Bullmastiff - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
The Bullmastiff was developed in the mid-19th century by British gamekeepers. They were bred to protect property and land from poachers. They were developed by crossing the strong Mastiff dog with the heavy and agressive Bulldog. This mix was perfect, because Bullmastiffs were and still are extraordinary protectors.

2) Guards
You might be surprised by their guarding technique. They were not bred to deter intruders by barking or to agressively bite them. They were trained to stealthy track the burglar and pin and hold them down. The Bullmastiff was used to bred diamond mines in South Africa and they were also used for police and military work.

3) Family companion
Even though, the Bullmastiffs are still working as guards these days, they are most offen living the spoiled life of family companion. And for a good reason! This is a loving, easygoing and extremely loyal animal. They are also generally friendly with other dogs or kids, even though, you should always monitor the situation if you have very young kid.

4) Size
This is a large and powerful dog with average height between 24-27 inches which is 61-69 cm and weight is typically between 100-130 pounds, which is 45-60 kg. The females are naturally little bit smaller than males.

5) Training
It is true, that this is loyal and friendly dog. They are also pretty intelligent, but definitely not pushovers to train. It is because they are independent thinkers and they need firm and patient trainer. This is definitely not a dog for novices. Socialization is crucial as well, to raise obedient dog. Let your Bullmastiff puppy meet as many other people and dogs and show the puppy as many different places as possible.

6) Exercise
It is not hard to meet Bullmastiffs exercise needs. I mean, they are not total coach potatoes, but they are definitely not hyperactive. A couple of short walks or playtimes a day will meet their needs. Thanks to their lower energy level, they can happily live in an apartment. They are pretty calm and mellow indoors.

7) Color
Historically, the preffered coat color was brindle, because brindle Bullmastiffs were harder to spot in the night, so the brindle dogs were better for the guarding work. But you can commonly find them in two other colors as well, namely in fawn and red. Other colors are not accepted by the AKC.

8) Maintenance
The Bullmastiff has short coat and they are not shedding heavily. Overall they are clean dogs that are easy to groom. They do not need much bathings as well, only when it is really needed. One thing that is important to mention is, that they drool a lot, so be prepared for that. Other than that, regularly check their eyes, ears and nails and clip them or clean them if needed.

9) Celebrity dog
Probably the most famous Bullmastiff of all time was named Butkus, who appeared in the Rocky movie. It was a Sylvester Stallone companion. Other celebrities owned a Bullmastiffs as well, for example Michale Bay, Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan and Marlon Brando.

10) Health
Sadly, just like with other giant dogs, the Bullmastiff lifespan is not the longest, on average it is between 7-10 years. They suffer a lot from hip and elbow dysplasia. Minor health concerns include progressive retinal atrophy, lymphoma, entropion, hypothyroidism and bloating.