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Can you tell the difference between a Bull Mastiff and an English Mastiff? They may look similar and share a common background, but they are bred for different purposes.
Let’s dive into how Bullmastiff differs from English Mastiff.
Bullmastiff vs British Mastiff: Quick Summary
| Bull Mastiff | British Mastiff | |
|---|---|---|
| size | Up to 27 inches and 130 lbs | 30 inches or more, up to 230 lbs |
| life | 7-9 years old | 6-10 years |
| vitality | Average | low |
| healthy | Average | Average |
What is a Bull Mastiff?
The Bullmastiff is a large working dog bred to hunt down poachers on the lands of the British aristocracy. They can weigh up to 130 pounds.
Bull Mastiff History
Bullmastiffs were bred in mid to late ’19th Century hunts and pinches down poachers on lands owned by the British aristocracy.gamekeeper wanted more aggressive dog Larger than English Mastiffs and Bulldogs. Ultimately, they settled on one breed, 60% mastiff and 40% bulldog.
Bullmastiff lives with the gamekeeper’s family and works with the gamekeeper to keep poachers in peace. Nicknamed the “gamekeeper’s night dog”, Bullmastiffs are displayed in competitions to determine which gamekeeper has the best specimens.
As poaching declined, bull mastiffs were repurposed as guard dogs.
Bull Mastiff Appearance
Bullmastiffs are a large breed, standing 24 inches to 27 inches tall and weighing up to 130 pounds. Their fur is short and usually brindle, fawn, or red. They also usually have a black mask (muzzle).
Thanks to their bulldog ancestry, their muzzle is shorter than other mastiff breeds. Like other mastiffs, they have large, fluffy lips and are prone to drooling.
Bull Mastiff Character
Bullmastiffs are quiet, intelligent, and friendly, unless they feel that someone is threatening their family. For large dogs, their energy levels are moderate. As long as they take a few walks a day, they’ll be happy to be puppies for the rest of the day.
Since they are bred to guard their homes somewhat independently, they are less prone to separation anxiety than other breeds. If you don’t leave them outside (they are prone to heat stroke), you can leave them alone at work.
Bullmastiffs are well socialized as puppies and are great with children. However, no dog should be left alone with small children.
Bullmastiff Health
Sadly, Bullmastiffs are prone to various health problems that cause them to live only 7-9 years. Some of the health problems they are prone to include:
- hip or elbow dysplasia – Painful joint deformities
- entropy – A condition where the eyelids roll inward, irritating the eyes
- Hypothyroidism – hypothyroidism
- cystinuria – Common causes of kidney or bladder stones
- swell – Life-threatening when the stomach fills with air and twists on its axis
- cancer – Including osteosarcoma, lymphosarcoma, angiosarcoma, mast cell tumor
- torn ACL – A common knee injury that may require surgery
- skin problems – such as sores, rashes or irritations
What is an English Mastiff?
The English Mastiff is a close relative of the ancient mastiff breeds, which have been around for at least 5,000 years.The English Mastiff is one of the heaviest and heaviest mastiffs largest dog breed And can weigh over 200 pounds. The heaviest dog on record was an English mastiff named Zorba at 323 pounds.
English Mastiff History
The mastiff breed has long been used as a fighting dog. When Julius Caesar brought English mastiffs to Rome in 55 BC, they were used as gym entertainment. Mastiffs fight gladiators and other ferocious beasts.
The English Mastiff as we know it today was developed in medieval England to hunt big game, guard large estates and go to war. Although some people still use them as guard dogs, their calm nature Make them a great family pet.
English Mastiff Appearance
The English Mastiff is a huge dog. It’s 30 inches tall and weighs over 220 pounds. Their short coat comes in only 3 colors: apricot, brindle and fawn. They always wear black masks.
English Mastiff Character
The English Mastiff is a calm, friendly dog who will protect his family from any perceived threat. Mastiffs will even intervene between bickering couples or parents who punish their children.
The English Mastiff has low exercise needs and can do well in an apartment – if it’s big enough to accommodate a dog’s size. Many apartment complexes have size restrictions on dogs, so be sure to check the rules before taking your English mastiff home.
