The Bull mastiff – Is it the right breed for you? – By Lisa Philpot
The Bull mastiff is a large, powerful dog, athletic and muscular, but they are also a calm and obedient breed. If trained correctly they are extremely loyal, gentle and protective towards their family.
Originally bred as a hunting dog for game keepers working on large estates, they were ideal for this as they rarely bark and were excellent assistants in catching poachers. Bull mastiffs rarely bite, using their strength instead to pin down poachers until their owner would arrive and give them further instruction.
Now-a- days this is reflected in the way they play, they enjoy wrestling games but because of their calm nature never get too aggressive or accidentally bite. Also because they rarely bark - if they do - it is usually worth investigating. They make great guard dogs.
Family dog
Bull mastiffs are an excellent breed to have around young children. The females in particular are very gentle and possess an intuitive instinct to be careful and gentle around babies and children, although it is important to point out that you should never leave any large breed of dog alone with a child, a bull mastiff can sometimes be unaware of their size and strength and also a little clumsy, which may result in them accidentally knocking a small child over.
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Bull mastiffs will be one of three colours, red, fawn or brindle which is a dark brown marble effect mixed with black, they also often have white markings on their chests. The males can grow to about 60kgs in weight and up to approx 30inches at shoulder height. Females are slightly smaller averaging around 50kgs and 22inches tall.
Not requiring too much exercise they are happy with a 20 minute walk a day, although they are equally happy having a long walk in the woods or on the beach. You should never ‘over walk’ them as they are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia which can be exacerbated by too much exercise.
As a rule Bull Mastiffs are very friendly and inquisitive to other breeds, if socialised well from a young age they do not cause problems with other dogs, however it should be noted they do not tend to get along with their own breed as well. All Bull Mastiff owners should always be aware and sympathetic towards other people, who are quite often intimidated by the sight of a Bull mastiff not on a lead. So therefore training your dog to walk to heel and to come immediately when called is essential.
They are easy to train, ideally from a young age, when they are more open to instruction. Attending puppy classes gives them the chance to socialise with other dogs and learn the important basics of being obedient.
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Watch out for your furniture!
Bull Mastiffs have VERY strong jaws and teeth, so if you value your furniture, floors, walls, shoes, garden, plants or anything they could chew on (even concrete!) you must ensure you provide your ‘bully’ with plenty of toys and stimulation to occupy their time when you are not around. Kong toys (tough toys you can stuff with their favourite treat) are great for them to chew on, as are toys that have a squeak or bell, even items you find around the house like plastic bottles, flower pots etc are a great distraction. Once they learn what is out of bounds they tend to remember.
They love their own space, a large cage somewhere quiet becomes their own retreat for a nice sleep (which they can do for most of the day!) Although from an early age make sure you climb into their cage so they know who is boss and that you can ‘invade’ any of their space at anytime. Do not allow them to become territorial. It is also good practice when they are puppies to occasionally take away their food half way through them eating it for ten minutes or so, sounds cruel, but this lets them know you are boss and have this right over their food if you want it.
Bull Mastiffs are a wonderful breed and a great family pet. It is said that people who own one would never change to a different breed in the future. (That includes me!) However never forget they are large dogs and need plenty of space and firm handling from a young age.
