I want to get a Bull mastiff but...?

Question

I have 2 young boys one 9 mth and ine 20mth old i have reserched that they are good with children has anyone herd anything bad about this breed or why shouldnt i get one?

Answer 1

There are so many wonderful dog breeds to choose from. With two young children, why would you get a bullmastiff which belongs to the category 2 of dangerous dogs . Have you not heard the news? Can you guarantee that your children would NEVER EVER be alone with the dog?
for more info read this:
http://www.dogguidance.com/bigdogs/bullmastiff.htm
http://www.saveourbreeds.org.uk/bans.htm
Get another kinder and less risky dog. You would NEVER EVER forgive yourself if something happened..
good luck

Answer 2

Uhh...besdies the drooling they are great dogs. I would probably wait a little while before getting one with little kids. They are great with kids but it can be difficult trying to train the puppy and teach the kids how to interact with the puppy at the same time. You also have to think about how if your kids rough house with the puppy when he is only 15 pounds the puppy may think it is okay to rough house with them when he is 100 lbs and he could really hurt the kids (accidentally) Also some dogs (in general not just this breed) if they favor one over the other-lets say your 9 month old- and your 20 month old is hitting him or makes him cry the dog may get defensive. If the kids are older then they can help train the puppy and learn how to take care of it. If the kids are old enough and really want a puppy then you can teach them responsibilities of having pets and make it a treat. Like if you are good you get to walk the puppy today or you get to feed him today (but only after you make sure the pup isnt food aggressive) That way you can have both boys learn how to take care of the dog and they will hopefully see it as a reward not a chore. Also is he going to be and outdoor dog. My uncle has one who is 3 years old and is kind of both. When Hank gets to playing fetch in the house things get broken all the time and he tends to shake the whole house when he runs. lol. The dogs are great dogs but you need to be able to devote enough time to properly train the puppy and raise your kids. When you have enough time and energy to do that then by all means get one. Good luck and have fun. They are great dogs and very sweet

Answer 3

I don't recommend a dog of any breed until your youngest is at least two to three years old. Any younger and the children don't understand well enough to be taught. That being said, it still depends if you are getting a puppy or adopting a dog. Puppies have the same problem as young toddlers. They aren't old enough to learn that they cannot rough house with wild abandon with a one year old. Mastiffs are wonderful big lugs when they get to be full size. They are also heavy, massive and powerful. You don't want one rolling over on your child in bed.

I don't think you realize how much work you are in for.

Answer 4

These dogs are considered Giant breeds dogs. You have to find a very good breeder to purchase one. Please know these dogs don't come cheep either a very good breeder will charge anywhere from 1,0000 dollars and up. They will at a very quick rate grown to be somewhere between 120-150 pounds. They need alot of training and socialization. they come with health problems also because they are so big. Knee and elbow, hip, and heart issues. Their life span is not the longest either up to 7 years old anything after that is a gift.
These dogs are great with children if trained properly. It's a really big dog, so you should really think about this.

Answer 5

Mastiffs are great with children. Most giant breeds are highly recommended for households w/ children b/c they are so lazy. Speaking from experience, the only thing that I would watch out for is how they like to "slap" while playing. Those big paws can hurt! Keep the nails trimmed regularly.

Answer 6

I would wait until your children are a bit older. No reputable breeder would allow you to buy a dog with two such young children, particularly the 9 mth old. Puppies are very hard work and would you be able to devote the time needed to a pup when you are running around after your toddlers.

Answer 7

Well they are very large so you obviously need to make sure the dog does not hurt the kids, and this breed tends to slobber!! But I love Bull Mastiff's, they are one of my favorite breeds.

Answer 8

Personally,I would wait until both boys are a few years older as BullMastiffs are large and can get a bit rambunctious when playing.

