1. English Bullmastiff
written by: Silvio Sucow
The English Bullmastiffs are a breed of domestic dogs
with a solid build and short muzzle. They were originally
developed by the British gamekeepers of the 19th
century to guard their estates and to immobilize
poachers. The English Bullmastiffs are very quiet dogs
and they rarely bark.
History of English Bullmastiffs
Most of the breed experts are of the opinion that the modern day English Bullmastiffs are
similar in shape and size to their ancestors. Mastiffs were originally found in Asia and the
original ancestors were mostly like the English mastiffs which are extremely tall, muscular
and weighed a great deal. The mastiffs were brought from Asia by the Romans who crossed
over the Swiss Alps in search of land and for war. Thus the Mastiffs became popular in
Europe and many varieties of the Mastiff breed began to grow. The English used them to
guard their castles and they were also used as war dogs. Even the nomads used the English
Bullmastiffs to guard their camps and they were used as cattle herding and bull baiting
dogs. By the 1900s the English Bullmastiffs were nearly extinct in England but they became
popular in America and they are the most popular breed.
Country of Origin of English Bullmastiff
In England the Bullmastiff was bred by crossing the English Mastiff with the Bulldog and
such crosses were done even during the 1700s. However, the modern Bullmastiff is a breed
of the crosses made during the late 1800s. The speed of the Bulldog was combined with the
strength of the Mastiff to make them a very powerful breed of Mastiffs, which were used
by wealthy estate owners to chase and fight off the game poachers. Originally English
Bullmastiffs were bred with darker coats but the estate owners preferred the lighter coated
breed.
Size and Description of the English Bullmastiff
You have to remember that there may be some variations in the description of an English
Bullmastiff but they are all similar in size and shape. The English Bullmastiff has a large,
wrinkly head and a short, wide and dark nozzle. It has wide nostrils and round, amber eyes.
The v-shaped ears are floppy and hang close to the face and it has a pronounced stop at the
point where the muzzle meets the forehead. They have long, thin tails. The male Mastiffs
have a shoulder height of 63-68 cm and weigh 45-60 kg whereas the female has a shoulder
height of 61-66 cm and weigh 45-54 kg. Mastiffs exceeding these dimensions are
discouraged by breeders.
There are many types of Mastiffs which include the English, Bull, Neapolitan, Tibetan and
French Mastiffs. The most popular are the English and the Bull Mastiffs.
English Bullmastiff

2. English Bullmastiff
English Mastiffs are the largest of the breeds and sometimes they weigh nearly 200 pounds.
The one major difference between the English and the Bull Mastiffs is the English Mastiffs
are stockier and 30 inches in height while the Bull Mastiffs are not taller than 27 inches.
Another difference between the two breeds is the Bull Mastiffs have extremely powerful
heads that are wider and their body is more sleek and muscular. Though there is a debate
over the originality of the two breeds, most breeders consider the English Mastiff as the
original breed.
The English Bullmastiffs are a breed of domestic
dogs with a solid build and short muzzle. They
were originally developed by the British
gamekeepers of the 19th century to guard their
estates and to immobilize poachers. The English
Bullmastiffs are very quiet dogs and they rarely
bark.
The Neapolitan Mastiffs have wrinkles on their
entire body, including the muzzle, chest, neck,
underbelly and legs. They are shorter and smaller
than the English and Bull Mastiffs.
The French mastiffs are shorter and stockier and they weigh around 140 pounds. They have
a much wider head and they are solid red in color from head to toe including their muzzle.
Coat
The English Bullmastiff has red, reddish brown, black or light tan coat with a distinctive dark
area on the muzzle, ears and around the eyes. The length of their hair varies between the
different breeds but almost all the Bullmastiffs are shorthaired and they shed little.
English Bullmastiff's Character
The English Bullmastiff is courageous, loyal, obedient and intelligent. It is very devoted to
its family, develops a strong bond with the family and is very protective. If there is a threat
they do not mostly attack the strangers but bowls over them which make them desirable as
guard dogs. They are also stubborn which makes them resistant to obedience training. A
few English Bullmastiffs snore or drool. They are a very sensitive breed, good natured, calm,
easygoing, and gentle for their size.
Breed Temperament
English Bullmastiffs, especially the male are dominant over other Bullmastiffs but they are
very tolerant towards children and other household pets provided they have been
socialized when young. They love to be a part of your family and they are a gentle family
pet. Though English Bullmastiffs do not intentionally harm children, they have to be
watched when around children as they might knock over children, due to their immense
size.
English Bullmastiff

3. English Bullmastiff
Periodical brushing with a rubber brush is necessary for the English Bullmastiff, to remove
the dead hairs. Bathe them when necessary and trim their nails occasionally. They have a
lifespan of 9-11 years and litters of 6-10 puppies. English Bullmastiffs do not do well in
outdoor heat or when they are kept away from human companions and they prefer a soft
bed. The common ailments that affect the English Bullmastiff are hip dysphasia that may
lead to arthritis, eye disease and eye-lid problems like a cherry eye. They are also prone to
cancer, tumors, hypothyroidism and bloat.
Training
The handler of English Bullmastiffs must be authoritative with them and they are sensitive
to their master's voice. Though obedience training is recommended for the English
Bullmastiffs their stubbornness makes this training process a little difficult. If consistent and
reinforced training is given from the puppy stage they can be trained easily.
Activity
Although the English Bullmastiffs are large is size they require only moderate exercise and
they are satisfied with their opportunity to run and play on leash. They tend to be lazy and
many Mastiff owners say that they reward their dogs to get them to work but it is
important to exercise them in order to keep them healthy and at an ideal weight.
The English Bullmastiffs stand out not only as a gentle family dog but they are so big that
they can outweigh their master.
English Bullmastiff