Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff is a powerful dog, said to be a cross between the Mastiff and the Bulldog. Originally bred to find and immobilise poachers, the breed has proved its value as a family pet. more...

Appearance

This breed resembles the Boerboel and English Mastiff.

Size

The Bullmastiff is a relatively large dog. The American Bullmastiff Association standard calls for dogs to be between 25 and 27 in (635 and 686 mm) tall at the withers and between 110 and 130 lb (50 and 60 kg) though current judging trends often favor a dog slightly larger than this. Bitches are to be between 24 and 26 in (600 to 650 mm) tall and 100 to 120 lb (45 to 55 kg). Some dams make good mothers, but elective Caesarian sections are common, and most breeding is quite costly as a result. An average litter size is about six, but as few as one and as many as ten are not unheard of.

Colour

Under the US standard Bullmastiffs come in three colors: fawn, red, and brindle. The fawn is a light tan or blond color, while the red is a richer, red-brown. This can range from a deep red to a light red merging with the fawn sometimes described as a red-fawn. All of the varieties of bullmastiffs should have black masks on their faces, dark eyes and ears darker than the body.

History

Working life

With its handsome, powerful appearance and superb speed coupled with strength and endurance it can overtake and capture intruders without mauling them. These traits make the Bullmastiff appear to be an excellent choice for a guard dog; however, a stubborn streak makes the animal somewhat resistant to obedience training and they can be overly protective of its human family. Due to this, the breed has been overtaken by others, more popular as guard dogs. Bred to sneak up on poachers, the Bullmastiff often barks much less than other breeds. But when they bark they will make your head turn, as its dark and hollowsounding .

Dog attacks

This dog was popularized by the media in Canada in the late 1990s as being the breed of dog in a string of (unrelated) dog attacks against children. The proposal to ban the breed in Canada started a small uprising and the measure ultimately failed.

Bullmastiffs are sometimes crossbred with Pit Bulls for strength.

Read more at Wikipedia.org