Bull Mastiff

The Bull Mastiff originated in England as a cross between the Olde English Bulldogge and the English Mastiff. This dog was on demand among estate owners, who once had to deal with a serious onslaught of poachers. Bull Mastiffs were developed and trained to catch and detain intruders without doing much harm to them. These dogs were supposed to possess the agility and velocity of the Bulldogge and the restraint and intelligence of Mastiffs. Olde English Bulldogges were too ferocious for that job and they could simply tear an intruder apart; Mastiffs were a little too bulky and therefore a little slow. The Bull Mastiff of today is believed to combine 60% of the mastiff and 40% of the Olde English Bulldogge.

The Bull Mastiff of today is an excellent companion dog, with a docile and easy-going temperament. These dogs can integrate with children very well, and properly socialized dogs can be tolerant and even friendly with non-canine pets. Bull Mastiffs measure 23-26 inches high at the withers. They have thick muscle, which makes them very powerful. Not infrequently, these dogs fail to calculate their own strength while playing; therefore, they should not be left around young children without supervision.

Although Bull Mastiffs are not supposed to show unmotivated aggression, they are naturally dominant and are always ready to assert their rights in the house. It takes strong will and determination on the owner’s side to make it clear to his or her Bull Mastiff who the master is. Failure to do so may entail serious behavioral problems, or the dog will simply regard himself as the master and think you submitted. If you miss this point, later you will have a hard time correcting this behavior. Bull mastiffs must be socialized from early on, both with other animals and with people. They are naturally protective and hence they can be suspicious of strangers.

Although Bull Mastiffs look very strong and powerful, they require only moderate exercise, in order to keep their muscle in shape. They appreciate indoor life, but require daily walks and will do okay with at least an average-sized yard. Bull Mastiffs are prone to a number of genetic diseases, such as hyperthyroidism, immune dysfunction, allergies, hip dysplasia, lameness, patella luxation, tumors, heart trouble, gastric torsion, etc. The health of a particular puppy greatly depends on the quality of his pedigree line. The Bull Mastiff is sensitive to heat, and hence he can be susceptible to heat strokes.