Hey friends! Today I want to talk about one of my favorite designer dog breeds – the Bull Mastweiler. This impressive cross between the Bullmastiff and Rottweiler produces a loyal yet gentle family guardian that will capture your heart.
Let’s start with a quick history lesson. The Bullmastiff originated in 19th century England as a estate guard dog bred from Mastiffs and Bulldogs. Meanwhile, Rottweilers have ancient Roman roots as cattle herders and butchers’ companions.
So what happens when you mix these two powerful protectors? You get the Bull Mastweiler – bringing together the best traits of both parent breeds!
Some key features of this hybrid dog:
- Large, muscular build
- Short, dense coat
- Alert, intelligent expression
- Innate protectiveness and loyalty
- Affectionate and playful with family
The Bullmastiff Rottweiler mix makes an excellent family guardian and companion. But fair warning – they do require experienced handling given their size and strength.
Let’s dive deeper into what makes these gentle giants such awesome pets! I’ll cover everything you need to know about their appearance, temperament, health, training tips, and finding the perfect Bull Mastweiler for your home. Stick around – this is gonna be fun!
Characteristics Bullmastiff Rottweiler Mix
Now that we’ve covered a bit of Bull Mastweiler history, let’s get into what these impressive pups are really like! Here’s a deep dive into their physical features, personality, intelligence, exercise needs, and suitable homes.
Size and Appearance
The Bullmastiff Rottweiler mix is a large, stocky dog with a powerful build. Here are some of their typical physical traits:
- Height– These big guys stand 23-27 inches tall at the shoulder.
- Weight– They generally weigh 80-135 pounds. That’s a lot of dog!
- Coat– The coat is short and dense, sometimes with a Rottie-style undercoat.
- Color– Coat colors include black, brown, fawn, and reddish shades. Many have cute freckled markings.
- Face– That adorable mug has a broad, flat skull and dark almond eyes. Jowly cheeks and droopy flews complete the look.
- Ears– Triangular, V-shaped ears stand erect.
So in summary – the Bullmastiff Rottweiler mix is a large, sturdy dog with an imposing yet charming appearance. They aren’t quite giant-sized but have substantial bone structure and musculature.
Personality and Temperament
Despite their formidable looks, Bull Mastweilers have a gentle temperament. Here’s what to expect:
- Extremely loyaland devoted to their family. They bond very closely.
- Affectionateand cuddly – they love attention!
- Intelligentand aims to please their owner.
- Protectiveinstincts make them excellent watchdogs.
- Wary of strangers at first but rarely aggressive when properly socialized.
- Kid-friendlybut should be supervised due to size.
- Generally calm indoors but needs daily activity.
- Can be stubborn but responds well to firm, positive training.
- Alert and observant – great deterrent to intruders!
So the Bullmastiff and Rottweiler mix is a total softy at heart who lives to protect their loved ones. With proper socialization and training, they make awesome family companions.
Intelligence and Trainability
Luckily, this hybrid dog is fairly smart and trainable, thanks to the working breed background on both sides.
- Eager to please their owner, so they pick up on commands quickly.
- Respond best to positive reinforcement trainingwith treats and praise.
- Early socialization and obedience trainingare musts. This establishes you as pack leader.
- Their protective nature means great potential as watchdogs and guard dogs with the right handling.
- Bred to work closely with people, so they excel at activities like agility, drafting, scent work etc.
- Independent thinking means they may test boundaries if you’re not a strong leader.
With a steady yet kind approach, the Rottweiler Bullmastiff mix is a star pupil. Take advantage of that inherited work ethic!
Exercise Needs
These energetic pups need a solid 60-90 minutes of exercise per day. Make sure to provide:
- Long daily leashed walksor jogs. They love exploring!
- Time to run and play in a safely fenced yard.
- Interactive games like fetching, tug of war etc.
- Mentally stimulating training activitiesand dog sports.
- Swimmingis an excellent low-impact workout if they enjoy water.
Caution: Don’t overexercise young Bull Mastweilers while bones are still developing. Keep walks shorter till they mature.
Meeting their daily activity quota keeps your Bull Mastweiler fit, well-behaved, and happy!
Suitable Homes
What’s the ideal living situation for these crossbreeds?
- A house with a large, fenced yardis best. They need outdoor space to roam.
- Experienced dog ownersare recommended, as they are strong-willed.
- Familiesmake great homes thanks to their loving temperament. Supervision advised with little kids.
