Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff is a powerful dog, said to be a cross between the Mastiff and the Bulldog. Originally bred to find and immobilize poachers, the breed has proved its value as a family pet.

Appearance

Size

The Bullmastiff is a relatively large dog. The American Bullmastiff Association standard calls for dogs to be between 25" and 27" tall at the withers and between 110 lbs. and 130 lbs. though current judging trends often favor a dog slightly larger than this. Bitches are to be between 24" and 26" tall and 100 to 120 lbs.. They make good parents, and often produce more than six puppies in a litter.

Color

Under the US standard Bullmastiffs come in two colors, fawn and red. This may be combined with a striped or brindle overlay but the base coat defines the color of the dog. The fawn is a light tan or blond color, while the red is a richer, red-brown. This can range from a deep red to a light red merging with the fawn sometimes described as a red-fawn. All of the varieties of bullmastiffs should have black masks on their faces.

History

Working Life

With its handsome, powerful appearance and superb speed coupled with strength and endurance it can overtake and capture intruders without mauling them. These traits make the Bullmastiff appear to be an excellent choice for a guard dog; however, a stubborn streak makes the animal somewhat resistant to obedience training and they can be overly protective of its human family. Due to this, the breed has been overtaken by others, more popular as guard dogs. Bred to sneak up on poachers, the Bullmastiff often barks much less than other breeds.

Dog Attacks

This dog was popularized by the media in Canada in the late 1990s as being the breed of dog in a string of (unrelated) dog attacks against children. The proposal to ban the breed in Canada started a small uprising and the measure ultimately failed.

Books about Bullmastiff Dogs