A Bull Mastiff is a large-sized dog breed that has its origins in England. This breed was created by mixing the English Mastiff with the Old English Bulldog and is a Molosser type of dog. Its role in the past was to guard the estates of the noble. Still, from this point of view, the dog might not seem as much at a first glance since it is a quiet animal and does not bark very often.
The individuals of this breed have well built and proportioned bodies. They are massive, with large heads, big black noses and medium-sized eyes. The ears are also of a medium size and stay folded, while the tail is long and strong.
The coat of the Bull Mastiff is dense, short and a bit rough. It comes in various shades (red, brindle, fawn, light brown) and black markings often appear on the animals head, especially around its mouth, eyes and/or ears. Also, in the head area, the skin/coat will form wrinkles, so be careful to clean them well. Because of the general characteristics that it has, the fur is easy to groom it needs brushing with a firm brush every once in a while and bathing should be done only when necessary. These dogs will not shed too much. On the other hand, special attention should be given to the feet, and the nails must be trimmed regularly.
The life span of this breed is under 10 years (usually 7-8). The dog will be around 61-69 centimeters tall and weigh between 45 and 60 kilograms, depending on its gender. A female Bull Mastiff should be able to give birth to 4-13 puppies, with an average of 8.
As to what health is concerned, problems may appear related to hip dysplasia, lip boils, eyelids and PRA. Also, this dog is prone to cancer and bloat. Since it needs to gain weight easily, be careful not to overfeed it keep in mind that it is best to not feed it just one large meal a day, 2-3 small meals daily will be better.
Despite its general quietness, this breed makes a good guard dog (it was originally bred for this kind of activity). On the other hand, when it comes to its owner and family, it is very affectionate, has a calm and docile personality and is very patient with children. It is intelligent, devoted and obedient, so, if the owner will keep an appropriate attitude towards it from an early age, there should be no problems in matter of training make sure to communicate with your Bull Mastiff using a low and calm tone, since it is sensitive when it comes to this aspect. Also, habits of this breed include snoring, slobbering and drooling.
These dogs can easily adapt to both apartment and house/yard living conditions it is not very active indoors, and a small yard will be ok, if available. Also, keep in mind that it is sensitive to extreme temperatures, so it will prefer temperate climates. They will need daily walks (canine instinct), so make sure to provide the appropriate exercise in order to keep them healthy and in shape.
A very good guard dog from and an obedient, loyal and affectionate companion to its owner and family, the Bull Mastiff will easily adapt to your life style and will become your best friend and source of protection in the blink of an eye.
