How to Select a Bullmastiff

The bullmastiff is a working dog, used by the English in the late 1800s to protect land from poachers. It's a mix of the mastiff and the old English bulldog, with colors of fawn (brown-yellow), red, red-fawn and brindle (gray with dark streaks or spots). This intelligent and good-tempered breed can sometimes be a bit stubborn, but it is generally great as a family pet.

Things You'll Need

• Electric Dog Clippers
• Dog Balls
• Dog Bones
• Dog Bristle Brushes
• Dog Collars
• Dog Dishes
• Dog Flea/tick Control Medication
• Dog Leashes
• Dog Shampoo
• Dog Tags
• Dog Training Aids
• Dog Training Leashes/collars
• Dogs

Instructions

1. Be careful about choosing a bullmastiff if you have other pets in the house. These dogs tend to get along well with other animals if trained to do so at an early age, but the bullmastiff can also be aggressive. Two males won't get along, and two females may or may not get along.

2. Think about getting a bullmastiff if you live in an apartment or know you'll keep your dog indoors. This breed will remain calm indoors and does well in extreme hot and cold weather.

3. Reconsider getting a bullmastiff if you know the dog will be left alone often. These animals need constant human attention.

4. Keep in mind that a bullmastiff is a very powerful dog with a dominant personality and that it can be aggressive at times. You'll need to train your pet at an early age, so that she knows that you're the boss.

5. Look at a prospective pet's features. An ideal dog will have dark eyes, V-shaped ears and a large skull with wrinkles on the forehead. Its coloring should be mostly fawn, red or brindle, with very little white. Its body should be compact and muscular, and not overly built.

6. Expect a full-grown male to reach a height between 25 and 27 inches and a weight between 110 and 130 lbs. Females will mature to heights between 24 and 26 inches and will weigh between 100 and 120 lbs.

7. Check out breeders carefully. Ask if they are members of breed clubs, specialty clubs or obedience clubs. You can check references through a club to make sure a breeder doesn't run a puppy mill and that it carefully screens for health problems before breeding.

8. Consider adopting a bullmastiff from an animal shelter or a bullmastiff rescue organization (the American Bullmastiff Association has a great rescue program). But keep in mind that many people give up bullmastiffs when the dogs grow up and become too big to handle. Most adoptable bullmastiffs are adults rather than puppies.

9. Note that you'll probably pay between $300 and $1,500 for a bullmastiff.

10. Expect to enjoy your bullmastiff throughout its 10-year life expectancy period.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (see the Related Sites) to learn about hip dysplasia in bullmastiffs.

• The bullmastiff gets along well with children and other pets if socialized with them early on in life.

• The bullmastiff will get along fine with the children in your household, but exercise care if your kids play rough with other kids.

• This breed can be lazy. Your dog needs to be kept active or she will easily gain weight.

• Bullmastiffs tend to drool and snore.

• Unless you are prepared to constantly assert your authority with your bullmastiff, this may not be the dog for you.