- Tall and sturdy, they are good defenders of the house,
- very affectionate with the family.
Bullmastiff : here are the secrets of a very affectionate watchdog and quite well known also in United States.
The Bullmastiff is an imposing molosser dog that, despite its physical conformation, manages to show itself docile and playful even with the little ones.
It falls into the Pinscher and Schnauzer type category and is originally from Great Britain. Let’s find out all the characteristics to raise it with all the necessary care.
Bullmastiff : history
The Bullmastiff, as the name suggests, was born from the cross between the English Mastiff (English Mastiff) and the Bulldog . The breed was defined after a series of selections in the second half of the nineteenth century.
The main goal was to obtain a breed capable of helping gamekeepers defend game from the indiscriminate action of poachers. Official recognition took place only in 1924 and its creator is considered Moseley.
Before reaching these results, several attempts were made using the Newfoundlands , the Alans , the Saint Bernard and many others.
Characteristics of the Bullmastiff breed
The Bullmastiff can boast of having a behavior with which it knows how to be fierce and courageous, it is very sure of itself and it is quite resistant.
Likewise, with the people around them it is also faithful, noble, very active and spirited. A large, strong, powerful dog, very robust and vigorous, it is harmonious and symmetrical, with an imposing and threatening figure, but not heavy. In the lineage of this breed is the blood of ancient molossians, but in reality this dog is a fairly modern creation emerged from the cross between bulldogs and mastiffs .
They were looking for a strong, fast, agile and powerful type of dog that would adapt perfectly to work with the guards of the great English farms.
However, although at first it emerged as a basically working breed, it quickly attracted the attention of many fans.
In a few years it achieved great official recognition, to the point that today it has become one of the most popular molosser breeds in the world.
Let’s see in detail what the character of the bullmastiff is like and what its physical characteristics are like :
Character of the Bullmastiff
With its powerful and dynamic character at the same time, when this dog has to deter an intruder, it does not limit itself to immobilizing it, but also uses its mouth to keep it at bay if necessary.
Thus, the guards of the large estates saw in them the perfect animal to help them control the presence of poachers. And also, the attempts, not infrequent, to get hold of equipment, machinery, animals or any other type of property belonging to the farm.
Today it is still an alert, guardian and brave dog, a magnificent guard dog that does not hesitate to confront anyone who tries to harm its family, for whom it feels deep affection.
To these qualities we must add that they are also an ideal , calm and safe family dog . They behave patiently with children and have fewer health problems than other breeds with similar characteristics.
In fact, it is a somewhat troublesome animal that may be the right choice for an inexperienced owner. As long as, their training is directed by a professional who guides the work and learning process.With other dogs or pets of other species, albeit a little more dominant than the bullmastiff, usually maintain a good re-lation . As long as they get used to it from a young age and if there are no disputes over the hierarchy.
- Energy: medium / high level. You need to do some exercise of a certain intensity every day.
- Temperament: active, alert and strong, it is a very good guardian, brave, resistant and very balanced. learns easily and is docile and affectionate.
- Adaptability: high. It prefers to live in a spacious house with surrounding land, but it adapts well to any place. It is clean and quiet.
- Sociability: high. It adores its family and does not pose problems with other animals or strangers.
- Health: normal. You have a certain propensity to suffer from some disease.
- Longevity: low / medium. Live for about 10 years.
- Utility: very versatile. Exceptional watchdog, it can also be used for various useful tasks such as rescue, locating people or guide dog. Likewise, its use as a companion dog stands out.
- Use: Guard, utility and companion dog.
Physical characteristics of the Havanese
- General appearance: strong, powerful and symmetrical in structure, it is a robust and active animal, but not heavy in appearance.
- Size: very large.
- Height at the withers: between 63 and 68 cm for males and between 61 and 66 cm for females.
- Weight: between 50 and 59 kg for males and between 41 and 50 kg for females.
- Origin: United Kingdom.
- Body: large in size, very robust, strong and compact, the bullmastiff is an animal with an intimidating and powerful appearance. The trunk, short and thick, and the head, broad and strong, are powerfully united by a wide, robust and very muscular neck.
- Head: it is large, very wide and deep. When the dog is attentive, many folds form, especially in the region of the forehead, but if it is calm or at rest, they disappear. The cheeks are bulging.
- Skull: viewed from any angle, it is wide and square, and its perimeter is such that it can be equal to the height of the dog’s withers.
- Muzzle: it is short (it measures more or less a third of the total length of the head), wide from under the eyes to the nose, obtuse and square, keeping proportion with the skull. The lips are slightly loose, but do not hang below the lower jaw.
- Nose: flat and broad, with well-open nostrils.
- Eyes: dark, or hazel in color, they are small and set well apart. They give the animal an alert and vigilant look, very direct.
- Ears: set high and well separated from each other, with which the skull adopts a characteristic almost square shape. They are rather small and bent, but when the dog is alert, the tips of the ears are raised slightly and are almost at the same level as the eyes. The hair that covers them is usually a little darker than that of the rest of the head.
- Nose-frontal depression (stop): it is pronounced and the middle sulcus is moderately marked.
- Jaws: the lower jaw is wide and sometimes shows a slight prognathism. The canines are large and well spaced, while the rest of the teeth are characterized by being strong and well placed, on a regular basis.
