The Bullmastiff is a stately and noble-looking animal, and this carries over into their demeanor. Bullmastiffs are confident and alert, always on the watch for any threats to their family. However, when they are relaxed and with their chosen humans, they tend to be happy-go-lucky dogs who love to show their affection. 

They’re loyal and devoted to their owners, and most Bullmastiffs have lovable, happy personalities. They generally aren’t aggressive, despite their size and power – they weren’t meant to attack people or other animals, only to hold down criminals. They’re also exceedingly quiet dogs and are able to sneak up on their owners if the mood strikes them. 

However, if a Bullmastiff senses danger to their family, they will not hesitate to sound the alarm and bravely confront an intruder. A well-trained and well-socialized Bullmastiff is not only an excellent guardian, they are also excellent family pets who bond deeply with their humans and want to be included in all family activities. 

The Bullmastiff may be large and well-muscled, but they’re not excessively energetic. They were meant to sit silently and watch over their owner’s property, not work throughout the day. However, they still need physical exercise to stay fit and healthy. Most Bullmastiffs will only need around 30 to 45 minutes of exercise per day. 

A daily walk or light jog with some off-leash time in a secure yard is plenty of exercise for a Bullmastiff. This exercise is important to keep your Bullmastiff from getting bored and overweight. 

One thing to watch out for with the Bullmastiff is the potential for heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Their short snout means they cannot cool down as efficiently as other dogs, and an owner may need to restrict their play time to the cooler times of the day. 

Bullmastiffs are easy to groom, as they have a short, dense coat. This coat sheds constantly throughout the year, but is otherwise low maintenance. The main challenge is the sheer size of the Bullmastiff – they’re big dogs, so they will shed a lot more than smaller breeds.

Bullmastiffs only need to be brushed around once a week. They will shed more during spring and fall as the seasons change, so they may need more frequent brushing during those times. 

Most owners will only bathe their Bullmastiff when the dog gets particularly dirty. Bullmastiffs don’t need very frequent bathing, with many going two to three months in between baths. One area of concern is their floppy ears, as these may serve as breeding grounds for bacteria. Be careful to clean and dry their ears very well if you bathe them. 

Tooth brushing should be done daily, if possible. Regular tooth brushing will help protect your dog’s teeth and gums and prevent dental issues that may develop into larger medical problems later on. Nail trimming once or twice a month is usually sufficient for most Bullmastiffs. 

Because Bullmastiff are an extra large breed dog, they need an owner who is experienced and knowledgeable about proper obedience training. Dogs this size may inadvertently cause harm during play. They are heavy enough to knock over people without meaning to, or knock over furniture if they get excited. 

A Bullmastiff should begin training very early while they are easy to direct and restrain. It is much easier to teach a Bullmastiff while they are a puppy as opposed to when they are an adult. They grow very quickly, and can be very heavy and powerful even at 4 or 5 months old. 

Most Bullmastiffs are very biddable and excel with patient and calm training. They are sensitive to their owner’s moods and do not respond well to harsh reprimands or punishments. Positive reinforcement is the most effective method to get your Bullmastiff to do what you want.  

Bullmastiffs do not always get along well with other dogs or other animals, but with early training and introductions, they can be taught to coexist peacefully. 

Bullmastiffs can normally live up to 7 to 9 years old. Bullmastiffs may be prone to:

• Entropion – a eye condition in which the dog’s eyelid rolls inward or outward, causing a number of eye issues
• Hip dysplasia – a malformation of the hip joint where the ball and socket do not fit together properly, leading to pain and weakness in the rear legs
• Gastric dilatation-volvulus – also known as GDV or “bloat”, this is a life-threatening condition caused by the twisting of the stomach after eating too quickly

Bullmastiffs are large dogs that stand between 25 to 27 inches for males, and 24 to 26 for females. Adult male Bullmastiffs can weigh between 110 and 130 pounds, while females will weigh between 100 to 120 pounds. 

The energy levels of Bullmastiffs mean they don’t actually need too much space to run around. They do appreciate off-leash play, but they are low-intensity dogs for the most part. As a result, they are actually able to adapt to apartment living despite their size.

While they were originally guard dogs, they’re now used more as companion animals, and most Bullmastiffs need a lot of attention from their human family members. They love to be involved in all family activities and will prefer to sleep inside the house. Their short coat does little to protect them from the elements, so they don’t do well as outdoor dogs.