How to Care for a Bullmastiff

Bullmastiffs make great companions, as they love to be around people and are relatively calm while indoors. But, as friendly as they are, bullmastiffs have a dominant personality and need to be trained to interact with adults, children and other animals.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electric Dog Clippers
• Dog Balls
• Dog Beds
• Dog Bones
• Dog Bristle Brushes
• Dog Collars
• Dog Conditioner
• Dog Dishes
• Dog Flea/tick Control Medication
• Dog Grooming Sprays
• Dog Leashes
• Dog Shampoo
• Dog Tags
• Dog Training Aids
• Dog Treats
• High-quality Dog Food
• Dog Shampoo

1. Have your bullmastiff vaccinated when you first get her, and have her get yearly booster vaccinations to maintain her immunity to disease. Consult your veterinarian about flea control products. If your dog has a bowel problem, have your veterinarian test a fecal sample, and then administer appropriate medications if necessary.

2. Choose a dog food formulated specifically for large breeds, which will mean lower amounts of protein and fat than are found in other dog foods. According to the American Bullmastiff Association, a good guideline for puppies is 19 to 25 percent protein and 8 to 14 percent fat. Look for meat as the first ingredient.

3. Train your bullmastiff at an early age to be around people, especially children and other animals. The bullmastiff puppy needs early socialization to people and different locations. This breed can be aggressive and needs to be reminded who is in charge. Train your bullmastiff not to pull on her leash.

4. Walk your bullmastiff daily. This breed is not very active and can gain weight easily.

5. Bathe your bullmastiff only when necessary. The dog's shorthaired coat tends to stay clean and sheds very little.

6. Brush your dog's coat occasionally with a firm-bristle brush.

7. Trim the nails frequently and check the foot pads often for wear and tear, as this breed carries a lot of weight.

8. Feed your bullmastiff two or three small meals a day instead of one large meal, as this breed is prone to bloat.

9. Understand the health problems associated with bullmastiffs, such as hip dysplasia, bloat and eyelid problems. Many bullmastiffs also have thyroid problems, so check for this when your dog is over 3 years of age.

10. Expect your bullmastiff to live for less than 10 years; this is the breed's average life expectancy.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (see Related Sites) to learn more about hip dysplasia in bullmastiffs.
• Bullmastiffs don't do well in extreme heat.
• Unless you're constantly prepared to assert your authority with your bullmastiff, this may not be the dog for you.
• This breed can be lazy and needs to be kept active.
• Bullmastiffs tend to drool and snore.

[twhite138]

on 3/19/2007 We have a 4 year old female Bullmastiff that we need to find a good home for. She is great with other animals. She had knee surgery 2 years ago and does not have the patience with small children any longer. If anyone is interested in her, please send me an email. We are located in Massachusetts.

Thank you
[e-mail]

[twhite138]

on 3/19/2007 I have a 4 year old female Bullmastiff that we would like to find a good home for. She had knee surgery in the past and does not have a tolorence for small children any longer. If you know of a good home, Please email me. We are located in Massachusetts.

[e-mail]

on 8/12/2006 When you own a Bullmastiff be prepared to fall in love like never before. They are woman's best friend. My beloved Sarah died today after 11 years and 5 months.

My tip on this wonderful breed:
Take them to an obedience class or have a professional trainer.Train them at an early age.
They will outsmart you on everything, so be prepared to be an intelligent owner or they will be walking you.

Sarah was the most intelligent dog I have ever owned. I will miss her for the rest of my life. What a wonderful breed. What a wonderful dog.

on 8/8/2006 You can make your own dog bones to keep your puppy happy and occupied. Ask the butcher for marrow bones. Get 4-8 bones and boil them on the stove until fully cooked. Let them cool down. You can remove the centers, which are fat. You can use the broth after refrigerating it and lifting the hardened fat layer off the top of the broth. Plus, if you feed dry food, you can add a few spoons of plain yogurt and a spoon of wheat germ for a treat.

on 6/30/2006 You can make your own dog bones to keep your puppy happy and occupied. Ask the butcher for marrow bones. Get 4-8 bones and boil them on the stove until fully cooked. Let them cool down. You can remove the centers, which are fat. You can use the broth (after refrigerating it and lifting the hardened fat layer off the top of the broth) to add to their hard food. Plus, you can add a few spoons of plain yogurt and a spoon of wheat germ for a treat.