- Neck: well arched and not very long, it has very strong muscles. Its perimeter is very large, almost equal to that of the skull.
- Chest: broad and deep, with the ribs arched and situated well below, between the forelegs. The sill is very deep and strong.
- Back: compact in appearance, short and straight, but also flexible, so that it does not interfere with the dog’s movement. The back is broad and very muscular, with quite deep flanks.
- Forelimbs: they are strong and straight. They have solid bones and, seen from the front, they are well poised and well separated from each other. The shoulders are sloping and strong, well muscled, but not overloaded. Its forearms and arms are powerful and robust,
- Hind limbs: strong and muscular, they do not appear to be heavy. The legs have a good development, denote vigor and activity. The hocks are moderately angulated.
- Feet: rounded, known as “cat’s” feet, and well arched, they are endowed with hard and resistant pads and dark nails. They are round, curved and strong, in harmony with the legs, which, well straight and solid, are endowed with powerful muscles and very compact bones.
- Tail: strong, not very long, thick, especially when set high, and tapers slightly as it approaches the tip. The dog carries it straight or drawing a slight curve
- Hair: the coat is very tight, short and smooth, it covers the entire animal well, effectively protecting it from cold and humidity. It can be reddish, fawn or brindle, always with a black mask.
- Color: the specimens of this breed can have any brindle, fawn or reddish tone in the coat, but the color is always pure and clear. They also wear a black mask that blends harmoniously with the black spots that form around the eyes, helping to make their expression much more alive. Sometimes they show a white mark on the chest.
- Movement: when the bullmastiff moves it denotes strength and determination, and when moving in a straight line it does not intersect or bend the front or rear limbs. As you walk, the right front leg is raised and supported at the same time as the left rear leg. In general, the hind limbs are responsible for providing the vigorous impulse to the movement, which does not alter the firmness of the dorsal line, so that the advance is harmonious and balanced.
- FCI Classification: FCI No. 157 – Group 2: Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossian, and Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs. Section 2 Molossians.
Bullmastiff puppy
If you are thinking of buying a bullmastiff puppy, or better yet, you want to adopt one, you should know that despite the fact that when they are puppies they seem clumsy and uncoordinated, their development during the first months of life is very fast and spectacular.
They are actually real canine athletes, big, fast, strong and muscular, so they need to exercise on a daily basis and are not content with simple leash walks. This is a very important point for the correct physical and mental growth of the puppy.
In fact, although they may not be an extreme competitor, they are efficient and dedicated workers, making them an ideal breed for many sporting disciplines, and some British Army corps still integrate them into their canine units with a very satisfactory performance.
Havanese education and training
The Bullmastiff is calm and docile, and learns very quickly. But, you need a leader with a certain solidity and with enough capacity to become your permanent vital reference. An owner capable of dominating it at all times, since its strength can become a problem if the animal is out of control.
The specimens of this breed are usually very intelligent and respond very well to training , they adapt easily to almost any lifestyle, although they prefer to live in a house with enough space to move freely.
They are clean and very quiet, so they are almost never a problem for those who live surrounded by neighbors, and a good early socialization process is enough to avoid episodes of mistrust with strangers.
The combination of power, speed, value and temperance make them ideal for functions where what is done is as important as how it is done. In recent years, for example, specimens have been seen working at a very high level in rescue and location missions, and even as guide dogs .
Bullmastiff breed diet
As it is a large and very powerful and active dog, it must be given a diet appropriate to its physical characteristics and activity.
That is, with an important contribution of quality proteins and fats. It is very important not to skimp on feeding the bullmastiff.
Currently you can buy food for dogs of this size on the Internet or in specialized pet stores.
Health and diseases of the Bullmastiff breed
The bullmastiff is a robust, strong, active and lively dog that gives the impression of being a very healthy animal, but nevertheless, the breed has a relatively low longevity index and, although there are many specimens that far exceed 10 years of age, that is the average age of the breed.
Some of the factors that influence that your life expectancy is not too high, is that you are quite prone to stomach torsion, different types of cancer, hip or elbow dysplasia, or some eye and lip problems. It is imperative to divide your daily food intake into two or more servings.
Thus, as important preventive measures, the bullmastiff must be subjected to target doses of exercise appropriate to its age and condition to take care of its physical condition.
It is necessary to control their weight and the quality of their diet to guarantee adequate muscular and skeletal development, and to go regularly to the veterinary consultation.
Thus, complete the relevant vaccination and deworming programs, such as periodically checking the state of their mouth, eyes, skin and ears, something very important in all lop-eared breeds, like this one.
Bullmastiff care and breeding
Generally this dog has no particular health problems . In the summer, it may have difficulty breathing, like many dogs of the Molosser genus. For this it will only be necessary not to keep it exposed too much to the sun during the hottest hours.
Being short-haired, it should be brushed about once a week . The diet must include the right proportions of fats and proteins, to allow for adequate development. At two and a half years it has already reached the standard weight of an adult dog. Beware of food binges, the dog must not gain weight.
In any case, carefully evaluate the type of breeding you are targeting, must be certified and must issue you a dog health book: vaccines, deworming, pedigree and microchips are essential.