Bullmastiff help

[dollparts]

I am currently looking for a dog & have been looking into all kinds of breeds for months to see which is best for me. I keep finding myself drawn back to the gorgeous bullmastiff. Ive read they are friendly, protective and are not exercise mad! Sounds perfect! However, every article i seem to read about this particular breed, says something along the lines of 'not for novice dog owners' or 'best in the hands of experienced dog owners' -- which i am not!

ive never had a dog before and would be looking to bring him up from a puppy. so would the same rule apply? surely if you are bringing up the bullmastiff from a puppy, with puppy classes etc, he would be easier to handle?

Obviously they grow up to be very large dogs but i was quite determined he'd be trained by then! :D but i am a little worried as im a girl of 22 and not that strong! Are they really that hard for first time dog owners? My heart is set on this breed!

Im moving into a new house with my boyfriend and i love the idea of bringing a bullmastiff puppy to join us once we are settled.

Just need advice from any owners familiar with this breed, would be a great help!!

Thanks x

[Monkey]

depending on owners personality there is nothing as beginners breed... The most stupid owner WILL mess up the easiest dog in the world and vice versa.

But since you are already here, and prepared to PREP BEFORE you get the dog I would say that you could take it.

My first dog was a german shepherd/rottie mix, abused and wild in his teens.. Yeah I did some misstakes but dogtraining classes, books and a lot of exercise and me TRYING and not giving up still made him a really good dog. The second dog was a dobermann, used and abused too, the dog after that, a rottie mix, and then several pitbulls that I've fostered. So I've ONLY had those "harder" "more demanding" breeds, but I've also always put 110% into it.

Everyting comes down to you.. the bullmastiff can be hard to sometimes motivate, they are usually treat motivated/food, more than play motivated, one I know prefers his tug of war. My friends that have had bullmastiffs say that they have needed to train shorter sessions to make sure they don't bore the dog and instead always succeed. Cause otherwise the dogs stop caring and it's hard to get them obediant. Due to their more independent temper.

but if you read up ahead, plan for classes early, and make sure you have a good serious breeder behind your back that you can turn too (esp since this is a breed with a lot of physical issues and heart desase) then I belive you could make it. I mean, you are already here and prepping for it..

By the way.. welcome to the dogforum!

Hope you enjoy your stay :)

ps.. what can go wrong is their guard often, due to having more guard they often need a bit more socialisation and a stable owner so the dog doesnt alert and guard against everything and everyone. If you are insecure a big strong dog might feel HE has to step in wich can cause accidents. I think that is one of the reasons why they recomend more experienced owners ds

[KatzNK9]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Great to have you with us. Ahhhhhh, one of my very favorite breeds. I love a good challenge myself.:) Rather than advise you that a first time dog owner should or should not have a specific breed, I'd rather ask you some questions.

Are there GOOD obedience clubs in your area? If there are, I'd go out and look at the class options available to you. Are you willing to go to classes & work daily to train your dog? Would your lifestyle permit you lots of time to take your pup out to properly socialize him well into adulthood?

Although Mastiffs don't require the type of exercise that many of the other large dog breeds do, they still require quite a bit of exercise. Are you willing to take your dog on long walks regularly? daily?

For a first time dog owner, I definitely recommend obedience classes; however, with a large breed, I suggest you start at a very early age & stick with it well into adulthood (if not the life of your dog).

I certainly hope you're going to get a Mastiff. I'd love to hear about the adventures of a Mastiff here at DF. Good luck in your search.

[brunosmom]

Sounds like you have done your homework already about this breed. As long as you are willing to put the time needed into training there shouldn't be any problem. As with any large breed.....start training at the earliest age possible. Good luck with finding your dog and welcome to the forum.......:)

[paula]

In the past we have had 3 Bull Mastiffs. The 1st being our first experience of having a large dog. Believe me they were all a doddle. So gently and docile. never ever made to 1st move to attach another dog but could hold there own if another dog got nasty with them. Only problem i found was taking them for walks as am not very big so did not feel confident in walking them on my own. On saying that they walked lovely on the lead. Loved my udalt children and worshipped the grand kids. They do not need excessive excercise as long as they are walked daily. Only sad thing about them is their life span which is between 8 and 10yrs. We now have a Giant Scnauzer who is loved dearly but my heart still goes out to the Bull Mastiff.

[sheplovr]

I sold a puppy to a friend way out East Pa from me having 3 of these, two were nice, other agressive. They must be well socialized very young, or you have a big handful of a mess. They are gentle giants as they do not require tons of exercie daily but a nice walk. They need a big place also. They can get quite nastey if your totally unexperienced. They drull, do not really do alot of running to play with kids. But, most of the time they adore kids. Very protective, etc. Carry a nice price tag if well bred, this is one dog I would not rescue as it is there for a good reason as they are pricey.
Description:
The Bullmastiff shows great strength, endurance and alertness. They are a natural guardian of the home and will not back down from a fight. To strangers they are rather standoffish, but they are loving toward their owner. Bullmastiffs are normally very gentle, cheerful and calm. They make a devoted, gentle companion. They are also known as the "gamekeeper's dog" because they were bred to accompany gamekeepers for the ability to track and overpower a poacher.

History/Origin:
Developed in the late nineteenth century by crossing the Mastiff with the Bulldog (http://www.bulldogbreeds.com/). He was breed to combine power, speed and a keen sense of smell with the courage and aggression of a bulldog. In 1924 he was standardized and was officially recognized in England.

Height: 25 - 27 inches

Weight: 90 - 130 lbs.

Colors:
Shades of brindle, fawn or red. Slight white marking on the chest is permissible, black muzzle.



Coat:
Short, smooth, dense

Temperament:
Loving, courageous, loyal; Tolerates children; Should be socialized with other animals at an early age

Care and Exercise:
Minimal brushing of his coat. A good rubdown with a rubber brush or massage glove will remove old dead hairs. Nails should be kept short. Diet and daily exercise need to be balanced to prevent obesity. Daily walks or lost of running space is ideal.

Health Issues:
Hip dysplasia, gastric torsion and cancer.
This is a good link of all the info you will need: http://www.bulldogbreeds.com/bullmastiff.html

[Canine-Expert]

All mastiffs are powerfully built animals and some can have an assertive nature, suprisingly I have found this more so in bitches than dogs. However this is one of my favourite breeds and with proper training theyre brilliant as long as you start as early as possible. Dont underestimate thier intellegence, because of thier faces there is a tendancy for people to think of them as stupid which couldnt be further from the truth. Also be prepared for a large feeding bill because as theyre growing they tend to love thier food, even later in life, though thier hunger as in most animals tapers off considerably in the onset of maturity! Theyre one of the best dogs out there in my opinion so let us know how you go. All the best!