Everything you Need To Know About the Bull Mastiff Dog



Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2008

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Bull Mastiffs are said to be descended from Old English bulldogs and English mastiffs. While they were originally developed for tracking down poachers, these dogs have also turned out to make great pets. A bit smaller than their mastiff ancestors, the bull mastiff dog is said to grow to be twenty-five to twenty-seven inches tall, and as much as a hundred and forty pounds. Females, like most breeds, are a little smaller, at twenty-four to twenty-six inches tall and up to a hundred and twenty pounds. They usually fawn or red, and may be brindle-coated. Some bull mastiffs have white markings, but these are considered undesirable from a show dog perspective. As pets, however, bull mastiffs with white markings are no different that those without them.

A strong protective instinct towards the families of bull mastiffs is common, a trait they share with other types of mastiff. They'll gladly defend their owners against all things that they perceive as threats. Unfortunately, this can extend to include strangers on the property, so be careful to introduce any new people to your dog. Fortunately, most bull mastiffs don't defend by attacking. Instead, they known over intruders and pin them to the ground, or place their massive bodies between the stranger and their family. This behavior was bred in when they were developed, since injuring poachers before they could be tried wasn't preferred.

Bull mastiffs are also very attached to their families. That means that a pet bull mastiff will want to live inside with you, and won't understand if you need to have him or her live outside. They can be very loyal and affectionate, and often get along surprisingly well with children. However, their enthusiasm, combined with their size, means that you'll need to supervise kids when they play with one of these dogs. That's not because a bull mastiff will intentionally hurt a child, but he or she might accidentally knock one over.

The loving, loyal personality of bull mastiffs means that they require a lot of attention, and will easily get lonely if you don't have the time to give. Larger dogs also need a great deal of exercise. While these dogs can live in apartments, they'll need regular long walks to keep them in good shape, prevent boredom, and stave off obesity, which is a disease the breed often suffers from. Other problems that are associated with the bull mastiff dog breed include hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, lymphoma, progressive retinal atrophy, and entropion (folded eyelids). Not every mastiff will develop these problems, and most of them can be treated. However, it's a good idea to have a skilled vet for your bull mastiff.

Michael Burrows has been A Mastiff owner and trainer for over 20 years. For More information on The Bull Mastiff Dog.  Visit his site below:

www.mymastiffsecrets.com

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