Bullmastiff puppies

About the Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff was created by English gamekeepers in the nineteenth century by crossing mastiffs with bulldogs, to track poachers quietly at night and hold them down without biting. The result is a heavy, square, short coated dog with a broad head, a dark mask and a great deal of substance. The temperament matches the job they were made for: calm and quiet at home, undemonstrative, deeply attached to their own family, and naturally reserved with people they do not know.

Exercise is moderate, meaning brisk walks and outdoor play in securely fenced ground rather than distance running, and puppies should not be over exercised while they are growing. Grooming is a weekly going over of the short coat, watching the skin for dryness or oiliness. Lead training and socialisation matter more here than in most breeds because of the weight involved. Start early, because a Bullmastiff that has not learned lead manners as a puppy will not learn them easily later.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Bullmastiff puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
• Cardiac disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
• Thyroid disorders, screened by a thyroid evaluation
• Inherited eye problems including entropion and ectropion, found on an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Gastric dilatation volvulus, a sudden and life threatening swelling of the abdomen that needs emergency surgery
• Cancer, which is common in the breed and is why lumps and weight loss should be checked early

Your Bullmastiff puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Bullmastiff.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 45.4 to 59 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 59 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best chew toys for teething puppies, by size, and the chews to skip
• Harness or collar for a puppy? What the neck pressure studies show
• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other giant breeds

More on the Bullmastiff

Previous: Bulldog · Next: Cairn Terrier

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Bullmastiff breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bullmastiff/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Fausto Moreno, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.