Hi all,

Some of you will know that I am getting a bullmastiff next year he is 18 months and a kennel dog. At the mo he gets very little excercise, and I just wanted some advise from Bully owners as I have always had gundogs who are completely different. If you could answer my questions that would be great:
1)How often should they be fed, on what and how much?
2)What are they like noice wise?
3)How much excercise do they need?
4)Is there anything I need to be aware of ie are they a dominant breed etc

As much info as pos on bullies would e really appreciated.

Sophie

Sophie,
Are you able to spend anytime alone with this dog before you bring him home?
I"m just thinking if you are able to take him away from the kennels (say, on a saturday on a regular basis) to see what he's like on his own. You would be able to walk him, see him in your household, possibly start training...... it might help you be able to figure out his personality and abilities :)

It will also allow him to get accustomed to you and your family :)
good luck,
toodles

Yes I am going to do exactley that, I have looked after him before so he does know me but I am strting from this sat taking him out once a week to do just that.

That sounds like a very good idea :D :D :D
:Cool:

Hello Sophie
I have just had a bullmastiff puppy myself after doing a lot of research!

As for noisy dogs no they are not as they are unlike the Guarding Alsation but still they are very protective of there family so you need to make sur ethat he has been well socialized!

As for excersise at the moment he is still growing and you need to be careful not to excersise he to much as this could cause problems in his later life with joints etc! They are very muscular animals so when they have just got up they are very stiff so allow them to stretch there legs and walk around a bit before taking them out!!
They should be fed twice a day as not to cause gastric torsion and if you feed him a complete food you can give him tea, fish, tuna etc which are both good for the coat!! if you need to know exactly how much i'll copy it out of my book and email it to you!!
I don't mean to put you off buying this beautiful boy but you must be very aware that you have not been there from the word go with him!! I have been told on a number of occasions if you cannot control this dog by 1yr- 18months you will find it very hard if not impossible to get any contol at all!!! our puppy is 8weeks and we have started him on puppy training classes already!!
I am NOT badmouthing the breed god no i have a child of 4 and a seven year old lab if I thought that there was any doubt in my mind of trusting them theres no way i'd have one!!

Once you have this dog and he has settled you will in no doubt have one of the BEST breeds i ever come across for loyalty, protection, fun, loving, amusement and all round wonderful dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As I say i am not a breeder and i am by no means experienced but from what i have read and what i have been told by numerous breeders so far, i hope this helps you if you what anymore info, the book I bought is always by my side and hope i can help you as best i can!!!! tj_crutcher@hotmail.com
Best regards and welcome to the gorgeous addictive bullmastiff breed
pinky

Pinky thank you so so so much for your great and kind advise. Albert is very well behaived but could do with some trainning as he has no idea what sit down stay etc which may take a while to get him doing these comands but we will get there I am sure. His hind is still sways a lot but I am sure this is due to him still growing as his head is HUGE and dosen't yet match his body bless him.

He is so gentle and loving and so so apreciative of everything

Speak soon,

Sophie

Being that the Bull Mastiff in question is 18 months old, i don't think you will have to lay off the excercise too much. By that age, most dogs are almost fully grown and the bones and tissue are fully developed.

Training him shouldn't be too difficult either. Just remember to always be positive and make it fun for him. Most importantly, always end every training session on a positive note and don't make them last too long lest he get bored.

VERY IMPORTANT: NEVER EVER punish him by hitting him, towering over him, glaring at him, or anything else. Use positive reenforcement as much as possible and praise him lavishly as much as possible.

He'll probably be neutered so i wouldn't worry about hormonal problems too much. However, it is always a good idea to start a training program as soon as possible. Commands like sit, lay down, stand, speak, paw, and no should all be learned within a week at the most if you are presistent. The key is to always be persistent because you must never allow your dog to think he outranks you or to think that you are not a competent enough leader.

Some temperament tests might be a good idea as well. Try sticking your hand in his food as he eats, pull on his tail and ears, see how he responds to different situations. How is he with kids? Other dogs? Any aggressive tendencies? All of these tests can help you learn what you can expect in the future. Better you find out now than when he bites the neighbor's kids or dogs and you have a lawsuit on your hands.

It might be a good idea to stock up on some doggy manuals on training and pack theory (very interesting stuff). Furthermore, you should invest in some books that specialize on your specific breed. These will probably answer all of your questions listed on your initial post. The "Dummies" series books I have found are particularly well organized and easy to navigate. There's tons of helpful information on the net as well. Take advantage of all of these resources as you will probably need it, especially with such a large breed. Good luck!

