The bullmastiff is a stout dog with a large frame.
The Terrific Pets website says that a bullmastiff is as loyal a dog as any pet owner could want. These large dogs have an intimidating presence and make excellent watchdogs. The bullmastiff gets along well with children, but due to the dog's great size, the American Bullmastiff Association (ABA) warns that leaving a child alone with one is not prudent. The bullmastiff typically is a healthy breed but is prone to certain ailments.
Identification
The strong frame of the bullmastiff belies its athletic nature; the dog can move quickly when need be. The broad head has a covering of wrinkled skin and a square muzzle that usually has a dark color. The nose and nostrils are black, the ears are dark and the tail extends to the back of the bullmastiff's legs. The coat comes in colors ranging from brindle to red to fawn. The fur is very short, making the dog susceptible to fluctuations in temperature when it is outside.
Size
The average male bullmastiff is from 25 to 27 inches high at the shoulders and weighs in at between 110 and 133 pounds. The females are slightly smaller, measuring from 24 to 26 inches at the shoulders and weighing from 100 to 120 pounds. The bullmastiff's lifespan averages from 8 to 10 years, with some living as long as 14 years. The average litter of puppies is eight, but sometimes a female can give birth to as many as 14.
History
The bullmastiff originated in England as a cross between the mastiff and the English bulldog. The exact time of this cross is unknown, but the gamekeepers of England needed a dog that could help them to prevent poachers from killing the animals on the large English estates. The resulting breed had the ability to track poachers, the speed to catch them and the strength to overpower them. The dog eventually became a hunting dog, a guard dog and finally a companion dog. The English Kennel Club first recognized the bullmastiff breed in 1924 and the American version did so in 1933.
Coexistence With Other Pets
The ABA states that cats and bullmastiffs may get along if you can train the dog to leave the feline alone, but that many bullmastiffs will always have an inclination to chase an animal as small as a cat. Bullmastiffs and other dogs often will not coexist, since the bullmastiffs instinct is to be a loner and work by itself. Males and females will get along with each other on occasion, but when a bullmastiff encounters another dog of its same sex, problems can and usually do occur. The possibility of a fight in this scenario always exists--one that the bullmastiff is usually going to win.
Health Concerns
Hip dysplasia is among the health concerns that can plague a bullmastiff. The dog's hip joint deteriorates to the point where the animal is in extreme discomfort and lacks the ability to move freely about. This can also happen in the elbow. Hypothyroidism can affect this breed, throwing the dog's systems into chaos without proper medication to control the malady. A devastating disease of bullmastiffs, lymphoma cancer, can quickly progress through the dog, requiring extreme measures such as chemotherapy.
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