Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff is a powerful, active, reliable and resilient watchdog. They are very versatile and can play the role of a guardian, a police dog, a companion dog or a show dog. Confident, sure of themselves and very courageous, they make a very faithful breed who are attached to their friends and need social interaction to flourish.
Key facts about the Bullmastiff
Origins and history
The Bullmastiff is the result of a cross between the Mastiff and the Bulldog. The intention of first crossing of these two breeds was only to create fighting dogs, both powerful and flexible in nature. However, when official battles came to an end (in 1853), people realised that crossing these two breeds could create a new pure breed with good qualities. Forest rangers were particularly interested: they needed a flexible, powerful dog with a flair for fighting against poachers. Pure breed selection began in the 19th century and was perfected in the late 20th century by S. Moseley, who is considered the creator of the modern Bullmastiff.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 2 - Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs
Section
Section 2 : Molossian type
Physical characteristics of the Bullmastiff
Adult size
Female : Between 24 and 26 in
Male : Between 25 and 27 in
Weight
Female : Between 90 and 110 lb
Male : Between 110 and 130 lb
Coat colour
The coat can be all brindle, tawny or fawn. The most important thing is that the colour is pure and clean. A white mark on the chest is acceptable but any other markings are considered a defect. The mask is black and must fade to the eyes.
Type of coat
The coat is short.
The hair is hard to the touch and lying flat. The hair should neither be long, nor silky or woolly, as this does not correspond to the official standard of the breed.
Eye colour
The eyes are either dark or hazel. Clear or yellow eyes are not to standard.
Description
The Bullmastiff is a dog with a strong, symmetrical and powerful structure; but not heavy. Their head is that of a catch dog; their skull must be strong and square. The perimeter of the skull should be equal to the height at the withers. The muzzle is short: the distance between the tip of the nose and the stop is about one third of the total length of the head. The skull-face axes are convergent, and the stop is well marked. The eyes are either dark or hazel, medium-sized, set far apart and separated by a wrinkle. The ears, V shaped or folded backwards are set wide and high on the back of the head. The definition should be strong, with large, separated canine teeth. Clipping with scissors or pliers is allowed: a slightly protruding jaw is allowed but not sought after. The legs are strong and muscular.
Good to know
The Bullmastiff is the ideal breed for those who love big dogs but do not have enough space to accommodate a real giant. Their balanced character makes them a reliable dog in all situations, but first-time owners should beware not to be attracted solely by their magnificent physical characteristics.