Bullmastiff puppies

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 it will need a job to do long before it needs 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 it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its 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

From Bullmastiff breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bullmastiff/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

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.

Other giant breeds

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