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Anyone got pics of their bullmastiffs?

Primehns

Well-Known Member
Yeah just thought I'd ask to see some pics from puppyhood to adulthood, really interested in the breed, just some questions, how dominant can they be with other dogs? How card can they pull you on leash? ( weird question hehehe) and really I just want to see them in adulthood. Thank you, hope you share some info.
 

AKBull

Super Moderator
Staff member
K thank you, by the way your dog in your dp is amazing.

Why thank you! :) I looked long and hard for a specific look (and health testing of course), and once found and shipped, have been happy ever since.

"How dominant can they be with other dogs".
Well... In my experience, very. With my previous female, any other dogs besides the EM she lived with were dog meat. I could attribute this to lack of socialization at a young age. I got her when she was 6 months old from a lady going through a divorce. She was to be the companion to my 8 month old EM. And they got along fabulously... Once she laid the ground rules that is. Other than their companionship, they didn't get a lot of other dog socialization. But at the times they did meet other dogs, the EM was giddy, for her... It was murdering time. You have to know, I was nowhere near as "knowledgeable" as I am now. And by knowledge, I mean to say have a clue. I thought she was just this "alpha female", some queen bitch, and this was the way she was always going to be and to just accept it. When in truth, I should have called a pro to help us out... Anyway. Other than that "little" issue, was an absolute treat.
Now my current boy, Junior... He came to me at 13 weeks. I think... Might be 14. After he was vet cleared to meet other dogs, we went to the off leash park daily. Rain, wind, snow or whatever. We went. He loved everyone, everything, life was a big freaking party... and he lived it up. Few not so great incidents with other dogs here and there (none were his fault), still no worries. He loved other dogs more than people. People would try to love on them, if they didn't have their dog near, forget about it. "Yeah hi, hi, where is your dog?" Things went like this until he hit around a year. Major fight at the lake portion of the park... Okay, no more lake. Major fight in the swap section of the park... Okay, no more swap. I was learning to read his body language at this point. I could head off most of the fight before they started. Until the last time we went to the park... Do dee doo, walking along the trail. Some nice gal and her young, (yearish)male Irish setter came from a side path. I'm watching Junior, he stops, stares at the dog (who is about 10 feet in front of us), wags his tail a little, and totally charges, takes down and pretty much tries to mess him up. I race over, screaming, trying to separate them. The gal was trying to get her arm in between... So now I'm trying to separate them AND push her out of the way so she doesn't get bit... I got Junior into a down position, and she cradled her dog, all of us on either side of the trail. "He's a monster!!"... So that was our last time at the park. Quick point, he only goes after large males. Females could kick his ass all day long, and he still follows them smiling. Small males, sure, lets run and play! "You're a French bulldog?? Lets be BFFs!" Last nail in the coffin (and what finally confirmed his detest for big males), ex wife rescued an adult EM to add to her female EM. "Bring Junior over to meet him!"... We got over there, let Junior play with the female in the yard, and then she blindsided me by letting the male out when I wasn't looking... I'll get more into how strong, and fast they are after this bit. Junior saw the dog (before I did) took after him, knocked him to the ground, and yes, tried to eat him. So. That was that. And when I say eat, it could have been just a dominance thing, but he hit that dog HARD, you heard the thud. Well, you can image, 130lbs smacking into the side of 180lbs at full speed.

"How hard can they pull you on a leash?"
If you want to extend the length of your arm, they could do it. Ideally you would train to walk on a loose leash, heal, etc. You don't really want them to pull. But if they get a scent of something that they HAVE TO SMELL... You're going with them. Previous and current would pull here and there, but it was a normal pull. Normal compared to, say, a lab, and a BM is quite different. They'd all feel the same pressure on the collar, but you'll feel the difference. Leash manners also encompass more than just training. Got balls? "I must smell and mark on everything". Sure you teach "Leave it... Leave it.. Leave it.." And after awhile you'll get the FU I'm peeing on that sumbitch. I'm not an iron fist kinda owner, so I'm sure it's my fault that I let him get away with it. I'm also a fairly big guy and can muscle him around when need be. Now if my wife would take him for a walk? Naw, that probably wouldn't go so well. I'm comfortable with the way things are, and that's what works for me. You want better manners? Put in more training, otherwise they will walk all over you. Or pull you everywhere.
LOL, I'm making it sound like he's completely untrained. He is trained.

Now my question to you. Do you like pig headed stubbornness? Get a male. Want one that will more than likely aim to make you happy? Get female. Want one that will try to learn calculus to get a cookie? Either one would do.
 

AKBull

Super Moderator
Staff member
Forgot to mention. They are absolute powerhouses. I call them "midget bodybuilders". And in short sprints they can keep up with most. When they tackle something (which they were bred to do) they don't slow down, they'll knock whatever it is over, or if they can't do that, will wrap their arms around it to drag it down. Junior has knocked over a massive Saint Bernard, of course the ex's EM, a Great Dane, and then proceeded to drag down the Great Danes girlfriend... It wasn't pretty.
 

