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GiantWorking Group

Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff was developed in 19th-century England by crossing Mastiffs with Bulldogs to produce a silent-tracking estate guardian for gamekeeping.

Calculate Bullmastiff age
Lifespan10.2 yrrange 9–11
SizeGiantWorking Group
Weight100–130 lb45.4–59 kg
Senior at5 yrgeriatric at 8

Gallery (3)

About

About the Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff was developed in 19th-century England by crossing Mastiffs with Bulldogs to produce a silent-tracking estate guardian for gamekeeping. The breed was AKC-recognized in 1933 and is currently ranked around 50 in US popularity.

Aging

How Bullmastiffs age

RVC VetCompass gives a median 10.2 years (n=3,357). Lymphoma is the defining breed cancer risk — incidence above the canine average in published case series — with GDV and elbow dysplasia (OFA moderate) secondary late-life concerns.

Lifespan deep-diveAvg 10.2 yr · range 9–11Senior careSenior at 5 · geriatric at 8Common health issues9 tracked conditions
Physical

Physical characteristics

Weight
100–130 lb(45.4–59 kg)
Height
24–27 in(61–68.6 cm)
Coat type
Short
Colors
FawnFawn BrindleRedRed BrindleRed FawnRed Fawn Brindle
Temperament

Temperament

How Bullmastiffs tend to show up around their people, other dogs, and the world.

affectionateloyalbravereliable
  • Energy
  • Trainability
  • Good with kids
  • Good with other dogs
  • Shedding
Health

Common health issues

Full health profile
  • Moderatetypical onset ~2 yr

    Elbow Dysplasia

    Description and veterinary guidance for Elbow Dysplasia land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~7 yr

    Cataracts

    Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~1 yr

    Congenital Cardiac Defect

    Description and veterinary guidance for Congenital Cardiac Defect land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Exercise
60min
per day

About 60 minutes of activity per day keeps a Bullmastiff physically and mentally satisfied. Split it between a structured walk and free play.

Related

Related breeds

Breeds with a similar size and group profile, for readers comparing options.

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References

Sources

Lifespan and health figures on this page are drawn from the peer-reviewed and organizational sources below.

  1. AKC breed standardAmerican Kennel Club breed page

    Breed size, weight range, height, AKC group, origin, coat type, and temperament baseline.

  2. RVC VetCompassRoyal Veterinary College VetCompass life-table research (McMillan et al. 2024)

    UK primary-care records; source for the median-lifespan and mortality figures.