English Mastiff Health
Like the Bullmastiff, English Mastiffs are prone to a variety of health problems, including:
- hip dysplasia – Painful condition in which the thighbone does not fit properly into the acetabulum
- Seizures – This can be scary, but can usually be treated with medication
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) – an eye disease that causes blindness
- swell – A fatal condition where the dog’s stomach fills with air and spins
- cystinuria – Disorders that cause kidney or bladder stones
- cancer – especially bone cancer
Bullmastiff vs English Mastiff: Key Differences
Let’s talk more about the difference between Bullmastiff and English Mastiff.
size difference
The biggest difference between the Bullmastiff and the English Mastiff is their size. The Bullmastiff weighs about 130 pounds, while the English Mastiff can weigh over 220 pounds.
personality difference
Bullmastiffs and English Mastiffs have similar personalities. They all love their families and will protect them when necessary. However, Bullmastiff tend to have more energy and can be more territorial.
Both breeds require a lot of socialization and training from an early age. Due to their size, obedience and friendliness are more important than smaller breeds.
Comparison of exercise requirements
The English Mastiff is happy to be a giant puppy with several walks a day. Bullmastiffs have more energy than English Mastiffs but are still satisfied with a few walks. They don’t have as much energy as many hound or collie breeds.
Health Differences Between English Mastiffs and Bullmastiffs
English Mastiffs and Bull Mastiffs are similar in health. With an average lifespan of up to 10 years, English Mastiffs have slightly fewer common health problems than Bullmastiffs.
We’ve written more about How long do English mastiffs live here?.
cost comparison
Because English Mastiffs are more popular than Bullmastiffs, breeders charge more for puppies.
Due to their large size, English Mastiffs will eat more food than Bull Mastiffs during their lifetime. However, Bullmastiffs may have more health problems than English Mastiffs.
If there is no health factor, English Mastiffs are more expensive than Bull Mastiffs throughout their life.
Other Mastiff Breeds
Since the Mastiff is an ancient dog breed, there are different breeds all over the world. Below are some of the most common mastiff breeds.
1. Neapolitan Mastiff
Also known as Mastino, Neapolitan Mastiff from Italy. You can recognize Neapolitan Mastiffs by their large, wrinkled, saggy faces. In terms of size, Mastiffs are larger than Bull Mastiffs but smaller than English Mastiffs.
Males can weigh up to 150 pounds. The average lifespan is 7-9 years.
2. Tibetan Mastiff
Due to their thick coat, some may mistake this dog for a giant Chow Chow. Developed in the Himalayas, this is probably the oldest mastiff breed.
Tibetan Mastiff Weighing up to 150 pounds, the lifespan is astonishingly long – 10-12 years for this large breed.
3. Great Dane
Although the Great Dane is leaner than most other mastiff breeds, they share the same molosser ancestry. The Great Dane is the tallest dog breed at 32 inches at the shoulder.
This Great Dane Lifespan Are 7-10 years old and they can weigh up to 175 pounds.
4. Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff)
This dog is older than the country of France. Interestingly, of all dog breeds, the Bordeaux also has the largest head.
The Dogue de Bordeaux has an average lifespan of only 5-8 years and weighs 110 pounds.
5. How tall is Argentina
This Argentine Mastiff hunts big game like cougars, wild boars and wild boars in packs. 100 pounds on top, Dogo Argentina The average life expectancy is 9-15 years.
Dogo Argentinos are often mistaken for pit bulls, especially because their ears are traditionally clipped off.
6. Cane Corso
This Cane Corso Has a different history as a war dog, hunter, livestock breeder, farmer and guard dog. They were nearly extinct when modern farming equipment took over, but they are becoming popular family dogs.
This Italian Mastiff has a lifespan of 9-12 years and can reach a height of 27.5 inches.
7. Boerboel (South African Mastiff)
Boerboel weighs 200 pounds and was raised to protect farmers in South Africa. They are big and ferocious enough to chase or hunt wild animals as intimidating as lions.
However, they were gentle with their families and pledged to protect them.
English Mastiff vs Bull Mastiff: Which Breed Is Best?
As you can see, there are many similarities between the Bullmastiff and the English Mastiff. Their size is the biggest difference between the two breeds, the English Mastiff is 100 pounds heavier than the Bull Mastiff.
Neither breed is inherently better than the other. It’s just a matter of which breed is right for your family – literally!
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