Bullmastiff 276

The Bullmastiff originated in England in the mid-to-late 19th century and was known as both a world-class guardian and a valued family companion. They were bred by crossing Bulldogs and Mastiffs to create an excellent guardian that would protect the vast lands of English aristocracy from poachers. They were prized as noble gamekeepers.

As competitions between the aristocracy rose to determine who had the best Bullmastiffs, the breed made the jump from being solely a working dog to being both a working dog and a show dog. By 1924, the breed joined the Kennel Club in England.

The American Kennel Club recognized the Bullmastiff in 1934 as a member of the Working Group. One of the facts about bullmastiffs is that although they can still be found as working dogs, modern bullmastiffs are most commonly found as family pets and companions.