A Look Into the Bullmastiff Psyche

Linda Thompson
Obedience Trainer ~Conformation Trainer ~ Handler
Colorado  USA
Phone:  719-784-6666
Email:  bmfrescue@bullmastiffinfo.org   

BullmastiffInfo.org:  Tell us about your training facility and expertise.

Thompson:  Currently, I conduct classes in a city parks and recreation facility.  Private lessons are usually conducted at the client's home. 

I have acquired 12 obedience degrees on Shetland Sheepdogs, an Irish Setter and a Bullmastiff.  I have championed 7 Bullmastiffs; 1 Bernese Mountain Dog; and pointed another Bullmastiff, a Stafford Bull Terrier and a German Shepherd Dog.

For approximately 10 years I was a trainer for Blue Springs 'N Katy-Did Dog Training Center in Englewood, CO.  To become a trainer for BSKD I went through their 9 month Trainer's Course, a unique program including study and practical application of training principles followed by a one year apprenticeship before becoming an actual trainer.

I taught KPT (Kindergarten Puppy Training), Beginner Obedience, Novice Obedience and Conformation.  These were all-breed classes.

BullmastiffInfo.org:  Please describe your interpretation of the inherent behavior of the typical Bullmastiff.

Thompson:  My interpretation of the inherent behavior of the typical Bullmastiff is that he is deliberate, stubborn, intuitive, calm, intelligent (in the manner in which we define intelligence in dogs), extremely loyal, independent and frequently dominant.  I find their inherent behavior to be sensitive but also alpha if given half a chance.  My interpretation is based on those Bullmastiffs I have known well, most of which have come from good breeding.  However, most of these traits are also found in the majority of rescue dogs I have placed.  The key word here is typical.  There can always be extremes either direction.

BullmastiffInfo.org:  Do you believe that the temperament of a Bullmastiff can be inherited from their parents?  Why or why not?

Thompson:  Temperament is inherited, period.  Temperament is the mental peculiarities of the invidual that are endowed by nature (genetics).   Manifested characteristics of temperament that we easily recognize are timidity, aggressiveness, nervousness, calmness, fearfulness, submissiveness, dominance.  Most dogs have varying combinations of the above traits.

DISPOSITION is the sum total of inherited temperament plus the effect of life experiences. 

Inherited temperament cannot be substantially changed.  It may be slightly modified but you will not take a dog who is genetically programmed to be submissive and make it a dominant dog.  Nor can you make a dominant aggressive dog timid or submissive.  About the most you can do with inherited temperament is attempt to modify and control it.

Disposition on the other hand, can be largely controlled within the constraints of the dog's inherited temperament.  Since, thankfully, most puppies are born  middle-of-the-road dogs, not being extreme in any of the above mentioned temperament characteristics, an astute and attentive owner can mold the dog's disposition with timely and effective conditioning and training.

In applying this to Bullmastiffs, given an understanding of the breeds involved in the development of the Bullmastiff breed, an owner must realize the need to establish himself/herself as the authority in the dog/human relationship early on.

The "Bull" in the breed's name should immediately bring to mind adjectives such as stubborn, tenacious, determined.  The "Mastiff" in the breed's name immediately conjures up the image of a LARGE dog.  Hence, you can reasonably conclude you will most likely have a large stubborn dog on your hands!!

BullmastiffInfo.org:  A common characteristic of the Bullmastiff temperament is their propensity for animal aggression.  Is it possible to control this natural instinct?  How?

Thompson:  Yes, it is possible.  But it depends on many factors starting with the individual Bullmastiff's inherited temperament.  If it is born with a high prey drive; or is very dominant; or aggressive, the job will be a tough one and such a puppy should be placed with a very knowledgeable and dominant owner.

Starting with a puppy, it MUST BE socialized very early on (the critical learning period is 8 to 16 weeks, see Clarence Pfaffenberger's book The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior) to ALL entities it will be expected to live with during its life.  So, all puppies should be taken to KPT classes and additionally, socialized with other species of animal such as cats, horses, gerbils, etc.   This may take some doing on the part of the owner, especially if they do not have those other species, but the effort is worthwhile in the long run.

An older dog that was not socialized as a puppy may have a very difficult time adjusting to other animals, and in many, many cases, will not ever become SOCIAL with other animals (they may tolerate another pet, but not willingly).   Sometimes, an older dog can be taught to accept other animals in the household -- we've seen it happen.  But, it takes dedication and determination on the owner's part to do so, plus no small measure of experience with dogs and how to accomplish such a feat.

Owners who get a puppy and never take it out of their back yard and make no attempt to expose the dog to other animals is doing that dog a great disservice.  That owner is presuming he/she will always own that dog and the dog will never need to be around other animals.  But, what happens if that owner dies, or for other reasons cannot keep that dog forever?  We've all seen that statement about dogs needing a home "without other pets."  Well, pet lovers generally like to have more than one pet and it is very difficult to place a dog in a home without other pets.

