Bullmastiff

Is a Bullmastiff right for you?

The Bullmastiff is a short-coated, muscular, quiet guardian developed in 19th-century England from the Mastiff and the Bulldog to help gamekeepers catch poachers. Fearless at work and docile at home, it is devoted to its family and usually patient with children. Still, living with a 50-60 kg dog that is wary of strangers and can be stubborn is a responsibility not to be underestimated.

Before you adopt

The Bullmastiff is not generally on breed-restriction lists (for example, it is not on Turkey's dangerous-breeds list), but always check local rules.

Ask the breeder for the parents' hip and elbow evaluations, an eye examination and the progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) DNA test result. A cardiac exam (ideally by a cardiologist) and thyroid testing also matter. Always meet the mother and, if possible, the father: excessive shyness or aggression in parents is a bad sign.

Puppy or adult is a real question with this breed. A Bullmastiff puppy is charming and manageable, but at 18-24 months its will and strength increase markedly. Adopting an adult lets you see temperament in advance; breed rescues and shelters sometimes rehome adult Bullmastiffs.

Discuss spaying with your vet. A large Australian study found that neutered females lived longer on average than entire females, partly because of fewer deaths from uterine and mammary disease.

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the Bullmastiff as powerful, enduring, active and reliable; high-spirited, alert and faithful. Quickly assessing a situation is part of its guarding heritage.

Its historical job was not to maul but to knock a poacher down and hold him until the gamekeeper arrived. So it usually barks little and watches silently. At home it is often a calm dog lying on the floor or following its family from room to room.

It is reserved and protective with strangers; introduce visitors in a controlled way. It learns quickly when young but can become more stubborn as it matures. It shuts down under harsh handling and responds much better to consistency and rewards.

Relationships with other dogs vary by individual. Fights with large dogs of the same sex can occur, so early socialisation and careful management are needed.

Health issues and lifespan

Sources usually give a lifespan of 7 to 10 years. An Australian study of veterinary records including more than 400 deceased Bullmastiffs found a median age at death of 8.5 years, with tumours the most common cause of death.

• Lymphoma: Common in the breed and can appear young, often before six years. Painless swellings under the jaw, behind the knees or in front of the shoulders, poor appetite and lethargy mean a prompt vet visit.
• Other cancers: Haemangiosarcoma, mast cell tumours and bone cancer are reported. Sudden weakness, pale gums and a swollen belly can signal internal bleeding; this is an emergency.
• Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat): A swollen belly, unproductive retching, heavy drooling and restlessness are a life-threatening emergency. Discuss preventive gastropexy at neutering with your vet.
• Hip and elbow dysplasia, cruciate ligament rupture: Lameness, difficulty rising, not bearing weight on a hind leg. Obesity is a major risk factor for cruciate injury.
• Heart disease: Subaortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy occur. Exercise intolerance, fainting and coughing are signs.
• Eye problems: Entropion causes watering and squinting and usually needs surgery. PRA starts with night blindness and progresses to total blindness.
• Hypothyroidism: Weight gain, lethargy, skin and coat problems; diagnosed by blood test.

Feeding

An adult Bullmastiff (under the FCI standard, males 50-59 kg, females 41-50 kg) typically eats roughly 500-750 g of quality dry food a day depending on activity and the food's energy content. Because it is inactive indoors, weight control is the foundation of joint and ligament health.

• Puppy (2-18 months): Large or giant-breed puppy food, three meals a day. Rapid growth and calcium supplements increase joint problems.
• Adult: Two measured meals a day.
• Senior (from 6-7 years): Reduce calories; plan joint support with your vet.

To reduce bloat risk, avoid one large meal, give fast eaters a slow-feeder, and avoid strenuous activity for about an hour before and after meals. Table scraps accelerate the weight gain the breed is already prone to.

Grooming and coat

• Short, dense coat; a weekly rubber brush or grooming mitt is enough. Shedding increases at seasonal changes.
• Bathe every few months or when dirty.
• Wipe and dry facial wrinkles and lip folds several times a week.
• Drool is noticeable, especially after eating and drinking; keep a cloth handy.
• Nails every three to four weeks; check ears weekly.
• In hot weather: Keep it indoors at midday in a cool room. Rapid noisy breathing and staggering are signs of heatstroke.

Training and exercise

Daily requirement: 30-60 minutes of brisk walking and short play. The Bullmastiff is not a long-distance runner; it has short bursts of energy and then rests.

Priorities:

1. Early socialisation (8-16 weeks). Positive experiences with visitors, children, traffic and other dogs; a protective adult's balance depends on it.
2. Walking on a lead. An adult Bullmastiff will not go where it does not want to; build the habit in puppyhood.
3. "Leave it" and "go to your place". Staying calm at the door is the basis of managing visitors.
4. Consistency in adolescence. It tests boundaries between one and two years; rules should not change.
5. Controlled growth. Avoid jumping down, stairs and hard running in puppyhood.

Short, playful sessions keep this breed motivated; endless repetition bores it.

History

According to the FCI standard, the Bullmastiff evolved from the Old English Mastiff and the Bulldog. On 19th-century English estates, game was seriously threatened by poachers. Gamekeepers on night watch needed a dog that moved quietly, was fast and strong, and would pin rather than kill.

As the usual account goes, the Mastiff alone was too heavy and slow and the Bulldog of the day too small and fierce; the cross provided the balance. The breed was long known as the "gamekeeper's night dog".

As poaching declined, the Bullmastiff remained a farm and house guardian. The Kennel Club in the UK recognised the breed in 1924. The standard today accepts fawn, red and brindle. The breed is now mostly kept worldwide as a calm family companion and guardian.