08/02/2026
Gamekeepers in the late 19th century had a difficult job; they were charged with protecting the precious game on their employers' sprawling estates from poachers. Poachers were a dangerous lot. Knowing they faced severe fines, imprisonment, or even the noose, they were more than willing to inflict bodily harm if it meant escaping. Gamekeepers needed a dog that could track quietly, move quickly, and restrain poachers without mauling them until the gamekeeper could arrive.
No such breed existed at that time; Mastiffs were too lumbering and lacked the drive to run down and hold their quarry, while Bulldogs were too vicious. Carefully combining the two at a ratio of approximately 60% Mastiff to 40% Bulldog created what we know today as the Bullmastiff. Compact but dense, these dogs typically weigh between 100-130 pounds and exist in three colors: fawn, red, and brindle.
These dogs were exactly what gamekeepers needed. Accompanying them on their nightly patrols, the gamekeeper would rest his hand upon his Bullmastiff's head as they walked. When he felt the skin on the head start to wrinkle or furrow in concentration, he knew trouble was ahead. The gamekeeper would then send his Bullmastiff out ahead to use its nose to track down the poacher. Once close enough, the dog would sprint the last stretch and use its substantial weight to knock its quarry down like a bowling pin. Unlike other guardian breeds, the Bullmastiff would not savage its victims; it would simply hold or sit on the poacher until the gamekeeper arrived.
