Pros And Cons Of Owning A Bullmastiff Dog
Pros And Cons Of Owning A Bullmastiff Dog: Every dog breed has many advantages & disadvantages of its behavior, size, training, and grooming.
Bullmastiff is a massive-sized dog breed that is famous for being alert guards due to their courageous temperament. This muscular dog breed is considered strong, confident, and calm. The origin of Bullmastiffs in the United Kingdom was initially bred by Gamekeepers. Due to this, they were also called Gamekeeper’s night dogs.
Rather than being powerful and fearless, these dogs can become excellent family dogs. But like any other dog breed, they too have some cons. Pros include their temperament and behavioral characteristics, and Cons include some health issues and other things like snoring, drooling, etc. Here we will discuss the Pros and Cons of owning a Bullmastiff dog or the Advantages and Disadvantages of owning a Bullmastiff. By reading this you will realize that “is Bullmastiff the right breed for you?”.
Pros or Advantages of Bullmastiffs
Doesn’t need much Exercising
Just like every other large-size dog breed Bullmastiff also didn’t require much exercising. Bullmastiff is not a very active and agile dog breed so their exercising needs are very low. But it doesn’t mean that they are lazy, they just need some long walks and exercises like fetching to do their workout.
You can exercise your Bullmastiff for around 1 hour a day to keep him fit. So if you didn’t like much exercising and can’t exercise your dog too much then Bullmastiff is the right breed for you.
Calm and Friendly
Although Bullmastiffs have intimidating looks they are quiet and good-natured. If a Bullmastiff is consistently trained and socialized from an early age then no doubt it can be very calm and friendly. Due to their size, many people misunderstood Bullmastiffs as an aggressive dog breed but it is not true.
The aggression in a dog depends upon the upbringing of the dog. If the dog is not trained and socialized properly then he can be aggressive. So the key to making them calm is proper socialization and good training.
Grooming Requirements are less
The coat of the Bullmastiff is short and it doesn’t get dirty easily. The short coat of the Bullmastiff didn’t shed much, so Bullmastiff doesn’t need frequent bathing. Daily brushing of their coat is enough to remove dead hairs from their coat.
You can bathe your Bullmastiff dog once a month or whenever you feel that your dog’s coat is getting dirty.
But the wrinkles of their skin should be cleaned regularly in order to avoid infections because the skin inhabitants like bacteria can grow between their wrinkles. So if you need a dog whose grooming needs are low then Bullmastiff should be the right breed for you.
Protective and Family devoted
The best thing about Bullmastiffs is their protective behavior which makes them good guards. Not only their strength and massive but also their protective temperament make them excellent guard dogs. Bullmastiffs are also devoted to their family members and especially their owners, most of the time they demand personal attention from their owners.
Their family devotion also makes them popular among dog owners. So if you want a dog who can guard you and your house then Bullmastiff is a good breed for you.
Bullmastiffs didn’t bark too much
Most guard dog breeds are known to bark a lot but Bullmastiff is not like these dog breeds. Though Bullmastiffs are very protective and courageous still they are not known for barking too much. They will not bark without any reason like other dog breeds they would only bark whenever it’s necessary.
Usually, they bark at strangers or outsiders and at animals, especially at dogs of the same sex. Excessive Barking of Bullmastiffs is the result of improper socialization. If you need a dog that would not make much noise then Bullmastiff may be the right breed for you.
Low shedding
Due to their short coat, Bullmastiffs didn’t shed much. Many people did not want to own a dog because only for a reason that their house will become dirty from the hairs of the dog. So Bullmastiff may be good for them.
They shed moderately once a year and to control shedding in them regular brushing is good or you can also use a de-shedding tool like Furminator on them.
Cons or Disadvantages of Bullmastiff
Health Concerns
One of the main concerns of having a Bullmastiff is that they are prone to many diseases like any other large-sized dog breed. The Veterinary expense of Bullmastiffs is usually high. To avoid health problems in Bullmastiffs they should be exercised daily and should be taken to the vet monthly for health checkups.
The weight of Bullmastiffs should also be checked because they can get easily overweighed due to their habit of overeating. So their diet should be monitored carefully. This habit can cause health problems like Gastric torsion or Bloat.
The most common health issue found in Bullmastiffs is Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, to which many large-size dog breeds are prone. other health problems found in Bullmastiffs are Arthritis Pulmonic stenosis, Cystinuria, Hypothyroidism, Entropion & Lymphoma.
Need for Socialization
Bullmastiff is considered calm and friendly dogs but sometimes due to their protective behavior, they become aggressive. They often show aggression towards small animals like cats, other dogs, and strangers.
To avoid aggression in them they should be socialized from an early age and should be taken outdoors for playing, walking, or exercise. Socialization plays an important role in determining your dog’s behavior.
Drooling
Due to the structure of their mouth Bullmastiffs cannot hold saliva in their mouth which makes them drool. Bullmastiffs are heavy droolers which usually drool in the anticipation of food.
They also drool while eating, getting excited, drinking, and barking. We have counted it in cons because some people find it unhygienic however it’s natural.
Extra space requirement
Though due to their moderate energy level Bullmastiff can adjust in normal size apartments but due to their massive size, they still need some space. They need an open space like a backyard to roam freely.
If you have a normal size house then you should take your Bullmastiff outside for long walks and exercise for the consumption of their energy.
Can adopt lazy behavior
Some Bullmastiffs often adopt lazy behavior which is not good for their health. It can cause them to become overweighed and can cause health issues like Bloat.
Once your dog has become lazy then it will become very difficult to train him. To avoid laziness Bullmastiffs should be trained consistently from an early age.
Not for too small kids
Bullmastiffs are regarded as calm dog breeds which are usually good for kids but due to their massive size and heavy weight, they are still not good for small kids.
They can harm small children unintentionally because a small child didn’t know how to behave with dogs. You should only adopt Bullmastiff if you didn’t have small kids, especially babies in your house.
Aggressive due to Overprotective behavior
Bullmastiffs are believed to be a good guard dog breed due to their protective and loyal behavior. But they often become overprotective which causes aggression in them.
As mentioned earlier they usually become aggressive toward other dogs and strangers. To avoid aggression and overprotective behavior they should be socialized properly from an early age.
Respiratory Noises
Bullmastiffs are also known for making crazy respiratory sounds like Snoring, wheezing, grunting, and snuffling. Almost all Bullmastiff makes such sounds.
You should own a Bullmastiff if you want a dog that would –
- Large and muscular
- Good Guard or Watchdog
- Not require too much exercising
- Calm and Confident
- Not bark much
- Not require frequent grooming
- Be loyal and devoted to the owner
- Shed less
You shouldn’t own a Bullmastiff if you want a dog that would-
- Be very active
- Be of normal or small-sized
- Not require much space
- Have a dense coat
- Be Aggressive
- Be a good lap dog
