BULLMASTIFF Breed Standards
A fairly recent breed, the Bullmastiff was created to do a very particular job and to do it well. During the 19th century, Britain’s landed gentry were besieged with a drastic increase in poaching on their estates. To stop the poachers, groundskeepers needed a fearless dog that could chase down and subdue a poacher, but the working breeds commonly available in Britain at the time were not particularly well suited to this job. The solution for the Britons, therefore, was to take dogs they already had and combine them into a new, specialized breed. The Mastiff was large and imposing, but lacked the speed and tenacity to take down poachers; conversely, the Bulldog was fast and furious but was too small to make much of a guard dog. By combining these dogs, both abundantly available in England at the time, breeders created the perfect night watchman and sentry, the Bullmastiff.
Eventually, breeders decided that propagating a purebred Bullmastiff was preferable to continued pairing of Bulldogs and Mastiffs. They decided that a perfect combination would be sixty percent Mastiff and forty percent Bulldog. By the early 20th century, such dogs had been bred, and the Bullmastiff was recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1924. The breed was concurrently introduced to the United States, where it was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1933.
SKILLS: . Watchdog and family pet. The Bullmastiff is a devoted, alert guard dog, with a good-natured temperament, though he tends to be willful. Docile unless provoked, he is fearless and protective, yet affectionate. Although unlikely to attack, it will catch an intruder, knock him down and hold him.
SIZE: The shoulder-height is 63.5 – 68.5cm (25 – 27in) for dogs and 61 – 66cm (24 – 26in) for bitches
COAT: The coat is short and the colors, which may be streaked, are tan or red-brown, always with darker muzzle and ears. A little white on the chest is permitted.
CARE REQUIRED: Grooming a Bullmastiff is not difficult. Occasionally remove dead and loose hairs with a rubber brush or massage glove.
CHARACTER: This breed reacts best to a fair, stable, and consistent approach carried out in a harmonious manner. The Bullmastiff is very sensitive to the tone of your voice. It is not a difficult dog but does require a handler who can assert this authority. The Bullmastiff should never be banished to a kennel.
TRAINING: Bullmastiffs are very tolerant towards children but can be rather dominant towards their own kind. Provided they are properly socialized with young, they can learn to get along with other household pets. Friends of the family will be accepted, especially if the handler indicates approval, but unwanted visitors will be stopped.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: This Bullmastiff has an average demand for exercise. A couple of outings every day with several opportunities to run and play (on a leash) give it sufficient freedom of movement.
EXERCISE: These dogs tend to be lazy so provide regular, moderate exercise. Be sure to exercise and not overfeed him, as he tends to put on weight.
