Linda B: Is Bullmastiff's a good dog breed to have with children?
My husband and I are planning on purchasing a Bullmastiff. We have 3 children, ages 3, 4, and 13. We had to give a Rottweiler to a rescue because of aggressive behavior towards us and the kids. The Bullmastiff breed seems to be what we want in a dog. The information on them seems that they are a good dog with children, but then other people think we're crazy for wanting this kind of dog.
Answers and Views:
Answer by Karlo Márquez
We have two males And they aré so care with our kids, Also good protectors with them, this breed is so molossus and lovely with all my family. Good Luck
Answer by scd
Mastiffs are fantastic with kids. I personally had a Cane Corso, but males and females at the same time. Around little kids they are truly gentle it’s like they no the child is fragile. I currently have a 250 lbs male English mastiff that I got at 8 weeks old. He is now 3 years old. He is around a 3-year-old and 5-year-old little girls that he adores. They play and interact with not one problem my 3yo niece can actually walk him on the leash with no problems it’s like he knows that it’s not me walking him and is well behaved. But I have experience with the breed and I am 6 2 225 lbs so I can handle him with no problem.
Also, I raised him from a pup around the kids and set the limits as to what’s acceptable behavior from the kids to the dog and vice versa. It all in the socializing and limits set for both the kids and dog. Personally I would highly recommend the mastiff.
Answer by Carlo
This dog even at a smaller size female 75 pds dislocated my friend's shoulder when it yanked on a leash. It also nearly broke her leg when it gets startled in the kitchen and ran. And nearly dislocated her knee when it ran head-on into it. Full-size adults will nearly get knocked down. They also bark at little sound in the house or outside. You need to be careful with authority they will bark after dinner and want your food off the plate and their head is as high as the table.
They will also bark (with a really deep and loud bark) to depend on playtime, but you can’t get anything out of there mouth because their jaws lock onto anything so they drag on the floor and their paws bleed. Which then bleeds on furniture and floors. They also shed lots of sticky dander that sticks to couches drapes and anything in the house and floats like a cloud.
As far as allergies they are one of the most allergic coats you can find. Many people will be scared of this dog, but you cannot show any fear or back down or they will try to rule the roost. Also, they will demand to lay on anyone one the couch all the time and their head is so big about the size of your chest that they will easily block out tv for you and your partner while watching tv and easily lay on top of both of you and the third seat on the couch. The best way to get the dander off furniture is a sticky roller for clothes lint.
Answer by Antoine
I’m not sure if the comments about not being a good dog around kids are from people who.have never personally owned 1. I got mine as a B-day present when I was 6 years. Ended up growing to weigh about 120 pounds. With basic training from when a puppy is a very great dog around kids.
Also more resilient to the kids in the household playing with them. My brother and me, I am.pisitive was probably too rough sometimes with him when we were little. The 10 years we had him, he never snapped at me, brother, or my dad.
The only thing I would say is that it is a very protective dog, especially around the kids. So if he senses whether a family friend poses a threat may react. Overall, great with kids and family dog, excellent guard dog, and really good temperament. A little Basic training and you guys won’t regret buying!
Answer by mrskolar1457
Mastiffs are great dogs. They have often been referred to as "gentle giants". I have owned 2 English mastiffs and have loved them. My first was a female and she was very protective of my sister and me when we were young.
A bullmastiff has a shorter frame and is stockier. An English mastiff is much taller with a leaner frame.
Something to know about mastiffs is that they want to be with their masters and love nothing better than to rest by your feet and aim to please. They are quick to potty train as well. Mastiffs are very intelligent.
They do like to play, but most of the time you will see them lounging. They do best as inside dogs, despite their size. The only thing you should worry about is that they do like to chew and have a tendency to dig.
Other than that, they are once of the best family dogs you will ever own.
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Answer by Jenny
I don't think that that will be a good match, if for no other reason than simply their size. You have some pretty small children that will probably get knocked around pretty easily by a puppy, not to mention a large one like a bull mastiff. You also have to consider that children cannot determine or understand the difference between real live animals and stuffed animals/toys until about 5 years old. For this reason, they tend to play a little rougher with dogs, pulling ears and poking and grabbing them. They simply cannot distinguish the difference yet.