- Apartmentsand small homes are not ideal. They can get restless without enough room.
- Hot climatesshould be avoided, as they prefer cool weather.
- Homes without small petsare best, as they sometimes have high prey drive.
With proper space, training, and attention, the loyal Bullmastiff Rottweiler mix makes an amazing family companion!
Let me know if you have any other questions about the characteristics of this awesome hybrid breed! Here is a 500 word Health and Care section for the Bullmastiff Rottweiler mix article:
Health and Care Bullmastiff Rottweiler Mix
To keep your Bull Mastweiler happy and healthy, there are some important health and care needs to know. Let’s go over grooming, common issues, nutrition, and lifespan for these hybrids.
Grooming
Luckily, the Bullmastiff cross Rottweiler is pretty low-maintenance when it comes to grooming:
- Their short coatrequires only weekly brushing to remove loose hair. More often during seasonal shedding.
- Occasional bathing every 1-2 months is sufficient. Watch out for skin fold infections if inherited from the Bullmastiff parent.
- Nailsshould be trimmed every 2-3 weeks to avoid overgrowth and cracking.
- Teethneed regular brushing 2-3 times per week.
- Check and clean earsweekly for infection signs.
- Use a vet-approved ear cleanerand dental spray to make grooming easier!
With their manageable coat, the Rottweiler Bullmastiff mix won’t take too much time or effort to keep looking shiny and healthy.
Health Issues
Like all extra large breeds, Bull Mastweilers are prone to certain inherited health conditions. Watch for:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia– malformed joints causing arthritis.
- Bloat– potentially fatal twisting of the stomach.
- Hypothyroidism– inadequate thyroid hormone.
- Heart conditionslike dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Bone cancerand other cancers more common in giant breeds.
- Allergiesand skin problems.
Luckily, choosing health-tested parent breeds can minimize the chances of issues. Regular vet checkups help detect any problems early too!
Nutrition
These big pups need a diet that supports their large frames.
- High-quality kibblesuited for large breeds is recommended.
- Feed 2-4 cups split into 2-3 mealsdaily to avoid bloat risk.
- Adding some wet food, fresh meat, or vegcan boost nutrition.
- Calcium and glucosamine supplementsbenefits bone health.
- Monitor weight as obesitystrains the joints.
Talk to your vet about the ideal food for your Bullmastiff and Rottweiler mix based on health status and age. Providing the right nutrition from puppyhood is key!
Lifespan
The expected life expectancy for a Bull Mastweiler is 8-12 years. As with any giant breed, they mature and age more rapidly. Providing excellent preventative care helps ensure your dog lives a full, healthy life!
Let me know if you have any other Bullmastiff Rottweiler mix health or care questions! Proper grooming, diet, exercise, and vet visits will keep them in top shape.
Training and Socialization Tips Bullmastiff Rottweiler Mix
The Bullmastiff Rottweiler mix is intelligent and aims to please, but proper training and socialization is still essential. Here are some tips:
Importance of Early Socialization
Exposing your Bull Mastweiler to new sights, sounds, people, and animals from a young age is crucial. This prevents fearful or aggressive behavior later on.
- Invite friends over regularly so they learn to welcome visitors. Give treats for calm greetings.
- Arrange supervised play dateswith neighbor dogs and puppies for positive social experiences.
- Bring them on car rides, to outdoor markets, etc. to take in new stimuli while staying relaxed.
- Sign up for a positive reinforcement puppy training classfor more controlled socialization.
- Ensure all experiences are upbeat and paired with rewards to build confidence.
Frequent, positive exposures will help your Rottweiler and Bullmastiff mix pup grow into a well-adjusted adult dog.
Effective Training Techniques
This hybrid dog responds best to training that utilizes:
- Reward-based methodslike food treats, praise, play. Avoid punishment.
- Short, engaging sessionsto hold their interest. 5-10 minutes at a time while young.
- Patience and consistency. Stick to the same verbal and hand commands.
- Training aid tools like clickers, target sticks,interactive toys etc.
- Basic obedience cues– sit, stay, come, down, heel, and no jump.
- Advanced traininglike agility foundations, scent work, public access skills etc.
Keep training upbeat and varied to hold their focus. The Bullmastiff cross Rottweiler loves working with their owner!
