How the Bullmastiff breed originated
The Bullmastiff breed is a
combination of the Mastiff (40%)
and the Bulldog (60%).
England is the country where this breed was created. It happened in
the mid-1800s. It is interesting fact that Bullmastiff is the only
guarding breed which originated in England.
Breeders decided to create the same guard dog, as a mastiff, but
more mobile and dexterous as a bulldog. They mixed blood of a
bulldog (which is strong, persistent, imperturbable, courageous,
silent and full of self-esteem) and a mastiff (which is massive,
mighty, reliable, proud and extremely courageous) and there was
created a bullmastiff. It was found that these dogs (metises of
mastiffs, bulldogs and hounds) possess an excellent scent and
capable to distinguish 500 shades of smells. It is pity that the
natural scent of bullmastiffs is still undervalued. It is claimed
that this breed's scent is perfect
to search drugs, explosives and people who got in blockages of
houses and mines.
The first bullmastiffs were extremely aggressive, spiteful and
stubborn. They were very dangerous dogs. The owner of such a dog
should have had strong character and huge physical force.
Bullmastiff was bred by gamekeepers in order to protect game in the
estates. The bullmastiff breed perfectly served the needs of
gamekeepers. The dog could easily track down a man in the forest
even at the darkest night. It worked very quiet, practically
noiseless, and, when the dog approached close enough it sprang to a
hard charge, knocking the man down and holding him there until the
gamekeeper came. This breed did its job pretty well.
Today this breed is widespread in America, Europe, the Asian
countries, in Russia and is very popular among fans of reliable
guard dogs. Bullmastiffs are also popular in Kenya, Kimberley
(Republic of South Africa), etc.
World celebrities like Silvestre Stallone, Jean Claude Vandamme,
Madonna, Adriano Celentano own Bullmastiffs.
The Bullmastiff was officially
recognized as a breed in 1924.