With a broad history, a long line of traits, and many other key features, the Brindle Bullmastiff has a ton of interesting attributes to discover!
This breed may initially come off as intimidating due to its large stature, but at the core, the Brindle Bullmastiff is a gentle giant. Owners of the Bullmastiff will agree that they’re loyal and keep a protective eye over their beloved family.
What Is a Brindle Bullmastiff?
The Brindle Bullmastiff gets its name from the colorful brindle coat it sports.
Brindle is a colored pattern that’s sometimes described as being tiger-striped and can be found in various breeds. The Brindle Bullmastiff carries a short coat, red at the base with black stripes, giving it a unique look.
Bullmastiffs were bred during the mid-1800s in England. Their size and agility were well utilized as the dog served to guard properties from poachers. They were trained not to bark, and biting isn’t common since their job was to quietly sneak up on intruders and hold them down all without causing great harm.
The brindle coloring was ideal for gamekeepers since it served as a special camouflage. Dark Brindle Bullmastiffs were especially useful for guarding properties at night because their coloration looks almost entirely black.
The Bullmastiff breed was inducted into the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1933.
The AKC lists the following colors as some of the standard colors found in Bullmastiffs:
- Fawn Brindle
- Red Brindle
- Red Fawn Brindle
The Bullmastiff name is also derived from the dog’s origin, being 60% Bulldog and 40% Mastiff – but don’t let the Bulldog in their blood fool you, the Bullmastiff is a big dog!
The male height can range anywhere from 25 to 27 inches with weight varying between 110 and 130 pounds. Females have a height range of 24 to 26 inches and a weight range between 100 and 120 pounds.
Their large stature just means there’s a lot more to love, as these dogs are gentle giants.
How Much Do They Cost?
Although the brindle pattern is beautiful, it doesn’t have any effect on the pricing of a Bullmastiff. Because of this, the Brindle Bullmastiff can have a price range anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500.
Of course, pricing also depends on where and from whom you’re buying.
How Do I Buy a Brindle Bullmastiff?
There are lots of options when it comes to buying a Brindle Bullmastiff. Finding a breeder that specializes in breeding Bullmastiffs with the Brindle pattern is a great way to guarantee you’re getting a genuine Brindle Bullmastiff.
Of course, there are many other great options to explore when it comes to buying. Rescue Associations centered around Bullmastiffs may have Brindle Bullmastiffs up for adoption, which may ease the price and also give a good home to a dog in need.
What to Know Before Getting a Brindle Bullmastiff
Like with any other dog breed, the Brindle Bullmastiff has a few requirements and statistics that are unique to it. Learning these facts is a good way to predict how life may be with this breed!
What’s Their Lifespan?
Despite their long history, Brindle Bullmastiff’s lifespans are relatively short. On average, a Brindle Bullmastiff can have a lifespan of 8 to 10 years.
Although there could be the chance for a Brindle Bullmastiff to live a longer life, the breed is sadly prone to a few health issues.
What’s Their Temperament?
Brindle Bullmastiffs’ original task was to guard properties, but how does that affect their overall temperament?
Surprisingly, Brindle Bullmastiffs are known for their gentle and lovable personality. They could be considered the ideal family dog because they have a guardian nature paired with a sweet and compassionate side.
That guardian nature can pop up in different situations, though. In the instance that a friend comes over that your Bullmastiff considers a stranger, the dog could become on guard. It would be rare for them to lash out aggressively, but you can be sure they’ll keep a protective eye on you.
Adult Brindle Bullmastiffs could have a hard time with other pets in the home. To make sure your pets can cohabitate with the Bullmastiff, it’s a good idea to introduce them and test out the waters to see how they interact.
This timid behavior can be aged out by introducing your Bullmastiff to other pets and people during its puppy years.
How Is a Brindle Bullmastiff Trained?
If you’re looking to own this beautiful dog, you’re in luck, because Brindle Bullmastiffs are relatively easy to train! A great plus is guard training isn’t necessary, if for whatever reason their family was in danger, the Bullmastiff would already be aware of how to help.
