The bullmastiff is a guard dog by nature, but at the same time, it is very affectionate and familiar with his, even if he is large and muscular. In addition, he can live comfortably in a small house as long as he is walked for a long time several times a day.
If you are thinking of adopting a bullmastiff, you cannot miss this breed file that we present to you from our site with all the information you need to know about this breed. Did you know that it is called that because it comes from the cross between the English bulldog and the mastiff? And that in theory the origin of the breed is in Great Britain, but many theories maintain that these dogs descend from the alanos de toros or bulldogs of Spain in the 19th century? The truth is that we did not know this or many other facts that we explain below.
Origin of the bullmastiff
The documented history of the bullmastiff begins in Great Britain in the late 19th century At that time there were many poachers who not only threatened the fauna of the British forests, but were also a risk to the lives of gamekeepers.
To protect themselves and facilitate their work, the forest rangers used dogs However, the breeds they used - bulldog and mastiff - were not good results, so they decided to try crosses between those dogs. The result was the bullmastiff, which turned out to be very ste althy, had a good sense of smell, and was strong enough to contain a grown man without needing to bite him. Since bullmastiffs kept poachers on the ground until they were caught by rangers, they got a reputation for not biting unless absolutely necessary, but this is not entirely true. Many of these dogs were sent to attack with muzzles on.
After a while the popularity of the breed increased and bullmastiffs became very appreciated dogs on farms, for their qualities as guardians and protectors.
Controversy about its origins
Some Spanish breeders support the recent hypothesis that the bullmastiff originated in Spain and that it was nothing more and nothing less than the alano de torosor bull dog that was used in bullfights, already at the beginning of the 19th century. In fact, paintings such as the Courtyard of Horses in the Madrid Bullring, painted by Manuel Castellano in the mid-19th century, and Goya's engraving They throw dogs at the bull created in 1801, show dogs whose morphology corresponds to that of current bullmastiffs.. However, these clues are not enough to change the race's nationality.
Physical characteristics of the bullmastiff
It is a big and imposing dog and that at first glance can inspire fear. Its head is broad and square, and it has a short, square snout. His eyes are medium and dark or hazel. Their ears are small, triangular and folded. They are darker in color than the rest of the body.
This dog's body is powerful and symmetrical, and although it shows great strength, it does not appear heavy. The back is short and straight, while the loin is wide and muscular. The chest is wide and deep. The tail is long and set high.
The bullmastiff's coat is short, hard to the touch, smooth and close to the body. Any shade of brindle, fawn or red is acceptable, but always with a black mask. A small white marking on the chest is also allowed.
Bullmastiff Character
Despite being a great guardian by nature, the bullmastiff is very affectionate and friendly with his own. However, when it has not been properly socialized, it tends to be reserved and cautious, and even aggressive, with strange people and dogs. Socialization, therefore, is an obligation in this breed. When the bullmastiff is properly socialized he can willingly tolerate strangers and get along with other dogs, and even other animals. However, he is not a playful, highly social dog, but rather a calm family dog.
When the dog is properly socialized he does not usually present behavioral problems, since he is not a barker or very dynamic. However, he can be clumsy as a puppy for not measuring his strength properly.
Bullmastiff care
Maintaining its short coat does not require much effort. Brushing twice a week is usually enough to keep the coat clean and in good condition. It is not advisable to bathe these dogs very frequently.
Although they are large dogs, bullmastiffs require only moderate exercise which can be covered by daily walks. For the same reason and their calm and quiet temperament, they adapt well to apartment life as long as they receive three or more daily walks. These dogs do not do well outdoors and it is better if they can live indoors, even if they have a garden.
Bullmastiff education
This is not a dog for novice trainers or novice owners, but it can be trained and handled very easily by people who have some experience with dogs Although the breed responds well to different training styles as long as they are done without abuse, better results are achieved with positive training.
Bullmastiff He alth
Among the most common diseases in bullmastiffs are: hip dysplasia, cancer, atopic dermatitis, demodectic mange, moist dermatitis, hypothyroidism, gastric torsion, elbow dysplasia, entropion and progressive retinal atrophy.
