Working group · England
Bullmastiff
Also called Gamekeeper's Night Dog.
Giant dog, low energy, trains well with consistency.
- Loyal
- Brave
- Affectionate
- Alert
- Docile
- Size
- Giant
- Weight
- 45 to 59 kg100 to 130 lb
- Lives
- 7 to 9 years
- Energy
- Low
- Trains
- Moderate
- Barks
- Low
Training
Training a Bullmastiff
Working breeds. Calm structure beats force every time. These dogs shut down under pressure and thrive on predictability.
Start Training Early
Start here
Begin training while they're still manageable in size. A 120-pound untrained Bullmastiff is nearly impossible to handle.
Socialisation is Essential
Natural guardians need extensive early exposure to people and situations to prevent over-protectiveness.
Keep Sessions Short
Low energy and can be stubborn. Multiple short sessions work better than long ones.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Bullmastiff and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, on video with Atlas and Shango.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to guard, pull and rescue. Big, strong, and serious about their people and their patch.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsModerate
- StrangersLow
- CatsModerate
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 30-45 minutes daily. Moderate walks sufficient; avoid strenuous exercise especially when young.
- Grooming
- Low maintenance. Weekly brushing. Clean facial wrinkles regularly to prevent infection.
- Drool
- High
- Coat
- Short, DenseFawn, Red, Brindle
- In a flat
- Needs more space than a flat gives.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Joint malformation common in large breeds causing mobility issues
Bloat (GDV)
Severe
Life-threatening stomach torsion; preventive gastropexy recommended
Lymphoma
Severe
Cancer of the lymphatic system; higher incidence in this breed
Where they come from
History
Developed in 19th century England by crossing Mastiffs with Bulldogs. Gamekeepers used them to catch poachers on large estates, breeding for a dog that would hold but not maul intruders.
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