Other Pets
Thanks to their guarding background, Bull Mastweilers tend to be less tolerant of other pets unless extensively socialized. Some tips for success:
- Start introductions slowly with pets seperated by a gate. Reward calm behavior.
- Allow interactions only when supervised until they establish a rapport.
- Discourage chasing or rough play. Redirect to a toy instead.
- Consider the sex, age, and temperament of existing pets. Males and younger pets may interact best.
- Enroll in a training class that allows socialization with other puppies and dogs.
With time and training, multiple pets can absolutely live together happily. But be prepared to put in the work!
Potential Behavior Issues
Like any large, protective breed, Bullmastiff Rottweiler mixes can develop some naughty behaviors without proper leadership. Watch for:
- Excessive barking– discourage with training, more exercise.
- Aggressiontowards other dogs or strangers – requires immediate intervention. Consult a certified trainer.
- Anxietywhen left alone – ease separation distress by providing stimulating toys and never making a fuss when leaving/returning.
- Destructivenessfrom boredom or stress – step up physical and mental exercise.
With early socialization, training, and responsible ownership, your Bull Mastweiler will be a wonderfully behaved companion! Let me know if you need any tips.
Finding and Choosing a Bull Mastweiler
Ready to add one of these awesome Bullmastiff Rottweiler mixes to your family? Here are some tips on finding a healthy pup and choosing a responsible breeder or shelter.
Breeders vs Shelters
There are pros and cons to both breeders and shelters/rescues when acquiring a Bull Mastweiler:
Breeders
- Puppies raised in a home environment.
- Opportunity to meet parent dogs.
- More predictable temperament and health.
- Often a waitlist and higher cost.
Shelters/Rescues
- Saving a dog in need of a home.
- Usually lower adoption fees.
- Unknown health history and breed mix.
- May have behavioral issues needing work.
For the predictability of a purebred Rottweiler Bullmastiff mix, a reputable breeder is best. But don’t rule out adoption if you’re open to a mystery mix!
Questions to Ask
When inquiring with breeders, be sure to ask:
- About parent dog health testing and pedigree.
- If there’s a waitlist, expected litter availability.
- How the puppies are raised and socialized.
- What is included with the purchase price.
- If they offer continued breeder support after purchase.
Signs of a Responsible Breeder
Look for these hallmarks of an ethical, quality breeder:
- Breeds to maintain health and temperament, not just for profit.
- Does all recommended OFA health testing on parent dogs.
- Provides proof of health clearances.
- Offers fair purchase contracts.
- Doesn’t sell puppies to pet stores.
- Raises litters in the home with proper care, socialization, and enrichment.
With research and patience, you can find a wonderful Bullmastiff cross Rottweiler to join your family! Let me know if you need any other tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s wrap up with some common FAQs about the Bullmastiff Rottweiler mix:
Are Bull Mastweilers good family dogs?
Absolutely! When properly trained and socialized, the Bull Mastweiler makes a wonderful devoted and protective family companion. They are especially nurturing with children they are raised with.
How much exercise does a Bull Mastweiler need?
Plan on providing 60-90 minutes of vigorous exercise daily. A home with a large yard is ideal to give them room to run and play. These dogs also need plenty of mental stimulation through training, toys, and quality time with their owner.
What health problems are common in Bull Mastweilers?
Potential issues include hip/elbow dysplasia, bloat, bone cancer, hypothyroidism, heart conditions, and allergies. Choosing health-tested parent breeds helps minimize risks.
Are Bull Mastweilers easy to train?
Yes, the Bullmastiff Rottweiler mix is intelligent and aims to please their owner. Early socialization and positive reinforcement training are key to bringing out their best behavior.
Do Bull Mastweilers shed a lot?
Their short dense coats shed a moderate amount year-round. Expect heavier seasonal shedding in the spring and fall. Weekly brushing helps manage loose hair.
How big do Bull Mastweilers get?
These are very large dogs typically reaching 23-27 inches tall and 80-135 lbs. Definitely not suited for small homes!
What is the lifespan of a Bull Mastweiler?
The average life expectancy is 8-12 years. Make sure to provide excellent vet care, nutrition, and exercise to maximize their lifespan.
Are Bull Mastweilers aggressive?
Not inherently. Early socialization and training minimizes any unwanted aggression. Bull Mastweilers who feel threatened may show some protective territorial behaviors without proper handling.
I hope these answers help explain what it’s like to live with these amazing mixed breed dogs! Let me know if you have any other questions.
