Bullmastiff
Breed at a glance
- Origin
- England
- Weight
- Males
- Height
- Males
- Coat
- Short and weather resistant
- Colour
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intro
The Bullmastiff is an English breed of dog of mastiff type and large size, with a solid build and a short muzzle. It was developed as a guard dog in the nineteenth century by cross-breeding the English Mastiff with the now-extinct Old English Bulldog . It was recognised as a breed by The Kennel Club in 1924.
Health
A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 10.2 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds . [ 8 ] Health concerns within the breed include hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, bloat, and cancer, with a relatively high incidence of lymphoma and mast cell tumours. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] Bullmastiffs are prone to certain hereditary diseases, including: An autosomal dominant form of progressive retinal atrophy is common in the breed. A mutation to the RHO gene is responsible. [ 15 ] Bullmastiffs also are prone to ear infections. [ 16 ]
History
The origins of the Bullmastiff are unclear. In the 18th century, in some regions of England, the English Mastiff and Old English Bulldog were commonly inter-bred to produce dogs suitable for guarding people and their property. By the beginning of the 20th century, this cross-breed was in widespread use as an aid to gamekeepers in the control of poaching . [ 2 ] They were bred for strength, size and speed using a cross of the tough, heavy and aggressive 19th century bulldog with the large, strong, less aggressive mastiff. [ 3 ] As a result, the Bullmastiff is known as the Gamekeeper's Night Dog. The Bullmastiff was recognised as a breed by The Kennel Club in 1924. Dogs had to have a minimum of four generations of descent from Bullmastiff stock without input from either Bulldog or Mastiff; cross-bred animals could not be registered. [ 2 ] The American Kennel Club recognised it in 1934. [ 4 ] It was definitively accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1955. [ 5 ] In 1928, the De Beers diamond mining company imported Bullmastiffs to South Africa to guard the mines. [ 6 ]
Appearance
The Bullmastiff is a large dog. Bitches stand some 61–66 cm at the withers , and usually weigh 41–50 kg ; on average, dogs stand about 3 cm taller and weigh 9 kg more. [ 1 ] The coat may be fawn, red, or brindle, in any shade; some limited white marking on the chest is allowed. The muzzle is black, becoming paler towards the eyes. [ 1 ] The Bullmastiff is brachycephalic , flat-faced and short-muzzled, but this does not affect its breathing. [ 7 ] [ failed verification ]