Primehns

Well-Known Member
image.jpgSo any pics? And I feel you. I thought bullmastiffs were wuss's in the mastiff world, and the presa, corso, boerboel, fila, tosa, were dominant. Wow that changed my who perspective, and makes me go " I want one". Would love to get a big male, that isn't fat but big, drought to be massive, but healthy and live a long life. Wow man that's really awesome I'm 6"3 220lbs so the pulling wouldn't be too bad, my golden retriever pulls like a king though hahah he dwarfs other goldens. This is him. image.jpgimage.jpg
 

AKBull

Super Moderator
Staff member
Pics are in my second post here. Mastiff Forum

I'm about the same dimensions. Few more LB's :eek:

About all the different types and their temperaments. I'm only going by my experience. I didn't mean to make Junior sound like some big badass or anything. He is who he is, and he did what he did. I'd still love him even if he was the biggest puss on the planet. As long as he looked good being a sissy. Haha
 

Primehns

Well-Known Member
Did you get my pics, or am I uploading them wrong and yeah junior sounds like such a badass, in a good way of course. What's his weight and height if I may ask, because he is stunning.
 

AKBull

Super Moderator
Staff member
Oh yeah, I saw them, sorry. Hard to gauge size with no reference! Haha Good looking boy.

Junior's got to be around 135 at the least. Last weigh in was 6 months ago and he was around 130. Both of his parents were 150 (moms after puppy weight though), and his dad was solid. Can't give a height right this second... He laying in front of the fan cooling off after our walk.

2013-06-26_21-00-20_626.jpg
 

Primehns

Well-Known Member
This makes me want to get a bullmastiff, do you crate train him? I personally don't believe in it, and thinks it stresses the dog out. Or is he just a free roamer when your not home at times. And Is he neutered?
 

AKBull

Super Moderator
Staff member
Oh crate training all the way! Initially it takes a little work for them to get used to the idea, but it's totally worth it. Junior just likes to chill in there from time to time with the door open, it's his peaceful place. Also, pizza guy at the door? "Kennel", done. There are a 100 instances when it's a good idea to have them kennel trained. Using it as a punishment is the only time it might stress them out.
He's free to roam NOW, but it's not always been that way. Just ask my wife's shoes why... And no, he's not neutered.
 
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Smart_Family

Dog Food Guru
Oh crate training all the way! Initially it takes a little work for them to get used to the idea, but it's totally worth it. Junior just likes to chill in there from time to time with the door open, it's his peaceful place. Also, pizza guy at the door? "Kennel", done. There are a 100 instances when it's a good idea to have them kennel trained. Using it as a punishment is the only time it might stress them out.
He's free to roam NOW, but it's not always been that way. Just ask my wife's shoes why... And no, he's not neutered.

Yep there's many scenarios where the dog will have to be crated (vet, hotel, flying, etc) and we want people to see our dogs as well behaved big dogs. If a mastiff isn't crate trained they are going to freak out in these instances and most people don't take kindly to 100+ lb dogs freaking out.
 

Primehns

Well-Known Member
Yeah but dogs being pack animals in a crate, is weird. But yeah I get what you mean, but I just let my dogs in the back, but mostly they just chill with me indoors. I wouldn't think a 130lb dog would need a crate to feel safe, I read somewhere that crates actually don't make a dog feel safe but just is annoying. But it's probably just me, my cousin crated his dog for 20 hours a day in the winter, everyday so I don't like crates, the dog went back to the rescue, at a no kill. So hes back to his foster home, and is living with his brother. Yeah crates are weird to me because of that, I forced my cousin to either get rid of the crate or the dog so it's all good.
 

Smart_Family

Dog Food Guru
Most people don't crate their dogs for 20 hours a day. Many dogs appreciate the den like quality of the crate and will voluntarily go there to take a break when they need it.
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
If a mastiff isn't crate trained they are going to freak out in these instances and most people don't take kindly to 100+ lb dogs freaking out.

This. My EM has had to undergo testing and surgery recently and I had technicians at both vet clinics thank me for having him crate trained. They weren't looking forward to trying to force 170lbs of unwilling dog into their crate. Instead they had a dog that willingly, if not overly happily, walk into it on his own. It also made the initial phase of recovery, where I had to keep him inactive (not easy with a 16 month old puppy), easier since he WASN'T stressed by being confined.
 

Mooshi's Mummy

Well-Known Member
20 hours a day? Seriously? Prisoners get more freedom than that! Crate training, done properly, is one of the kindest things you can do for your dog for so many reasons, including those that Smokey mentions above. Crates provide a sense of comfort and security if you have people around and the dog wants or needs to get away and have time out. If you need to leave the pup to go run errands then a crate saves your home from being chewed and your pup not getting in to mischief and come to harm. The list is endless with the benefits of crate training and they are all positive and unless you are keeping a dog locked up in it for 20 hours a day I cant really thing of a negative for crate training. With all due respect, crates arent weird, your cousin however is another story!
 

Laura Lee

Well-Known Member
Eleven days old, sleeping on his brother at the breeder's (Ishana):

100_19372_zps79860850.jpg


Highly suspicious watching the propane delivery guy unfurl the hose from his truck:

Guarding_zpse9eabdc8.jpg


His Groucho Marx imitation:

gunnercigar2_zps7a9201b8.jpg


His Portuguese Water Dog imitation:

e76be856-5427-4392-a806-14f17c686e65_zpsfd144451.jpg


Enjoying summer:

04092009newbone_zpsc285682b.jpg


Enjoying winter:

a63e4ff0-1f3f-499b-96de-d93a5247cb1c_zps0bc63749.jpg


I can't agree more with AKBull's comments on dominance, independence, pulling, etc. and what everyone else has stated about crate training.
 

Laura Lee

Well-Known Member
I will add that the male above, recently deceased, walked very nicely on leash...unless he saw a rabbit or deer or whatever. Our 3.5 month old male is also walking very nicely on leash. Our four year old female pulls like a sled dog.

All trained the same way, but the female never "got it" for some reason.

Weird...