Do you have the
time for the dog? Yes, we all have to work, but having a bullmastiff requires certain
investments of time. They do not like being alone.
Are you prepared
for a minimum eight to ten-year commitment? That is how long they live. And this decision
you are making comes with that kind of commitment attached to it.
A bullmastiff is
an integral part of the family unit. That can consist of just you, you and your mate, you
and your family. But everyone has to realize that a new member has arrived.
Do you have a
yard? Or the time and willingness to walk your dog whenever necessary?
Are you prepared
to have your dog on a leash ANY time that it is out of your house? Bullmastiffs are big.
The automatic assumption whenever there is a problem, is that the Bullmastiff did it. Your
dog MUST be on lead, even if it is the best-trained obedience dog in the WORLD. Because if
that problem does arise, if the dog is off leash, the dog is GUILTY. It will not matter
that the other dog crossed a street, jumped a fence, and attacked your dog. That is a big
dog. He MUST have done something!
Do you have
problems with being touched? A bullmastiff is happiest, when it can lay on your foot, lean
on your leg, put its head in your lap, or even better, sit it your lap.
Are you looking
for a protection dog for your home? You got it. But don’t expect a bullmastiff to
snarl, bark, and generally carry on. They will WATCH. They will walk through your house a
dozen times a night, without making a sound. They will wrinkle their ears, and cock their
head. And unless there is a serious problem that’s all you get. But IF someone breaks
into your house, and attacks a member of the family, you will be amazed at your couch
potato. If someone comes to harm your family, The Hound of the Baskervilles was a piker.
This is what the Hounds of Hell must be like. You can’t test this, and pray to God
you never have to see it. But after thirty years, and that includes 5 years as a
protection dog trainer, I will assure you, that is what you have.
Do you have
children? Good. Are they well behaved? Good. For several reasons. 1) If you can’t
control your children, you don’t have a chance with controlling a bullmastiff. 2)
spanking is out.
Bullmastiffs are
like potato chips. You can’t have just one. They seem to replicate right in front of
your eyes.