Generally, training is most effective when the Bullmastiff is young. Obedience training is a good starting point for any dog and can be especially useful for the Bullmastiff.
Socialization is necessary if you’re looking to have other pets. This process can be done by taking your pup on car rides or for walks to meet people. The goal of socializing your Brindle Bullmastiff is to help them overcome any anxiety or timidness.
Because of their large stature, learning to not pull on the leash is another important skill for the Bullmastiff to master, and will make walks in the park or day-to-day tasks easier for their owner, as well.
How Much Exercise Do They Need?
For the Brindle Bullmastiff, it’s recommended to exercise for a minimum of 2 hours every day. It’s also a good idea to go out a few times, dividing the 2 hours into more than one exercise session!
Great activities to incorporate include:
- Walks in the park
- Short runs
- Leisurely jogs
A working family that isn’t always home is no issue for a Brindle Bullmastiff. They can be content when left alone at home as this breed is also known for its lazy attitude.
Are They Good for Beginner Dog Owners?
That all depends on how much time you have! As a puppy, the Brindle Bullmastiff will need a lot more supervision for potty breaks, feeding times, training, etc.
Once fully grown they should be easy-going and low maintenance. Other than a few walks, your Bullmastiff can handle being left home alone for a few hours.
How Much Grooming Does My Brindle Bullmastiff Need?
The Brindle Bullmastiff has a short, dense coat that’s suitable for rainy, sunny, or snowy weather. The grooming required isn’t too over the top, only consisting of a couple of steps: brushing and bathing.
To keep their fur in top condition, it’s a good idea to brush or give a once-over with a high-velocity dryer before bathing. This practice is essential as it removes dirt, debris, and loose fur from their coat.
As far as bathing goes, if your Bullmastiff is extremely active, they may need to be bathed as often as once a week. If not so active, you can get away with having bath time every 6 to 8 weeks.
Bathing minimizes shedding and promotes healthy skin and a nice coat, so if your Bullmastiff isn’t quite active, it wouldn’t do any harm to incorporate regular bathing!
What Maintenance Is Required for a Brindle Bullmastiff?
Lucious coat aside, the Brindle Bullmastiff has a few other areas that require their own special grooming regimes:
- Ears
- Teeth and gums
- Nails
Inspecting their ears every week can help detect any infections. Oils specialized in ear cleaning are always welcome, but a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution (equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide) can also do the job.
For Brindle Bullmastiffs, oral health is just as important as it is for us! Cleaning their teeth can be done through brushing (it’s recommended every day, but twice a week is still beneficial). Dental chews are also a fun way to promote healthy teeth! We reviewed the Best Dental Chews for Dogs, so be sure to check them out.
Last, but certainly not least, is their claws. Nails can take up to 3 weeks to be fully grown out. It’s important to stay ahead of the growth by trimming regularly. Using quality dog clippers ensures a painless and easy trimming process!
Are Brindle Bullmastiffs Good with Children?
Although this breed is known for being gentle and good with families, the Brindle Bullmastiff isn’t recommended for young children because of its size. The Bullmastiff could accidentally knock over a toddler if it’s not careful!
The Bullmastiff isn’t known to be aggressive, making its size its greatest weakness in the presence of young children. On the other end, older children can get along well with the Brindle Bullmastiff. The breed has all the characteristics of a great companion.
What’s the Best Diet for a Brindle Bullmastiff?
As a pup, the Brindle Bullmastiff should eat several small meals throughout the day. Until they reach 4 months of age, they should be fed a one-cup portion, 3 times a day. After 4 months old, feeding twice a day is a good routine.
Although they grow quickly, it’s important to maintain a regulated feeding schedule. Rapid growth is expected with the Brindle Bullmastiff, but becoming overweight must be avoided as it can cause joint problems and digestive issues.
