Bullmastiff dog breed

Bullmastiff At-a-Glance

Bred from a blend of the powerful Mastiff and the tenacious Bulldog, Bullmastiffs originated in England way back in the 1860s. Their job was to protect their owner’s animals from poachers, a job for which they were ideally suited. Today, they’ve become gentle giants that love and protect their families, a task they also excel at, since they can weigh up to 130 pounds of powerful muscle!

Weight (pounds)
Male: 110-130
Female: 100-120
Height (inches)
Male: 25-27
Female: 24-26
Lifespan (years)
7-9

Dog Breed Group
Working
breed

Characteristics Ratings

We rate 19 characteristics for each breed, divided into three categories:
Highest Rated – Characteristics for which this breed is rated 4 or 5 stars (on a 5 star scale).
Neutral Rated – Characteristics that rated 3 stars.
Lowest Rated – Characteristics that rated only 1 or 2 stars.


Highest Rated

  • Good Family Dog
  • Kid Friendly
  • Good With Other Dogs
  • Protective Nature
  • Easy to Train
  • High Energy Level
  • Low Amount of Barking
  • Tolerates Cold Climate

Neutral Rated

  • Low Shedding
  • Friendly to Strangers
  • Likes to Play
  • Handles Change Easily
  • Tolerates Being Left Alone
  • Good General Health

Lowest Rated

  • Low Drooling
  • Suitable for Small Yards/Apartments
  • Good for Novice Owners
  • Tolerates Hot Climate
  • High Intelligence

General Overview

With their formidable size and protective instincts, the powerful yet gentle and affectionate Bullmastiffs make wonderful family dogs. They are known for being particularly gentle around children and can tolerate a lot of playtime tussle.

Since they were originally bred to guard estates, their protective instincts run deep. Although they are not typically aggressive, they are excellent watchdogs and will do everything in their power to protect their families. Interestingly, they bark very little and have thus earned the nickname of “silent watchdogs”.

As such, the Bullmastiff isn’t exactly the type of dog that will throw its paws around every stranger. In fact, they’re known for being somewhat cautious and observant towards people they don’t know. However, with proper socialization, they can learn to warm up to new faces while still maintaining their natural protective instincts.

When it comes to other dogs, Bullmastiffs are a bit territorial and may not be the most welcoming breed toward other dogs. But they can learn to accept them, as well as other smaller pets, with the right amount of proper socialization.

From a maintenance standpoint, Bullmastiffs are medium shedders but heavy droopers. Weekly brushing is all that’s needed, but you will be cleaning up a fair amount of drool.

Given their loyal and affectionate attachment to family members, it should come as no surprise that Bullmastiffs can be prone to separation anxiety. If left alone for extended periods, they may  become unhappy and destructive. This is not something you want with a dog this powerful!

As is true with most large breeds, Bullmastiffs do best in larger spaces that can accommodate their size. That said, since they are only medium-energy dogs, they can adapt fairly decently to apartment or small yard living, assuming their get a proper daily dose of exercise.

When it comes to health, we rate them as a medium. They are prone to most of the large breed health issues, such as heart disease, eye issues, elbow and hip dysplasia, and some cancers. And so, like many of the giant breeds, Bullmastiffs have a relatively short expectancy of 7-9 years, all the more reason to ensure proper checkups and a healthy lifestyle!

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