History

The Bullmastiff is a relatively recent breed having been breed from crossing the English Mastiff with the English Bulldog. The British had a serious problem of illegal fishing in the nineteenth century. And so was needed  the perfect Watchdog: with speed to harass fishermen and strength to take them down and keep  them down until the arrival of the guards. Among the most common breeds in England was the English Mastiff, strong but slow, the Bulldog, fast but somewhat powerful. To assist the guards in the task of keeping the night watch and when illegal fishing was practiced, the Bullmastiff was created. This breed was created not to attack but to subjugate the fisherman and Bullmastiff never lost.

As  illegal fishing had slowed considerably, they were no longer necessary. The guard camouflage flushed, ideal to go unnoticed at night, then gave birth to the pet and guard fawn.

Instead of perpetuating the intersection between the English Mastiff and the Bulldog, breeders bet on the stabilization of the breed. It was established that the ideal combination would be 60% of the English Mastiff and 40% Bulldog.

The breed was first brought to a dog show in 1924, since they were required three generations of pure Bullmastiffs for that breed could be accepted in the UK.

Despite being selected for a guard dog, the Bullmastiff had other roles and has even played a role as auxiliary to the army and police. Today is an excellent companion dog, adapting very well to family life. While maintaining the characteristics of defense and guard.

Temperament

The Bullmastiff is a dog with a strong personality and is very loyal to the owner and possessor of an enviable courage.

With a very protective instinct, is a good territory and personal watchdog . Do not accept strangers, unless they are submitted by the family. The Bullmastiff protects his territory at puting intruders to the ground in order to arrest them under their powerful feet, instead of attacking them. Nevertheless, it is more aggressive than the English Mastiff.

For this reason should be socialized and trained from an early age. Due to these requirements, the Bullmastiff is not a dog for inexperienced owners.

With family is docile and affectionate. It's very calm indoors and adapts well to apartment life. With the need to exercise it for more than half an hour a day. A tour is the ideal activity for Bullmastiff. But some caution are necessary in the street, because this breed usually does not get along with other dogs.
The Bullmastiff likes to be part of the family activities playing with children. However, due to the size of the thriving Bullmastiff, constant vigilance is advised when child and dog are together.

General Appearance

The Bullmastiff is a large dog, have a strong and robust constitution. The skull is large and square, with short wrinkled nose. The black nose is essential. Brown eyes and ears are V-shaped, bent forward. The lips are pending, and the inferior by the superior covered. The neck is wide and strong, continuing an equally broad and deep chest. The forelegs are muscular and well spaced, and slightly arched posterior thighs well muscled. The feet are round with arched toes. The tail root is high and falls pendant to the hock, tapering to the tip.
The hair is short and hard and can be found in all shades of red, fawn and brindle.

Health and Hygiene

The Bullmastiff is prone to hip dysplasia. So you should avoid exercising the dogs to much, until they reach the age of two.
The Bullmastiff's coat is easy to maintain. Weekly brushing keeps the coat clean and reduce the need for bathing, which is harmful to the oily layer that protects the skin.
It is a dog that has a tendency to gain weight, and they need regular exercise and controlled diet.

Basic care:

Temperament:
The dogs are extremely active, inquisitive, quarrelsome and destructive. Never leave anything in their power ...
As they grow, the problems also grow ...
They keep the youthful temperament until 18 months approximately.

Food:

Try to accustom him early with dog food. Up to 4 months, it is recommended to feed dogs (3 to 4 times daily) and then Junior (2 to 3 times daily) up to 18 months. After this age, diet for adult dogs (1 -2 times a day).

Physical activity:

They need moderate activity, without excesses that may compromise the joints. This includes keeping them thin during growth.

Choosing a good dog:

Always seek information from breeders, for how long are they breeders, knowledge about the breed, etc.. Choose your dog, considering gender, type, color, and especially the blood line (genetic). Ask to meet the parents and grown siblings . Observe the dog, play with him. Look for defects like white spots very large, short tail, clear eyes or absence of testicles (in Males).

Documentation:

Get your dog always with reputable breeders and experienced in breeding.
Your dog must have a transfer document containing data such as: name, date of birth, parents' names, registration number, etc.. (LOP)
Must have the vaccination record date for age.

Nutrition:

The formula of a complete and balanced food for dogs depends on the age and lifestyle of each. Puppies, for example, require twice the calories of an adult dog, because they use a lot of energy in the process of growth and development, besides being extremely active. As adults, these needs decrease, requiring less input energy to keep the body in optimum condition. Adult dogs with daily activities such as sporting dogs or guard dogs, require high levels of energy to replenish calories lost.

Mating:

You should always seek the betterment of the breed, studying the possibilities, always with the advice of someone with previous experience in the breeding and reproduction of dogs. The study of blood lines (genetic) pattern and the body of animals must be considered in time to plan a mating.
One should choose the cooler hours of the day not to tire the dogs and always quiet and not slipping on floors.
A good breeding season lasts about twenty minutes. You can perform three matings, with an interval of a day between them, always at the same time if possible. If you find it difficult to encourage breeding, the presence of a veterinarian might be useful to help the dogs, or perform artificial insemination.
The gestation period is 58 to 62 days, with an average 6-8 pups.