Answer 9

I wanted a Bullmastiff. I have a 1 year old and a 3 year old. My husband and I were looking for a large dog that is good with children. The Bullmastiff was on top of our list along with the American Bulldog (which is the one we chose in the end) I researched the two breeds, emailed breeders asking for information and their experience with the breed. The only thing with having a large dog with young children is, you can't leave the puppy alone even for a minute with your children. When I leave the room I either put my pup in it's crate and I also have the pup tethered to me by his leash so I could keep an eye on it. All puppy's play bite in the beginning and you have to correct this right from the start. Another thing is they are really bouncy and knock young children over, this is another reason why I have my pup tethered to me so I could correct this and show him that he has to sit to get anything or approach anyone. Any dog is good with children if they are given the proper training and socialization right from the beginning. I also don't play tug a war with my pup I taught it to Leave It when it tried to grab something from my child or from myself, when he goes to grab something I would tell him to leave it and when he stops right away I gave him a treat now he sort of caught on to what it means. I also use a water gun to help me correct him with things, like barking. You have to be really patient and consistant when training. I use the Nothing in life is free for my dogs ( I also have a Boston Terrier ),

Nothing in Life is Free Method
Does your dog: Get on the furniture and refuse to get off? Nudge your hand, insisting on being petted or played with? Refuse to come when called? Defend its food bowl or toys from you? "Nothing in life is free" can help. "Nothing in life is free" is not a magic pill that will solve a specific behavior problem; rather it's a way of living with your dog that will help it behave better because it trusts and accepts you as its leader and is confident knowing its place in your family.

How to practice "nothing in life is free:"
Using positive reinforcement methods, teach your dog a few commands and/or tricks. "Sit," "Down" and "Stay" are useful commands and "Shake," "Speak" and "Rollover" are fun tricks to teach your dog.
Once your dog knows a few commands, you can begin to practice "nothing in life is free." Before you give your dog anything (food, a treat, a walk, a pat on the head) it must first perform one of the commands it has learned. For example:
YOU YOUR DOG
Put your dog's leash on to go for a walk Must sit until you've put the leash on
Feed your dog Must lie down and stay until you've put the bowl down
Play a game of fetch after work Must sit and shake hands each time you throw the toy
Rub your dog's belly while watching TV Must lie down and rollover before being petted

Once you've given the command, don't give your dog what it wants until it does what you want. If it refuses to perform the command, walk away, come back a few minutes later and start again. If your dog refuses to obey the command, be patient and remember that eventually it will have to obey your command in order to get what it wants.
Make sure your dog knows the command well and understands what you want before you begin practicing "nothing in life is free."
The benefits of this technique:
Most dogs assume a neutral or submissive role toward people, but some dogs will challenge their owners for dominance. Requiring a dominant dog to work for everything it wants is a safe and non-confrontational way to establish control.
Dogs who may never display aggressive behavior such as growling, snarling,or snapping, may still manage to manipulate you. These dogs may display affectionate, though "pushy" behavior, such as nudging your hand to be petted or "worming" its way on to the furniture in order to be close to you. This technique gently reminds the "pushy" dog that it must abide by your rules.
Obeying commands helps build a fearful dog's confidence; having a strong leader and knowing its place in the hierarchy helps to make the submissive dog feel more secure.
Why this technique works:
Animals that live in groups, like dogs, establish a social structure within the group called a dominance hierarchy. This dominance hierarchy serves to maintain order, reduce conflict and promote cooperation among pack members. In order for your home to be a safe and happy place for pets and people, it's best that the humans in the household assume the highest positions in the dominance hierarchy. Practicing "nothing in life is free" effectively and gently communicates to your dog that its position in the hierarchy is subordinate to yours. From your dog's point of view, children also have a place in this hierarchy. Because children are small and can get down on the dog's level to play, dogs often consider them to be playmates, rather than superiors. With the supervision of an adult, it's a good idea to encourage children in the household (aged eight and over) to also practice "nothing in life is free" with your dog.

Good luck in your search.