BULLMASTIFF STANDARD VISUALIZATION

BULLMASTIFF STANDARD
VISUALIZATION
tnhe early 19th century, English gameskeepers created
this noble breed by crossing the Bulldog with the
. Mastiff to obtain swift, powerful dogs, known as
;night dogs, for protection against poachers. These dogs
combined tremendous physical strength and guarding
instinct with an affectionate disposition and devotion
to their master. The gamekeeper needed a large dog to
infiltrate thickets and underbrush, so he needed to be agile
and move silently. Poaching was so severely punished
that poachers would even kill the gameskeeper to prevent
apprehension. The Bullmastiff was developed to kill the
poacher's dog and catch and hold the trespasser so that
he could be brought to trial. Fleetness of foot and the
instinct to pursue have remained distinct characteristics
of the Bullmastiff. The Bullmastiff as a purebred was not
recognized in Britain until 1924 and was recognized in the
United States in 1933.
I
The correct image of an adult Bullmastiff is "nearly
square" with your first impression being of great power
and strength. However this does not mean "bigger is
. better." More substantial means more bone, more depth
and breadth, more substance, more solidly built, not more
height or length of back or leg. Compact is the most
important word to describe a Bullmastiff -- nearly square
in appearance. This compact body every bit depicts breed
type as much as the square head and muzzle and black
mask. If a Bullmastiff is not compact and is leggy or long,
it is severely lacking in type. Long is wrong! Petite bitches
with no bone or substance should be severely penalized
as well. Size and substance should never be rewarded at
the expense of soundness or correct type; and the final
goal should be soundness, quality and head type within
. the standard. Extreme specimens may be valuable in a
breeding program to correct a deficit in an area.
Square also describes the Bullmastiff's head and muzzle
-- a cube on a cube. The eyes should be dark and almond
shaped, not round or bulging, protected from the brush
they may encounter in their pursuit of poachers. Large
nostrils provide sufficient area to prevent noisy breathing,
as does a proper length of muzzle. A muzzle too short
would not provide adequate space to cool the air and
keep the dog from over-heating or noisy breathing. Welldeveloped cheeks help to square off the shape of the entire
head. Too much wrinkle would not allow the gameskeeper
to discern when the dog is at alert, for when at alert, the
properly placed ears raise and the wrinkle sets. Broad
underjaw, large, widely spaced canines would provide
the holding power the Bullmastiff needed to retain the
poacher. Please note that the reversion to the Bulldog is
very undesirable.
The key word again is compact. Powerful, muscular, a
well balanced body, chest wide and deep, good rib spring,
allows adequate housing for major organs, required for the
job he was intended for. Keep in mind as breeders and
judges, this compact short backed quality is as important
in preserving type in the Bullmastiff as the mask and
square muzzle. Long or rectangular Bullmastiffs or short
legs have incorrect proportions. Please note that the tail
should never be carried hound fashion which should not
be confused with "attitude."
In order to be a square dog, moderate angulation is what is
called for. Moderate angles and a shorter back provide the
build necessary to carry him easily over hill and dale with
the ability to make quick turns. Feet, the smaller and
tighter the better, in order to cover the rocky terrain he
might encounter to patrol his territory.
Hindquarter angulation should equal forequarter
angulation - moderate. But it is imperative that
hindquarters should be broad and muscular. You often see
Bullmastiffs with fronts that are too wide then taper off
into narrow hindquarters which is undesirable. Second
thigh development is critical in maintaining strength of
the hindquarters as is heavy hams to support the type
of work he was bred to do. Weak rears with cowhocks
and splayed feet are serious faults and should be severely
penalized! Unlike the Neapolitan Mastiff that guarded the
small Italian courtyard by his sheer gargoyle appearance,
the Bullmastiff was expected to patrol hundreds of acres
and a sound structure might indeed save his life or the life
of the gamekeeper.
adequate protection against the weather elements and the ground cover. A double coat is ideal, but the coat should
be short and dense. Healthy coats with skin free of allergies is ideal for their work and environment. As a night dog,
brindle certainly would have been the preferred color as camouflage while at work. However, there is no color preference
in the Bullmastiff.
Bullmastiffs should not be giant Bulldogs or Mastiffs, nor should they move like either of these breeds. Bullmastiffs
should be sound coming and going, and have moderate reach and drive to accomplish a smooth, even gait. Their
gait should be powerful and deliberate. "Flashy" movement is not what is appropriate for this breed. The down and
back should be closely observed for many structural faults not obvious on the go-around. Showmanship should never
override breed correctness.
Too often we see Bullmastiffs with tails between their legs. This attitude should not be rewarded. Bullmastiffs should
be stable, confident, bold and courageous. They should be a discerning guard dog and know the difference between
an intruder and the UPS man. Aggressive behavior toward any person should never be tolerated in the show ring.
Aggressive behavior toward other dogs is not the same as aggression toward people and should only be penalized if out of
control.
Temperament is the quintessential barometer of breed type. The Bullmastiff is a noble breed with independent
character. Much of the breed's character traits derive from its function as a guard. Although Bullmastiffs are normally
friendly, judges and fanciers should always remember this is a working breed and proper approach and examination
should be done with respect so as not to confuse the dog in his ability to be a discerning judge of character. Most of the
time the Bullmastiff is not on guard but a family companion. Bullmastiffs bond deeply with their families. The key to a
successful relationship with an adult Bullmastiff is control and leadership. The Bullmastiff is not a breed for everybody.
A strong-willed, terrirorial temperament is not uncommon. They live best knowing their position in the hierarchy of the
family, with rules and respect. The Bullmastiff will give you and your family boundless love and devotion, but retain a
part of himself as a free spirit, capable of making his own decisions and acting on them. Your children will be his charges
to protect and to love, but they must respect him and never be allowed to torment or tease him. The Bullmastiff asks
only to be as much a part of the family as possible. He will reward such treatment with devotion and friendship that is
not exceeded in any breed.
Helene Nietsch is an almost 40-year veteran breeder of Bullmastiffs, first under the "Bandog" prefix, currently under the "Banstock" prefix. She has bred or
owned 18 Registry of Merit Bullmastiffs as top-producing dogs and bitches (including 2007's top-producing sire), approximately 100 champions, multiple
national specialty winners, and a best in show Bullmastiffin
each of the four decades she has been breeding. She bred the first multiple best in show
Bullmastiff in the 1970's and the top-winning Bullmastiff in the history of the breed, Ch. Bandog's Crawdaddy Gumbo, who was also #2 dog all breeds in
the mid-1980's.
She has judged both the American and Canadian Bullmastiff national specialty and is approved to judge all working and hound, junior
showmanship and miscellaneous breeds.