Bullmastiffs

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doglover4ever
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 5:42 am

Bullmastiffs

Post by doglover4ever »

Hi

I am enquiring on behalf of my sister she has like me and my husband she has been researching for the past 3yrs what breed would be right for her as she has had a promotion and is now the manger of her own company and can start and finish work when she pleases so the new puppy would never be alone and she would take the dog to work with her.

however she decided in 2013 on the bullmastiff as she fell in love with the breed and has met tons of them both at breed only shows and crufts and discover dogs and has also visited local breeders to see the bullmastiff in the home. she is 100% certain it is the breed for her and has spent the whole of 2014 researching the breed. she told us last week that she has put a deposit down on a puppy and had already met the mom and breeder before the mating took place and she has done all the checks and question's and when the breeder contacted her to let her now a mating had taken place she was thrilled and last week when she came round she told us that the pups are 4 weeks and she had put a deposit down. she is overjoyed however she was reading an article online on a celeb that she likes and at the side found this article about bullmastiffs http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -care.html ,http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... stiff.html, http://blog.dogsbite.org/2010/02/bullma ... owner.html, http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ow ... ed-2138581 and is now worried. she knows it is most properly the owners fault but its the amount of articles she has found since I have included 4 links to some that she has read . I wanted to ask are Bullmastiff a dangerous dog. I think she is worried over nothing and is allowing the media to change her mind on a breed she loves and it has really upset.

she was planning on going to training class's and get a one-one trainer as well if she needed help and she can provide the exercise needed. she lives alone and has no kids and done not intend to have any kids. if there not dangerous (which I don't think they are there are only dangerous owners) then why are so many in the media who have attacked people and even there own owners (I think that's what she is worried about if she trains and exercise's her physically and mentally and if it then attacked her).

I would be very greatful for any help or advice given.
Erica
Posts: 2697
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:35 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Bullmastiffs

Post by Erica »

If the dog comes from a breeder who is careful about temperament, then I would feel fine with having the dog around. They are large, and so training must begin young so they don't learn to pull you around wherever they want, but with reward-based training and a knowledgeable and/or dedicated owner, there shouldn't be an issue. :) There is a small chance of some medical issue popping up and changing the dog's temperament, but that is a possibility with any dog.

If you cross off every breed that has attacked somebody, you wouldn't have any dogs left! The only dog I've been attacked by was a Cocker Spaniel, but many people have children around Cockers and have no issues. (This dog was not from a responsible breeder and did not have knowledgeable owners - while Cockers aren't a breed for me, I don't hold it against them all.)

The dogsbite website is frankly terrible - they aren't a reliable source at all. I wouldn't listen to anything they say!
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
doglover4ever
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 5:42 am

Re: Bullmastiffs

Post by doglover4ever »

Hi Erica

thanks for your reply. it will really help her. she knows a lot about the breed and is very dedicated.

could explain what you meant by a small chance of change of temperament/ medical issues. as I am going to show her the reply's on here so she believes me and can see for her self. so thought I would ask as I know she would.

I look forward to hearing from others.
Erica
Posts: 2697
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:35 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Bullmastiffs

Post by Erica »

Things like brain tumors or lesions, pain from arthritis/internal conditions, or changes in organ function may cause the dog pain or change how their brain works. I am not a vet so I don't really know details, but sudden aggression is very rare. If it's a concern, I'd suggest they ask a vet about it. It's a tiny chance, but the chance is there so I felt it should be mentioned.
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
delladooo
Posts: 763
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2014 4:53 am
Location: Blackpool, UK

Re: Bullmastiffs

Post by delladooo »

As Erica said, any dog has the potential to do harm. I think that so long as you're careful about finding the right dog and then putting all the work in to raising the dog properly then you're going to be fine. All dogs have their quirks but I can't think of any breed that is out-and-out a danger to humans by nature for no reason. Bullmastiffs were, to my knowledge, guarders so that will inevitably lead to a certain wariness around strangers but that wouldn't make them an attack danger if taught appropriately. I think it's just about knowing your breed and specifically your dog to have the best relationship you can and have a dog being the best they can be
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Nettle
Posts: 10753
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:40 pm

Re: Bullmastiffs

Post by Nettle »

I agree withthe others. Remind your sister that newspaper articles have to be sensationalist to sell the papers, and there is very little in the way of truth in any of them.

She has done her research, sourced a good pup from a good breeder, satisfied herself about everything and prepared for the future.

The only caveat I would add is to respect the dog in that she should not let children or adults goad it, pull it around, disrespect it in any way. If you look at the history of any dog attack incident, there is a whole lot of abuse behind it. Attacks aren't breed-specific - they are abuse-specific.
A dog is never bad or naughty - it is simply being a dog

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JudyN
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Re: Bullmastiffs

Post by JudyN »

It would be wise for her to ensure that the dog is well socialised with children, though. My dog didn't meet many when he was a pup and finds them quite scary now - I wouldn't trust him if a child ran up and tried to hug him and it's surprising how many parents let this happen. So she might want to sit outside a school at coming-home time and allow children to interact, in a controlled, managed way, with the pup.

(This would apply to any breed, of course - but if things do go wrong with a large breed, they can do more damage than a small breed.)
Jasper, lurcher, born December 2009
doglover4ever
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 5:42 am

Re: Bullmastiffs

Post by doglover4ever »

Hello

thank you so much for all your help and she has read the replies and is looking forward to becoming a bullmastiff mom.
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