Lastly, in the extreme, is the adult dog that has never been socialized with other animals and for reasons usually unknown, has a phobia about other animals and will go through doors, windows or fences to get at and kill another animal.  The only reasonable option, in my opinion, for such a dog is the euthanasia needle.  I always wonder if such dogs (and I've known and known of several Bullmastiffs in this category -- all bitches) were simply unsocialized, or if their owners had a sick mentality and encouraged such an attitude thinking it was macho or funny until it got out of control and then was too late.  In all such circumstances, the dog suffers.  In some of these cases I wonder if there weren't another, more aggressive breed's influence in the genetic makeup of these dogs.

While Bullmastiffs certainly can be aggressive to other animals, a well-bred dog with a docile temperament as described in the standard, should be able to be taught to accept other animals in its home -- even new ones that come in when the dog is an adult -- if it has an authoritative, knowledgeable owner. 

I have all kinds of dogs coming and going from my house (as well as having cats) and I have no problems with my dogs.  I don't tolerate fighting and being nasty and my dogs know it.  This is true even for any intact animals I have in my household.  My Bullmastiffs have always been acquired from good responsible breeders who breed true to standard dogs that have solid, stable temperaments.

Breeding tells.  If you buy a puppy, be an educated, discerning buyer.  GO TO THE BREEDER'S FACILITY and see the litter with the dam.  Try to see the sire also.  What kind of temperaments do the parents have?  Do you think you could, or would want, to live with either of the parents?  If not, what makes you think the pups will be much different?

In a nutshell, you CAN control animal aggression in your Bullmastiff by socializing the dog very early in life and then being the absolute authority in your dog's life.

BullmastiffInfo.org:  What is an obedience class/school?

Thompson:  An "obedience class/school" is where one goes to train one's dog by participating in a set of classes (anywhere from 6 to 9 weeks long) in the company of other owner/dog teams.  These classes are taught by knowledgeable, experienced instructors (or at least they should be).   The ratio of instructors to student teams should optimally be 1 to 10.   Classes are usually about an hour long once a week.   The instructor teaches the owners HOW to train their dogs and the owners work with their dogs every day at home utilizing the methods taught in class.  A good training school will have a well developed course that, each week, builds on previous lessons taught.  Typically, in a beginner obedience course the following exercises are taught:  heel on lead; sit and sit-stay; down and down-stay; stand stay; recall (dog coming to owner). 

BullmastiffInfo.org:  What is the advantage of attending an obedience school versus just teaching your Bullmastiff basic commands at home?

Thompson:  Why attend a class?  They are generally more economical than private lessons, but more importantly, your dog learns to obey with the distraction of other people and dogs around.  Again, that socializing influence is so important.  Even though your dog is not actually visiting the other dogs, he learns to behave in the presence of other dogs and people.  You MUST get your dog out of the back yard and into the world in order to have a well-rounded pet.

BullmastiffInfo.org:  The word “socialization” is commonly used in conjunction with proper ownership of a Bullmastiff.  What does this mean?  How would a typical owner accomplish this task? 

Thompson:  One definition of socialize is "to make friendly, cooperative, or social."  In dogdom this requires the owner provide opportunities for the puppy to play with other puppies, meet other species such as cats, ferrets, hamsters, goats, horses, etc., and meet and be handled by lots of people.  All of this should optimally be done by the time the puppy is about 16 weeks old and MUST be done in a controlled environment so that nothing happens to traumatize the puppy.  ALL encounters must be happy and rewarding for the puppy. 

The best way to accomplish the above is to attend KPT classes taught by a well qualified instructor in a controlled environment.  Of course, there won't be livestock or ferrets at the classes, but there will be other dogs and people.

If there are no classes available within a reasonable driving distance, then the owner must make every effort to find safe places to take the puppy to play with other dogs -- puppies preferably, but patient, kindly adult dogs will do also.  And, the puppy should be taken out as much as possible to experience all kinds of sights and sound such as traffic, babies and small children,  as well as meeting a variety of adult humans.   The owner's pocket should be stuffed with very yummy treats (NOT hard dry biscuits) and people who pet the puppy should be asked to give him a treat.

BEAR IN MIND THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE ADVICE IS PREDICATED ON THE PRESUMPTION THAT THE OWNER IS PROVIDING PROPER VACCINATIONS PRECISELY ON SCHEDULE AND NOT UNDULY EXPOSING THE PUPPY TO DANGEROUS ILLNESSES. 

Socializing an adult dog needs to be done carefully with a thorough understanding of the dog's temperament and disposition.  It requires the assistance of a qualified dog trainer/behaviorist.  Therefore, I prefer not to address that subject in generalities.

BullmastiffInfo.org:  Would socializing a Bullmastiff make them less apt to perform their duties as a “guard dog”? 

Thompson:   No.

 ....continue....

Linda Thompson
Obedience Trainer ~Conformation Trainer ~ Handler
Colorado  USA
Phone:  719-784-6666
Email:  bmfrescue@bullmastiffinfo.org