I personally would much rather have a child poke a small dog like a beagle or even a medium-sized one like a smaller lab than a gigantic dog like a mastiff. What if your child pokes the dog and the mastiff decided he wants to play by jumping or nipping. Could have a dangerous situation on your hands. Not to mention that a dog that size will require very serious, structured training in order to ensure that they don't become unruly as adults due to their size and strength. With two little ones, this might be hard to accomplish in your house.
I think an adult small or medium-sized dog would be best for you. They will already most likely be housebroken and will respond much better to toddlers' poking and pulling at them. A Lab would be great, as would a beagle, or even a boxer.
Answer by Michelle
I have a 15-month-old child and she has been around my adult male Bullmastiff since the time she was born. Although he did accidentally knock her over occasionally he is the most gentle caring dog I have met! Bullmastiffs are great with kids!
Know better? Give your own answer to this question!
Antoine says
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Paul says
Dog was ‘just going berserk’
More on that dog attack in Berwick that left a 10-year-old girl seriously injured overnight.
Neighbours have said they heard screams coming from the backyard and rushed to the girl’s aid.
Jimmy Baird told radio station 3AW the young girl was being thrown around “like a rag doll” in the backyard while her seven-year-old sister sheltered, terrified, inside the garage.
Mr Baird said the girls had been left at home alone while their parents had gone to the gym.
He said the dog, a Russian Bullmastiff, was “just going berserk” as neighbours struggled to distract it long enough to retrieve the girl from the backyard.
“We knew she was out there but we couldn’t get her in,” Mr Baird said.
“It was just massive. It was shaking the whole window frame.”
The Russian Bullmastiff was one of at least two dogs on the property at the time.
Mr Baird said the girl had been seriously injured, mauled “from her ears down”.
The girls remains in a serious condition at the Royal Children’s Hospital
Kate says
My five kids have grown up with a mastiff and a pit bull which have been the most gentle dogs I’ve owned. The key is the initial upbringing and training to establish your pecking order in a gentle assertive way .Then ongoing structure rules and love will create an amazing family dog. In response to some of the above comments all children should be supervised with all dogs even a chihuahua. That being said my kids have poked jabbed and pulled on my Argentinian mastiff since she was little and she or my pit bull have never responded aggressively and with the right training neither will yours ( was an instance where a quiet family dog a lab I think who bit a child and they where going to put it down until they found the child had inserted a pencil in the dogs ear so deep it couldn’t be seen ! Understandably they gave the dog a second chance to me that’s a good well trained dog to not bite until after the pencil was touching it’s brain. She never bit again and they supervised their children from then on . AND PLEASE DONT BUY A BOXER FOR A FAMILY WITH YOUNG KIDS THEY ARE ERRATIC AND HIGHLY EXCITABLE AND ENERGETIC MORE CHANCE OF AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS DOG WITH SMALL KIDS THAN ANY BREED
scd says
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Carlo says
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Karlo Márquez says
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Shannon P says
I have a English Bull mastiff named Harley she is great with kids. She is 1 year old as of Jan.15th. Harley does tend to jump on every person that enters my house wanting to play whether she knows them or not. My only concern would be rather a mastiff would be knocking your kids around during play time. Good luck on your purchase of a bull mastiff, they are the best dogs in the world as far as I am concerned.
DanieleR says
Mastiff's are great dogs, and they are known as the gentle giants. They are very protective, and very good with children. Keep in mind however, they are enourmous and they could accidentally hurt children just by knocking them over, bumping into things, etc.
Another option for you could be a Boxer. They are smaller than the mastiff's, still very protective, and absolutely wonderful with kids. That might be worth looking into.
Jade says
The thing is no matter what bread you have the aggressive behavior is always a possibility, and will always need to be watched around your children. HOWEVER:
The Bull Mastiff: is very well tempered and loyal and are very happy around children. They can have a stubborn streak and be hard to train. If you are inexperienced in training a large breed you will need to find a professional trainer. They need LOTS of room to run as they are high energy. THEY CAN HIT THE WALLET IN THE FOOD DEPARTMENT AS THEY HAVE VERY BIG APPETITES. (you will need to ask your vet the recommended food intake for that breed. it is recommended for most large breeds to have 2 cups of food per day. feed 1 cup in am and 1 cup in pm….of course not at bed time or you will have to get up and put them out in the middle of your sleep.) Another problem is they DROOL ALOT!!!!!
