Bullmastiff
Group: Working
Size: Large
Coat length: Short
Grooming required: Once a week
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Large House
Garden size: Large
Lifespan: Over 10 Years
Exercise: More than an hour per day
They are a large and powerfully built dog with a square, wrinkled head and short coat that comes in brindle, fawn or red.
They were bred to help gamekeepers deal with poachers. The dogs were taught to track and hold but not attack them. Since then Bullmastiffs have proved valuable in the armed forces and police.
Although Bullmastiffs need firm leadership, they are easy to train and naturally calm, good natured and affectionate. Their instinct is to guard. They are people friendly but would pin down, though not attack, an intruder and they are good with children. They need to be taught to tolerate other animals. They need regular exercise outdoors as they are relatively inactive indoors.
Their short coat is easy to maintain but their feet need checking regularly because of the weight they carry. They are prone to cancer, hip dysplasia, bloat, tumours and eyelid and lip problems. They also have a tendency to gain weight.