ -4 ¼ should be the perfect amount of food to be provided to this breed. However, the quantity varies depending on the stage of the dog. What an owner must keep in mind is that the quality of the food should be good. For a proper diet, you can introduce meat to your dog. A rice diet also goes well for some Bullmastiffs. Do not provide food in large quantities as they can increase the fat intake.
These dogs are also prone to obesity. Therefore, controlling their diet is among the top priority for the owner. You can also check if your dog is overweight through a hand or eye test. Just place the thumb on the spine of the dog. Spread the other fingers downwards and see if you can feel their ribs.
Training and Exercise required for a Bullmastiff:
For owning a Bullmastiff, training is essential. These dogs might look adorable but are hard to keep if not trained properly. For puppies, early socialization is a must. Without proper training, the breed can turn aggressive towards other breeds. Before beginning to train them, you must look forward to being their jogging buddies to friends.
Being active by nature, the Bullmastiff dog breed requires proper exercise. It is necessary to force them out of the house for working them out. The pent up energy they have should be released or else, they can get destructive. However, this breed is not much into exercising for longer hours. While, in the puppy stage, the dogs should not be over-exercised. This can result in the rapid growth of the breed.
Living with families:
The Bullmastiff dog breed is best for living with families. They can live both in a big house or a small apartment. They are the most loyal companions one can ever have. If you have a child at home, this can be the best dog to adopt. Inherited from the Mastiff, this breed can be very friendly towards children. During his puppy stage, he can be less suspicious about intruders, but with time, they grow up to be the best guard dogs.
Conclusion:
The Bullmastiff dog breed is intelligent. Once grown up, they become independent thinkers. These dogs are natural guard dogs and are mostly silent. However, when provoked, they can be aggressive.
A common thing that can be expected from this breed is drooling. The bullmastiff dog breed has the habit of drooling after everything, be it eating, drinking or bathing. Their drooling depends on the jowls of the breed. Longer the jowls, more is the drooling. As an owner, you can simply use towels for their drooling. If you are bothered by their drooling, it is recommended not to have one.
FAQ:
Q. What is the price of a Bullmastiff in the UK?
The price of a Bullmastiff is £390-£500 in the UK, depending upon its breeding.
Q. Is Bullmastiff a dangerous breed?
The Bullmastiff dog breed can be counted among the most dangerous dog breed. It has few characteristics of the Bulldog which is an aggressive dog.
Q. Do Bullmastiff have a reason for drooling?
Bullmastiffs drool mostly out of nature. However, it can also be due to gassiness.