Nightquest Bullmastiffs

THE BULLMASTIFF:

Description: The original Bullmastiff was developed by game keepers to assist them in
tackling poachers during the later part of the 19th century. To survive in country areas, poaching
became rife despite the knowledge that if caught, penalties would be excessively harsh. The
composition is 60% Mastiff and 40% Bulldog, producing a dog of size, courage, spirit and
determination, capable of moving at good speed over comparatively short distances, plus a good
nose and silence when on the trail. The Bullmastiff was not designed with attack and defence in
mind, but as a holding dog to knock down the poachers, fend off their dogs and hold them at
bay until the game keeper could approach and apprehend them.

The bullmastiff is a powerfully built, symmetrical dog showing great strength. His temperament
combines high spirits reliability, activity, endurance and alertness. The Bullmastiff is a natural
guardian of the home and family.

Height: Male Bullmastiffs range from 25 inches to 27 inches. Female Bullmastiffs range from
24 inches to 26 inches. Measured at the shoulder.

Weight: Male Bullmastiffs range 50 to 59Kg. Female Bullmastiffs range from 41 to 50kg.

Colours: Bullmastiffs are usually shades of brindle, fawn or red.

Coat: Bullmastiffs have a short and dense coat, which requires minimal brushing.

Temperament: The Bullmastiff is a protective and alert dog who makes a good watchdog.
High-spirited and loyal, the Bullmastiff loves human attention and is devoted to its family.

Health Concerns: The Bullmastiff is susceptible to hip dysplasia, cancer, eyelid problems,
and gastric torsion.
For this reason it is important to purchase a bullmastiff from a trusted, registered breeder who
has their dogs hip and elbow x-rayed.

Life Expectancy: The expected life span of the Bullmastiff is 8-10 years.

Living Environment: As the bullmastiff was developed to guard estates, Bullmastiffs should
be kept in a house with a fenced yard. It should be excellent fencing being both high and solid.

Ideal Owners: Family/People who are willing to continually socialize and take their Bullmastiff
to obedience. This is a guarding breed and needs constant and continual interaction with people
and other dogs. This dog definitely needs to know his boundaries and his status within the
household.

The owners need to allow this dog to realise he is not top dog when it comes to his family. The
owners should always be the pack leader in the dog eyes. This is easily achieved by adhering to
the above advise. This is not a breed to leave in the backyard. The owner of a Bullmastiff should be
a firm and confident leader who understands the power of this dog breed.

This dog is good with children when raised with them as a pup. Be aware though that an adult
Bullmastiff will need to get used to children slowly and positively when being introduced at a later
stage of life. It is always a great idea to have a separate area where you can lock your dog away
from the children when they are outside playing so they can't rough house each other. This is also
a great way for family friends and other children to feel at ease when at your house.

BULLMASTIFF BREED STANDARD:

General appearance: Powerful build, symmetrical, showing great strength, but not
cumbersome; sound and active.

Characteristics: Powerful, enduring, active and reliable.

Temperament: High spirited, alert and faithful.

Head and Skull: Skull large and square, viewed from every angle, fair wrinkle when
interested, but not when in repose. Circumference of skull may equal height of dog measured
at top of shoulder; broad and deep with well filled cheeks. Pronounced stop. Muzzle short;
distance from tip of nose to stop approximately one third of length from tip of nose to centre of
occiput, broad under eyes and sustaining nearly same width to end of nose; blunt and cut off
square, forming right angle with upper line of face, and at same time proportionate with skull.
Underjaw broad to end. Nose broad with widely spreading nostrils; flat, neither pointed nor
turned up in profile. Flews not pendulous, never hanging below level of lower jaw.

Eyes: Dark or hazel, of medium size, set apart the width of muzzle with furrow between.
Light or yellow eyes highly undesirable.

Ears: V-shaped, folded back, set on wide and high, level of occiput giving square
appearance to skull which is most important. Small and deeper in colour than body. Point of
ear level with eye when alert. Rose ears highly undesirable.

Mouth: Level desired but slightly undershot allowed but not preferred. Canine teeth large and
set wide apart, other teeth strong, even and well placed.

Neck: Well-arched, moderate length, very muscular and almost equal to the skull in
circumference.

Forequarters: Chest, wide and deep, well let down between forelegs, with deep brisket.
Shoulders muscular, sloping and powerful, not overloaded. Forelegs powerful and straight,
well boned, set wide apart, presenting a straight front. Pasterns straight and strong.

Body: Back short and straight, giving compact carriage, but not so short as to interfere with
activity. Roach and sway backs highly undesirable.

Hindquarters: Loins wide and muscular with fair depth of flank. Hindlegs strong and
muscular, with well developed second thighs, denoting power and activity, not cumbersome.
Hocks moderately bent. Cow hocks highly undesirable.

Feet: Well arched, cat like, with rounded toes, pads hard. Dark toe nails desirable. Splayed
feet highly undesirable.

Tail: Set high, strong at root and tapering, reaching to hocks, carried straight or curved, but
not hound fashion. Crank tails highly undesirable.

Gait/Movement: Movement indicates power and sense of purpose. When moving straight
neither front nor hind legs should cross or plait, right front and left rear leg rising and falling
at same time. A firm backline unimpaired by powerful thrust from hindlegs denoting a balanced
and harmonious movement.

Coat: Short and hard, weather resistant, lying flat to body. Long, silky or woolly coats highly
undesirable.

Colour: Any shade of brindle, fawn or red; colour to be pure and clear. A slight white
marking on chest permissible. Other white markings undesirable. Black muzzle essential,
toning off towards eyes, with dark markings around eyes contributing to expression.

Size: Height: Dogs 63.5-68.5 cms (25-27 ins) at shoulder; Bitches 61-66 cms (24-26 ins) at
shoulder.
Weight: Dogs 50-59 kg (110-130 lbs); Bitches 41-50 kg (90-110 lbs).

Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the
seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the
scrotum.

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