Bullmastiff

Size
Large to Giant (27Kg +)
Exercise
40 min/day
Training
Daily
Size of home
House with garden
Time at home
Often alone
Grooming
Low maintenance
Barking preference
Watchdog barking
Personality
Independent

Breeder List

Breeder - Ms Karen Feldbauer (PUREHEARTBUL)

karen@pureheartbullmastiffs.com
See Details
Breeder - Mrs Melissa Smith (ANMENTA)

anmenta@lis.net.au
See Details

History

Bred by English gamekeepers in the 1800s, to assist wardens or gamekeepers by guarding their estates, the Bullmastiff is known as the gamekeepers’ night dog. Originally, it was bred from the old English Bulldog (not the short, stocky Bulldog of today) and the English Mastiff. This ancestry produced a powerful, enduring, active and reliable dog. The Bullmastiff of today is also high spirited, intelligent, loyal, fearless and confident yet docile.

Appearance

With their powerful build, Bullmastiffs show great strength. However, they are not cumbersome, and appear healthy and active. There are three main colours, fawn, red and brindle, ranging in any shade, and a slight white marking on the chest is permissible.

Bullmastiffs have large, square heads, with fair wrinkle when interested. They have dark or hazel eyes of medium size, and their strong, well arched necks are equal to their skulls in circumference.

Demeanour hints at great strength, immense determination, considerable self assurance, yet tractability. His whole manner should announce that he is sound in mind and body, and has the physical and mental attributes to make him always ready for action as a working dog. (1)

SIZE
Dogs: 64 – 69 cms (25 – 27 ins) at shoulder (withers)
Bitches: 61 – 66 cms (24 – 26 ins) at shoulder (withers)

WEIGHT
Dogs: 50 – 59 kg (110 – 130 lbs)
Bitches: 41 – 50 kg (90 – 110 lbs)

Maintenance

A seasonal coat changes a couple of times a year, (is short and dense), provides good weather protection and is very low maintenance. In high humidity, however, owners need to check the skin for hot spots. They are commonly found in areas where heat and moisture build up, such as around the base of the tail and under the body, but can appear anywhere, including the neck and ears.

Very little exercise is needed for the first 12 months; in fact, too much exercise in that period can damage rapidly growing joints and ligaments.

Exercise should take place early morning or late evening when it’s cool, as Bullmastiffs can be affected by the heat of the day.

Temperament

High-spirited but good natured, he takes a lively interest in all that is going on. Eager for fun with friends and family, yet alert to his surroundings, with the ability to discern between acceptable human behaviour and that warranting suspicion. (2)

Health

Responsible breeders are doing their best to screen out health issues in their breeding programs, including developmental bone diseases that can affect puppies of rapidly growing large breeds, such as hypertrophic osteodystrophy, osteochondritis dissecans, and panosteitis.

Bullmastiffs have also been known to be affected by entropion, where the eyelid rolls inward, causing eyelashes and hair to rub against the cornea, as well as hip and elbow dysplasia.

Registered breeders are committed to minimising the risks of these conditions affecting their litters and therefore lowering the incidence of the conditions across the breed.

Suitability

At home, in almost any situation, Bullmastiffs are also fine with children once they know them, and as long as the children have been taught how to behave around a dog and respect the dog. As with any dog of any breed, adult supervision is always best.

Words: Aimee Whitaker
References: 1. & 2. DOGS AUSTRALIA Extended Breed Standards
Image 1: Bullmastiff and pups -Trevor Phillips Photography
Image 2: (Head shot) - photo submitted by Brooke Turner and Glenn Sparham
Image 3: (Bullmastiff standing) - photo submitted by Vicki Brzekniak

Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Bullmastiff you may have think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Bullmastiff and its needs and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 10 Mar 2017)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

Powerful build, symmetrical, showing great strength, but not cumbersome; sound and active.

Characteristics

Powerful, enduring, active and reliable.

Temperament

High spirited, alert and faithful.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	Skull large and square, viewed from every angle, fair wrinkle when interested, but not when in repose. Skull broad and deep with well filled cheeks. Pronounced stop. Muzzle short, distance from tip of nose to stop approximately one-third of length from tip of nose to centre of occiput, broad under eyes and sustaining nearly the same width to end of nose; blunt and cut off square, forming right angle with upper line of face, and at the same time proportionate with skull. Under-jaw broad to end. Nose broad with widely spreading nostrils, flat, neither pointed nor turned up in profile. Flews not pendulous, never hanging below level of lower jaw.
Eyes	Dark or hazel, of medium size, set apart the width of muzzle with furrow between. Light or yellow eyes highly undesirable.
Ears	V-shaped, folded forward, set on wide and high, level of occiput giving square appearance to skull which is most important. Small and deeper in colour than body. Point of ear level with eye when alert. Rose ears highly undesirable
Mouth	Level desired but slightly undershot allowed but not preferred. Canine teeth large and set wide apart, other teeth strong, even and well placed.
Neck	Well arched, moderate length, very muscular and almost equal to skull in circumference.
Forequarters	Chest, wide and deep, well let down between forelegs, with deep brisket. Shoulders muscular, sloping and powerful, not overloaded. Forelegs powerful and straight, well boned, set wide apart, presenting a straight front. Pasterns straight and strong.
Body	Back short and straight, giving compact carriage, but not so short as to interfere with activity. Roach and sway backs highly undesirable.
Hindquarters	Loins wide and muscular with fair depth of flank. Hindlegs strong and muscular, with well developed second thighs, denoting power and activity, not cumbersome. Hocks moderately bent. Cow hocks highly undesirable.
Feet	Well arched, cat like, with rounded toes, pads hard. Dark toe nails desirable. Splayed feet highly undesirable.
Tail	Set high, strong at root and tapering, reaching to hocks, carried straight or curved, but not hound fashion. Crank tails highly undesirable.
Gait/Movement	Movement indicates power and sense of purpose. When moving straight neither front nor hind legs should cross or plait, right front and left rear leg rising and falling at same time. A firm backline unimpaired by powerful thrust from hindlegs denoting a balanced and harmonious movement.
Coat	Short and hard, weather resistant, lying flat to body. Long, silky or woolly coats highly undesirable.
Colour	Any shade of brindle, fawn or red; colour to be pure and clear. A slight white marking on chest permissible. Other white markings undesirable. Black muzzle essential, toning off towards eyes, with dark markings around eyes contributing to expression.
Size	Height:Dogs 64-69 cms (25-27 ins) at shoulderBitches 61-66 cms (24-26 ins) at shoulderWeight: Dogs 50-59 kg (110-130 lbs)Bitches 41-50 kg (90-110 lbs)

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.