The Bullmastiff dog breed was developed for protecting hunting grounds against poachers in England during the late 1800s by crossing Bulldogs with Mastiffs.
The Bullmastiff was so effective at its job that it became a favorite guardian of estates throughout England. Repeated Bulldog and Mastiff crosses would yieled a viable Bullmastiff population that could now sustain being bred as a bloodline rather than continuing the cross breeding. The AKC would officially recognize the breed in 1933.
- Temperament
They are sometimes aggressive with other dogs, especially males, but do get along just fine with other pets like cats for example. These dogs are powerful, and very stubborn. It can be difficult to coax them into doing anything that wasn't their idea in the first place.
- Health The Bullmastiff has very little tolerance of heat and humidity and
should be considered an inside dog and guardian of the household. If
drool makes you feel a bit nauseous, then this definitely is not the
dog for you. If you are a light sleeper then you may not be very fond
of the snoring either!
Exercise requirements are fairly insignificant and can be met by a
daily walk around the park or neighborhood. Be sure to have ample space
available for him to lay down and stretch on comfortable bedding.
The most threatening health conditions for this breed include gastric torsion, elbow dysplasia, and canine hip dysplasia. Entropion can also be of concern, but is not as prevalent as the prior conditions.
A Bullmastiff's life span is approximately 8-10 years on average.