Rob

If this is the dog who has been kept in a kennel for 2 years, unless he has been well exercised I would go easy on it and treat him like a puppy slowly increasing the amount. Check with his owners how much he has had and knock off about 25% for imagination. A fair few mastiffs have less than good construction so I err on the carefull side, and treat him more or less as you would a puppy. Ja:)kie

Very good point Jackie. Another thought came to mind as well though. If your Bullmastiff has been caged for a long time he may take particularly longer to be housetrained if he isn't already. You might want to determine this first before you bring him home and he starts soiling your bed or carpet. =)

Most adult bullmastiffs are naturally clean . They are rather loose on bowel as puppies but as they mature the bowel holds more so they can control it . As puppies they eat all they get and the rest .:)
An adult bully gets a breakfast and a main meal around 5oc.

Bullmastiffs will take as much and as little excercise once matured as they get , but they should never be kenneled alll day as they can get twisted bones from not being allowed to stretch out.
Mine get two miles a day and I take them to a field for free running to stretch them three times a week the rest is spent in play in the garden and they are kenneled at night .
I would like to know a little more of the dogs situation and then I could advise you more.
I am a breed specialist and have learned a little along the way .
The most important part of a having a bully dog is consistency , bullies are creatures of habit and like things to go smoothly with little variation in their life .
They are lazy and laid back bit like my hubby.
Ialways find when a new dog arrives thats not a puppy bonding is the first thing to deal with.
Sitting quietly beside him reading and now and then stroking him is the best way.
If he wont sit crate him and then do it.
Offer him some bits of chicken and hold it as he eats it , allowing him to lick your hand that has some grease on it . This lets him know your the person he depends on for his food.

I really dont think you will have a problem with an adult it is rare unless he has problems
As I said Email me with details of his situation and I will do what I can for you.
It is a good idea to read up on the breed as well just so you recognise health problems should they arise .
They are a very intelligent dog and instinctively protect home and family and seem to know when a person is a threat or one that is not .
They are a silent breed and only bark to alert .
Can you tell me why you have to wait to take him home ?
I would be of the opinion the sooner you get him the better.
They are a fantastic breed and love the children to bits . I will email you a picture of one of mine enjoying a cuddle from the baby later on if you like
Mari

Foget what I have said Sophie, get in touch with Mari, tell her all you know about the dog you are taking on, and then take her advice, you wont go wrong. Ja:)kie

Thanks Jackie for the confidence ,
Mari

Hi Mari

Thankyou so much for your kind words and advise I realy really apreciate it. Albert (the bullmastiff) is 18months he is at the moment in a kennell and as far as I know dosen't get walked very often. He is surrrounded by bull dogs at the mo and has grown up with lots of dogs and two young kids. Personality wise he is an absoulte softy, kind, well mannered, polite, gentle and to die for. At the momnet I am living with my parents whilts we do up our new house which should be finished next March ish time so that is the reason why we can't home him at the mo. Both my partner and I work all day. I get hme at 7 and my partner about 4/5. Due to this Albert would have to be left at home in our garden with a large kennel and a sectioned of part of the garden until we are home. He would sleep inside at night and be with us all weekend. Iam not a believer in leaving dogs on their own but we don't have much choice, and I feel that it would be huge improvment on his life now as he barely leaves his kennel.

He will get a walk first thing in the morning and then in the evening and out all day with us on weekends. But I can't help feel funny about leaving him on his own all day.What do you think? Also we are taking him out every weekend on walks to see friends and to see our house. We had him this weekend and he was a dream.

Sophie

p.s I would love you to email me a pic of yours and I will take a pic of Albert and send to you

Hi Soppy if he is kenneled now being in the garden while your at work is a hundred percent better then where he is . Having human company each night will be brilliant . getting walked will be the icing on the cake for him .
His lot will improve and he will be far happier .
I wish you all the best with him and please give him a hug for me .
Hope you found all the info handy . Mari

Thank youso much for your advise, he hasn't actually been neutured and isn't he too old to have that done now - I personally think so

No he is not to old they are never too old, but why would you want to do that, you don't have a problem with his health or behaviour do you? Ja:)kie

No I wouldn't want to do that, somone mentioned that he would prob be neutuerd. I have never had my dogs done and wouldn't unless I had to. He is lovely the way he is although still a bit fruity but he is still young :-)

Your right Soopy, you would expect that of a dog of his age. When do you get him and I'm sorry if you have already said. Ja:)kie

next march ish time he hasn't been done as he was to be used as a stud

hi i own an 18 month old bully called tanus who is very dominant i have found that untill bullys are 3 yrs old they seem to be very pushy

i can only go off my experiences and i know that most bullys are not as badly behaved as mine (or how mine would be if i wasnt on his case) he is not noisy but shows aggression to other dogs
i feed him twice a day but he is fed on barf which i feel is the best diet but i am not going to preach

if you would like to chat about my bully or yours then please let me know but i am no expert and i am just finding things out myself

alison