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Hound Handbook
Breed profile

Bullmastiff

A powerful English guard dog bred to stop poachers. Devoted and gentle with family, wary of strangers, and a heavy drooler.

A fawn Bullmastiff with a dark muzzle standing side-on in a snowy forest
Young Bullmastiff in snowPhoto: Corpusdigitalis (FHvB) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
Weight
41–59 kg90–130 lb
Height
61–69 cm24–27 in
Lifespan
8–10 yrs
Group
Working
Origin
England
Popularity
#78 US#92 UK · 2025

Known for: WatchdogsLow grooming

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Devoted, Protective, Calm, Headstrong.

Health problems to know about

Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breed. Veterinary organisations in several countries urge buyers to choose dogs with longer muzzles or health-tested parents, because breathing problems are common and can be severe.

  • Cancers, especially lymphoma and mast cell tumours
  • Bloat (GDV)
  • Hip and elbow dysplasia
  • Entropion and ectropion
  • Breathing problems (BOAS)

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Daily walks split through the day with time in a secure area, but no hard exercise in heat or for growing puppies. A weekly brush covers the short coat; keep a cloth handy for drool and keep facial folds clean and dry. Start socialisation early.

A good fit for

Experienced owners with space, adult homes or families with older children, people who want a calm, watchful companion.

Probably not ideal for

Homes with small pets, hot climates, long days alone, anyone unprepared for a short lifespan and giant-breed vet bills.

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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