BULLMASTIFF
| Country of Origin: | England |
| Height: | Dogs 63.5-68.5 cms (25-27 ins) at
shoulder Bitches 61-66 cms (24-26 ins) at shoulder |
| Weight: | Dogs 50-59 kg (110-130 lbs)
Bitches 41-50 kg (90-110 lbs) |
| Color: | Any shade of brindle, fawn or red; colour to be pure and clear. A slight white marking on chest is permissible. Other white markings are undesirable. Black muzzle essential, toning off towards eyes, with dark markings around eyes contributing to expression. |
| Coat: | Short and hard, weather resistant, lying flat to body. Long, silky or woolly coats are highly undesirable. Coat to be any shade of fawn, red or brindle. A small white mark on the chest is permissible. |
| Temperament: | High spirited, alert and faithful. |
| Care: | Grooming for a Bullmastiff is very basic, but it is essential for healthy and happy animals. It only takes maybe 15 minutes a week, to cut the nails, clean the ears and give a good brush of the coat to get rid of dead hair. Bathing a Bullmastiff in the traditional way of shampooing, is unnecessary and can cause conditions in certain animals such as "Hot Spots" as it strips the coat of the necessary oils to keep it healthy. A good alternative is to get a bucket of warm water, with a very small amount of disinfectant and rub the coat down with a soft cloth. This rids the coat of dust and leaves a pleasant smell without stripping it. |
| Training: | The first 16 weeks of life is crucial in
determining a dog’s future personality and behavior. During this
extremely impressionable period, many things that your puppy is
exposed to can be imprinted permanently in its memory. Early
socialization is essential to owning a well adjusted, easy to live
with dog. Bullmastiffs need a strong-willed, dominant owner who is
consistent in his/her expectations and can bestow discipline and
love equally. You should endeavor to introduce puppy to your family
and friends regularly so that it becomes accustomed to new people
and situations. Once your puppy has completed all his vaccinations, you can take him for trips to the park, or the shopping centre, or wherever he will be exposed to new people and situations. It is also extremely important that your Bullmastiff is controllable around other dogs. Puppy pre-school is an excellent way to socialize your puppy and is available in most areas through your local Veterinarian or local dog-training club. This enables your puppy the opportunity to meet and greet puppies of similar age and size. Again, your puppy will have needed to complete his Vaccinations prior to attending. Please ask your vet if you have any concerns. General obedience classes can commence once you graduate from Puppy Pre-school. This teaches you and your dog to respect each other, as well as enabling you to learn the correct way to train and control him. Obedience can develop into a full time passion for some people, who eventually go on to Trailing, and can be very rewarding for both you and your dog. A Bullmastiff is naturally protective. You DO NOT and SHOULD NOT encourage any form of aggression. As a Bullmastiff owner, YOU have a responsibility to THE BULLMASTIFF BREED as whole to ensure that your dog is under control at all times. An uncontrollable 60kg dog can be dangerous and it is YOUR fault, NOT YOUR DOGS, if you have not socialized and trained him correctly. |
| Activity: | More active in the cooler months, the Bullmastiff is not a dog that will run beside you tirelessly as you jog. The breed is known for it’s laid back approach to family life. A short daily walk for adult dogs that are in a confined area is necessary. |
| Description: | A large dog, with a distinctive headpiece, being the breeds most characteristic trait which is set off with a black mask and ears which are deeper in colour than the dogs coat. Muzzle should be wide and deep. Both the dogs body and head should be square when viewed from every angle. Short, straight topline, deep wide chest. Neck should be arched, and almost the same in circumference as the skull. Hindquarters should be strong and powerful with adequate turn of stifle and well developed second thigh. Eyes should be dark, clean and clear. Movement of the Bullmastiff should indicate drive and power. |
| By Nikki Marshall Bullmastiffs of Opalguard Australia http://www.angelfire.com/nb/opalguard/index.html |