But the looks of a Bull Masstiff throws everyone off. They look big and mean but they are really very gentle. (if you compare the research on a Mastiff and a lab you should see they are pretty much the same in temperaments….as far as I can tell)
GOOD LUCK!!!
kristi417906 says
The Bullmastiff is a devoted, alert guard dog, with a good-natured temperament, though he tends to be willful. Docile unless provoked, he is fearless and protective, yet affectionate. Although unlikely to attack, it will catch an intruder, knock him down and hold him. At the same time, it is tolerant of children. Intelligent, even-tempered, calm and loyal. These dogs crave human attention. The Bullmastiff is an extremely powerful dog and needs a firm master. They should be thoroughly obedience trained for safety, and should be taught not to pull on the leash. Be sure to socialize extensively with both people and other dogs at an early age. Bullmastiffs can be aggressive with other dogs and are reserved with strangers. They may be okay with other pets if raised with them from puppyhood. The Bullmastiff is a more aggressive breed than the Mastiff. He tends to drool and snore. Puppies may seem uncoordinated. These dogs are very sensitive to the tone of your voice. It is not a difficult dog but does require a handler who can assert his authority. The Bullmastiff should never be banished to a kennel. This breed tends to drool and slobber.
MoonShyne says
A Rotti and a Bull Mastiff are similar in their protective dispositions. (I know because I have one of each) You are taking a chance as not all dogs of a breed have the same personality but they do have COMMON PERSONALITY TRAITS. You MIGHT have luck if you bring it hope as a pup and make sure it becomes well socialized but by socialized I mean used to people. DO NOT LET YOUR KIDS MAUL THE PUP. If you do the pup will grow up and instinctively dislike your kids and may fear bite from remembering being mishandled as a pup. I would think long and hard about this though. These dogs require a great deal of good training, excercise and do not tolerate being mistreated by people in general but especially kids. With a three and four year old to chase after I would think long and hard about this one.
toph says
First thing, I wonder why you husband insists on the large meaner looking dogs. Does his need for a "masculine" dog have anything to do with the problems with the Rottweiler?
Rotties are great dogs, most are very good with kids.
Mastiffs are also great dogs, a sister of mine breeds English Mastiffs. They are close to 200 lbs. each and afraid of my 30 lb. dogs, who are not at all aggressive. Consider obedience school over training the dog yourself. The people who think they know what they're doing, typically end up with the biggest problems.
hellsbells says
Make sure your dog is well socialized(meaning being used to be around people and other animals).Obedience training….very important!!….a well trained dog behaves better.
Most off all…..teach your kids to respect the dog…..you have to remember….biting is the dogs only defense.
Any dog…no matter what size can show aggression and seriously hurt a small child…..so never leave your kids unattended with the dog.
Well I hope this helps.
vomdeitrichgiants says
I owned an English Mastiff, and he was great with my kids. Just be sure to teach both the pup and the kids to respect each other.
As for the Rotts….I would stay the heck away from that breeder!
averagebear says
I'm not trying to criticize you, but I am wondering if you guys were good with dogs. Maybe the Rottie started out as a normal pup but you didn't give proper training. I mean, if the Rottie thing happened to me, I would doubt myself and feel like a failure and be afraid to do another dog wrong.
becky w says
(I'm no expert) BUt, My old highschool teacher bought one of these dogs as a puupy and she has very small children at the time and I though she was crazy. But she told be that with these breed of dogs they do not attack like aan attack dog. She said if someone was to enter their home (stranger), the dog will corner them and hold them off. She is still very happy with that dog.
400lbtwins says
I have two english mastiffs, 10 months old and they are huge. At the rate they are growing they should have a combined weight of 400 pounds as adults. They are the most loyal and sweest dogs you could have. With training they will be ok with your 13 year old, but just their massif size they will knock around your other two but not on purpose.