Bullmastiff

This breed wouldn’t appear in my top ten of dog breeds suitable to live with children. Bullmastiffs are a real handful to cope with until they hit maturity. You'll be putting up with lots of mouthing, jumping up and knocking kids over. It takes time and dedication to aid their development in order to keep them on the straight and narrow. 

Whilst they are incredibly loyal to their immediate family this is unlikely to extend to the children's friends. A Bullmastiff may step in and take worrying action if play dates between the children became too loud or physical. 

Bullmastiffs are usually deeply affectionate with one owner, which is usually the person training them and spending time with them.
They take their role as guardian very seriously and don’t feel comfortable letting you out of their sight, so they’re likely to follow you around, lay by your feet or even on the foot of your bed.

But be warned, they are a very slobbery breed so have plenty of towels at the ready. They’re also loud snorers and snuffle, so if you think this might bother you, perhaps keep looking.

Bullmastiffs are moderately playful, but they’re not interested in chasing toys to bring back to you. The games they prefer involve their nose, so hide and seek activities, or simply chewing their favourite chew toy or treats.

Adolescent Bullmastiffs will have a strong desire to play and practice what they’re bred to do, which is taking intruders down by the shoulder. This is normal for them and can be controlled with appropriate training and support from a qualified trainer. 

Strength games such as play wrestling and tug-of-war are not recommended with this breed as they can easily get out of hand and become dangerous.

A Bullmastiff’s job involves being quiet and stealthy, so you won’t find them barking for the sake of it. They won’t hesitate to alert you to visitors at the door or an unwanted intruder.

If you live in a remote area, this breed will act as a great watchdog.  However, if live in a more built-up area your neighbours may be upset by the noise from their barking.

Bullmastiffs are naturally suspicious of strangers and visitors. This can be a huge issue in an average household. 

These dogs need to learn to go to a “safe space” when you have visitors to the home. It’s not wise to actively introduce them to tradespeople or anyone else they don’t need to meet, especially if they won’t see them again. It’s best to keep the dog in another room until the visitors have left.

A busy household isn’t favourable for a Bullmastiff, they’re naturally protective of their owners and with too many comings and goings is where mistakes could arise.

Bullmastiffs can be aggressive towards other dogs, especially between two males, or small dog breeds.

A bored Bullmastiff can do a lot of destructive damage, so be sure to meet his needs!

A Bullmastiff needs space and lots of it! Their ideal home is one with plenty of room to patrol.

The garden must be secure with a fence high enough so no one from the other side can put their hand over to say hello. This could spook your Bullmastiff and they may think their property is under threat. 

It's safe to say, this is not an ideal breed for first time dog owners – they need someone with experience handling a strong dog and understands the responsibility of owning a Bullmastiff. 

Another thing to mention is they’re not always compatible with other pets, so if you’re looking to introduce a Bullmastiff to a home with multi pets, you might want to consider another breed.

Young and adolescent Bullmastiffs need two good walks a day of around 30 minutes. It’s also worth finding your local secure field for them to have good run and play.

They mature at around four years of age and tend to slow down, so they won’t be as motivated to have a run around.

As this breed is prone to gaining excess weight, it’s important to encourage them to get up and start moving, as well as ensuring they’re not over fed. 

With their working roots, it’s just as important to keep their body and mind active. They also love to use their noses, so setting trails for them to following or throwing treats into rough ground for them to find is ideal.

All puppies need to learn how to be around people, pets, and other dogs, in a calm and polite way (known as socialisation). They also need help to feel calm, comfortable, and confident in everyday situations like travelling, the sound of traffic, and being in busy places (known as habituation). This is essential to prevent tricky behavioural problems in the future, and you'll be off to a great start with your ongoing training.

Bullmastiffs need confident, consistent but fair training. You’ll never be off duty when it comes down to their training. They are strong willed and self-assured but should know what boundaries you set.

This breed takes their role as natural guardians very seriously and while there’s no training for this, teaching them to stop once they have alerted their owner to something is essential.

Their quick and confident response to situations, especially meeting other dogs is essential. It’s something that should be monitored and managed throughout their lives. One mistake can result in serious injury.

Bullmastiffs like the company of their owner. If you need to work away from home, then this isn’t the right breed for you, as they may suffer from severe separation anxiety.

With the right diet, a Bullmastiff’s coat will have a beautiful shine!

A weekly groom with a rubber mitt will help keep their coat in tip top condition. In the shedding season, which is usually spring and autumn, they may need to be groomed twice a week.

If they have deep wrinkles around their mouths and nose, it’s worth giving them a wipe once a week to prevent bacteria build-up and infection.

Bullmastiffs can be droolers! So, keep a towel handy by their water bowl. If they shake their head after drinking, you might find it dripping from the ceiling!

Bullmastiffs are prone to certain health conditions, including the following:

Cancers: including Lymphoma and bone cancer 

Gastric torsion and bloat: A condition which affects the digestive system and can be fatal. Bullmastiffs need a good-quality diet made up of raw or cold-pressed food, this dissolves rather than swells in the gut. Bullmastiffs shouldn’t be exercised for two hours before or after feeding.

Hip dysplasia: A condition which affects the hip joints.
Entropion and Ectropion: A condition where the eyelids roll inwards (Entropion) or outwards (Ectropion.) Surgery is needed to prevent pain and further damage to the eye tissue.

Dilated cardiomyopathy: A heart condition which can be caused by a poor diet and lack of exercise along with poor genetics.
Obesity: Bullmastiffs love food! This means they can be prone to obesity, and their owners need to keep a close eye on their weight