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Bullmastiff Information
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The Bullmastiff originated in England in 1860. There was a problem of keeping large estates and game preserves free from the poachers at that time. The penalties for this crime were severe, therefore the poacher would rather shoot it out with the keeper hoping to escape rather than accept the punishment they would receive if caught. Safety for the gamekeeper was what made the Bullmastiff.
The gamekeepers decided to bring dogs in. They cared nothing for the look of the dog as long as it performed its needed tasks. At first they tried the Mastiff. They were courageous and powerful, but not fast enough or aggressive enough to do the job. Next they tried the Bulldog, which turned out to be too ferocious and not quite large enough to be suitable. They wanted fearless dogs that would attack upon command only. For this, they decided to cross the Mastiff and the Bulldog, which formed the Bullmastiff.
Then came the rivalry between keepers as to the quality of their dogs. They began only breeding the dogs who were the most outstanding performers of their tasks. The result was a very large dog who would not attack the trespassers, however would hold them until their owners were able to get there and turn in the trespassers for their crimes. There were reports that some of these dogs held men for days on the land waiting for their owner to realize they were away, and would then seek out the dogs and find the trespasser unharmed, but unable to leave the area.
Those who are looking into this breed for a pet must realize that these are extremely large dog. They can weigh well over 120 pounds and be as tall as 27 inches at the shoulders. If you have small children, these dogs may just walk by a child and even the slightest bump can knock children off their feet. They are not aggressive dogs, however rough-housing with children can lead to a child being hurt due to the large size of the Bullmastiff. With any breed, proper supervision is required, but due to the Bullmastiff's size, it is especially needed.
Bullmastiff's are not a breed that requires extensive grooming. Ear cleaning and nail trimming should be done on a regular basis, bathing as needed. Due to the size of the Bullmastiff, you may want to consider taking your dog to a groomer for this.
Health concerns in the breed include: Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Thyroid Dysfunction,
Eye Disorders, Kidney Disease, Bloat, Cancer, Heart Problems and Cruciate Ligament Ruptures. Buying a puppy from a reputable breeder that screens their breeding stock for problems prior to breeding will help to assure that your puppy does not carry many of these problems.
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