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  The Bullmastiff was developed by English gamekeepers during the 19th century to help protect game preserves from poachers. These poachers sought game for food and profit. They did so with the help of a dog known as a Lurcher, a cross between a Shepherd and Greyhound. Lurchers were trained to drive game into traps set by the poacher and also to attack on command. The gamekeeper needed a quiet, fearless dog with enough speed, strength and size to overpower the Lurcher, then catch and hold (but not maul) the poacher. At the same time, it had to possess a stable, trainable temperament so it wouldn’t attack innocent travelers on public footpaths that often ran through the preserves from one village to another. In addition, the dog would be living with the gamekeeper’s family, which made stability and good temperament very important. Several breeds were tried and eventually a cross between the English Mastiff and the English bulldog worked best. The Mastiff possessed courage, power, and size but lacked the speed and aggressiveness needed. The Bulldog (quite different than the English Bulldog of today) was strong and tenacious, but a little too fierce and lacked size. Combining the two produced what the gamekeeper wanted and the Bullmastiff was born. The early Bullmastiffs were bred for utility, not looks. Since their work was often done at night (hence the early nickname, "Gamekeeper’s Night-Dog") the dark brindle color was preferred for stealth. Eventually, as poaching began to disappear, the Bullmastiff came into demand as a guard dog and the light fawn color became popular. Appearance became a higher priority and breeding efforts focused on achieving a specific type that would establish the Bullmastiff as a pure bred dog. In 1924 the English Kennel Club granted that recognition, followed in 1933 by the American Kennel Club. The current AKC standard for Bullmastiffs allows for three colors: Red, fawn, or brindle. The foundation breeding is stated as 60% Mastiff and 40% Bulldog. Size for dogs is 25" to 27" at the withers, and 110 to 130 pounds, for bitches it’s 24" to 26" and 100 to 120 pounds. The general appearance is to be symmetrical, showing great strength, endurance and alertness, powerfully built and active. For more details, see "The Official Bullmastiff Standard". For additional information, books and resources about the Bullmastiff, please see our Links & Resources Center, or visit the website of the American Bullmastiff Association. For help in the Pacific Northwest, please visit our CNBC pages. |
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