The Bull Mastiff is a large, powerful dog that’s not for everyone. Early socialisation, consistent firm handling and obedience training are a must to get a well-behaved Bull Mastiff.

This breed was created in the late 1800s to help gamekeepers catch poachers and is originally 60% English Mastiff and 40% Bulldog.

Bullmastiffs are big, heavy dogs measuring 61-68 cm, the males weighing 50-60 kg and the smaller females 41-50 kg. They have large, square heads and muscular necks. Their short, smooth coat can be fawn, red or brindle, is waterproof and easy to groom.

The Bullmastiff is extremely protective of its family. It is always alert, will stop intruders to your property and won’t accept strangers unless they are introduced to them by their owner. This is an independent dog that can be stubborn and overprotective, and therefore needs strict owners that consistently enforce rules of proper behaviour from when it is still a puppy. With its strength and giant size, the last thing you want is a Bullmastiff you cannot control.

If trained well, Bullmastiffs can make good family dogs, although due to their giant size, may not be the best choice if you have young children. Mature Bullmastiff males do not, as a rule, get along well with other males, and if you are considering getting two Bullmastiffs, it’s best to get one male and one female. Bullmastiffs don’t need much exercise. Especially in their first year, over-exercising Bullmastiffs can cause health problems.

Common health issues in the Bullmastiff include cancer, bloat, skin and eye problems. On average, they live to about 10 years of age.