At 1 year old, the Bullmastiff can transition to adult dog food. Dog foods with real ingredients and no by-products are highly recommended. Generally, you can identify the quality of dog food by checking if the first 3 ingredients are real sources of protein (not by-products).
Other foods can be incorporated into their diet, too:
- Cooked vegetables
- Pasta
- Minced beef
- Egg yolks
This can make feeding time feel like more of a treat for the dog!
What Should Be Avoided When Feeding a Brindle Bullmastiff?
Given the regulations that come with the Bullmastiff’s feeding schedule, food restrictions are important to learn so that health problems and other illnesses can be avoided.
Thiosulphate is found in onions, chives, and garlic. Thiosulphate is extremely toxic and harmful for dogs. For that reason, anything that could contain those ingredients should be checked before giving it to your Brindle Bullmastiff.
Avoiding cooked bones is highly recommended. Not only do bones have a chance of choking a Bullmastiff, but they can also tear the stomach lining. If bones are given to the Bullmastiff, they should be no smaller than 1 foot long.
Macadamia nuts are also toxic to the breed. Feeding macadamia nuts to a Bullmastiff can result in it developing a tremor or paralysis. There aren’t any known cases of death, but because of the harmful symptoms, macadamia nuts should be avoided.
As with all dogs, chocolate is also a major red flag when it comes to the Bullmastiff’s diet. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and in the worst cases, death.
Do Brindle Bullmastiffs Have Health Problems?
Unfortunately, the Bullmastiff does have a few health problems to be aware of. Because of their long history and size, many of these conditions are specific to their breed including, but not limited to:
- Elbow dysplasia
- Gastric torsion
- Cancer entropion
The Bullmastiff is also prone to have hip dysplasia, meaning their hip joint is misaligned with the socket. This can cause irritation, pain, and inflammation. Pain medication can be administered, but more severe cases of hip dysplasia may require surgery.
Hemangiosarcoma, a form of cancer, is sadly common in Bullmastiffs. This condition causes tumor cells to line the blood vessels. It’s a relatively unknown disease and is oftentimes difficult to identify.
Pros of Having a Brindle Bullmastiff
All in all, owning a Brindle Bullmastiff comes with a lot of benefits. These gentle giants have a lot of great things to provide!
The breed is great for an owner on the go. Because the Bullmastiff has no issue being home alone for hours at a time, this is a great choice for working families.
Who doesn’t want an extra form of protection? The Brindle Bullmastiff can act as a guard dog if needed. That long history of guarding can definitely come in handy if a situation arose.
At the end of the day, this big dog will have lots of love and affection to give. Their easy-going personality can mesh well with families.
Cons of Having a Brindle Bullmastiff
Having a Brindle Bullmastiff can be a treat in its own right, but with the pros come a few cons to keep in mind.
The breed is prone to many health issues, which can be a bit frightening for owners.
Brindle Bullmastiffs may not be suitable in a house with young children, not because of aggression, but their large stature could lead to a toddler being knocked over.
In puppy years, a lot more attention is required to make sure your Brindle Bullmastiff matures into a well-behaved dog!
Brindle Bullmastiff Statistics at a Glance
Before buying a Brindle Bullmastiff, like with any other dog breed, it’s a good idea to see how their temperament and requirements can align with a pre-existing family dynamic and day-to-day routine.
| Lifespan | 8 to 10 years |
| Height | 25 to 27 in. (Male) 24 to 25 in. (Female) |
| Weight | 110 to 130 lb (Male) 100 to 120 lb (Female) |
| Grooming Requirements | Bathing every so often with frequent brushing |
| Activity Level | 2 hours exercise daily, relatively lazy |
| Suitable For | Older kids, families, protection |
| Health Concerns | Hip dysplasia, elbow Dysplasia, gastric torsion, cancer entropion, and hemangiosarcoma |
| Temperaments | Loving, protective, easy-going |
Summary
The Brindle Bullmastiff can be a great addition to anyone who’s looking for a lifelong companion. This breed offers the best of both worlds, providing a fun and low-maintenance lifestyle with its protective and loyal nature.
