The English Bullmastiffs are a breed of domestic dogs with a solid build and short muzzle.They were originally developed by the British gamekeepers of the 19th century to guard their estates and to immobilize poachers.The English Bullmastiffs are very quiet dogs and they rarely bark.

History of The English Bullmastiff

Most of the breed experts are of the opinion that the modern day English Bullmastiffs are similar in shape and size to their ancestors.Mastiffs were originally found in Asia and the original ancestors were mostly like the English mastiffs which are extremely tall, muscular and weighed a great deal.The mastiffs were brought from Asia by the Romans who crossed over the Swiss Alps in search of land and for war.Thus the Mastiffs became popular in Europe and many varieties of the Mastiff breed began to grow.The English used them to guard their castles and they were also used as war dogs.Even the nomads used the English Bullmastiffs to guard their camps and they were used as cattle herding and bull baiting dogs.By the 1900s the English Bullmastiffs were nearly extinct in England but they became popular in America and they are the most popular breed.

Country of Origin of English Bullmastiff

In England the Bullmastiff was bred by crossing the English Mastiff with the Bulldog and such crosses were done even during the 1700s.However, the modern Bullmastiff is a breed of the crosses made during the late 1800s.The speed of the Bulldog was combined with the strength of the Mastiff to make them a very powerful breed of Mastiffs,which were used by wealthy estate owners to chase and fight off the game poachers.Originally English Bullmastiffs were bred with darker coats but the estate owners preferred the lighter coated breed.

Size and Description of the English Bullmastiff

You have to remember that there may be some variations in the description of an English Bullmastiff but they are all similar in size and shape.The English Bullmastiff has a large,wrinkly head and a short,wide and dark nozzle.It has wide nostrils and round,amber eyes.The v-shaped ears are floppy and hang close to the face and it has a pronounced stop at the point where the muzzle meets the forehead.They have long,thin tails.The male Mastiffs have a shoulder height of 63-68 cm and weigh 45-60 kg whereas the female has a shoulder height of 61-66 cm and weigh 45-54 kg. Mastiffs exceeding these dimensions are discouraged by breeders.

There are many types of Mastiffs which include the English, Bull, Neapolitan,Tibetan and French Mastiffs.The most popular are the English and the Bull Mastiffs.English Mastiffs are the largest of the breeds and sometimes they weigh nearly 200 pounds.The one major difference between the English and the Bull Mastiffs is the English Mastiffs are stockier and 30 inches in height while the Bull Mastiffs are not taller than 27 inches. Another difference between the two breeds is the Bull Mastiffs have extremely powerful heads that are wider and their body is more sleek and muscular.Though there is a debate over the originality of the two breeds,most breeders consider the English Mastiff as the original breed.The Neapolitan Mastiffs have wrinkles on their entire body, including the muzzle, chest, neck, underbelly and legs. They are shorter and smaller than the English and Bull Mastiffs.

The French mastiffs are shorter and stockier and they weigh around 140 pounds. They have a much wider head and they are solid red in color from head to toe including their muzzle.

Coat

The English Bullmastiff has red, reddish brown, black or light tan coat with a distinctive dark area on the muzzle, ears and around the eyes. The length of their hair varies between the different breeds but almost all the Bullmastiffs are shorthaired and they shed little.

English Bullmastiff's Character

The English Bullmastiff is courageous, loyal, obedient and intelligent. It is very devoted to its family, develops a strong bond with the family and is very protective.If there is a threat they do not mostly attack the strangers but bowls over them which make them desirable as guard dogs.They are also stubborn which makes them resistant to obedience training.A few English Bullmastiffs snore or drool.They are a very sensitive breed, good natured, calm, easygoing, and gentle for their size.

Breed Temperament

English Bullmastiffs,especially the male are dominant over other Bullmastiffs but they are very tolerant towards children and other household pets provided they have been socialized when young.They love to be a part of your family and they are a gentle family pet.