The Bulldog Jack & the Mastiff Elder's Maid.
Bulldog of the old type and Mastiff of the late 1800's/early 1900's.
It was this kind of dogs that Mr. Moseley used in the creation of the modern Bullmastiff.
This breed is the little brother to the Mastiff.
Although the Bullmastiff were recognized as a purebreed in 1924, and the modern breed being created in the late 1800's/early 1900's, it is
obvious that as long as there have been both Bulldogs and Mastiffs, there have been crossings of these two breeds.
We know that the Bulldog and the Mastiff has the same origin, but have been bred in different directions. When alalyzing
this fact we can assume that the early British Molosser was of Bullmastiff type and stature, or at least closer to the modern
Bullmastiff than to the modern Mastiff.
Although Mr. S. E. Moseley is usally credited as the creator of the modern Bullmastiff, using 60 % Mastiff and 40 % Bulldog in his blend,
we must not forget that long before Mr. Moseley created his line of Bullmastiff, there were already others breeding
"Keeper's Nightdog" or "Mastiffs with a dash of Bull". Already in 1871 there were exhibited, at the Crytal Palace Show, six dogs in
the "Yard or Keeper's Nightdog Class".
The origin of the name "Keeper's Nightdog" or "Gamekeeper's Nightdog" comes from the function of the dogs; used by Gamekeeper's for
personal protection against the poachers. The "Keeper's Nighdog" should be able to put a poacher to the ground, but without
mauling him. The brindle dog were preferred, since the colour will easily blend into the dark
night, making the dog invisible for the poachers.
In addition to Mr. Moseley there were other breeders in the years before and after the recognizion in 1924 that was important in
the breeding for the modern Bullmastiff, but that not normally is given the rightful credit. Amongs these were the owner of Thorneywood
Kennels; Mr. W. Burton, Mr. J. H. Barrowcliffe, Mr. J. H. Biggs, Mr. V. J. Smith, Mr. Barnard & Mr. Toney, and of course others.
We must not forget these men's important work, even if Mr. Moseley's name is appearing much more often than others name in the early
pedigrees of the breed and as the owner and breeder of the early registred Challenge Certificates of the Bullmastiff.
The sole reason to create the modern Bullmastiff was to make an animal with the guarding abilities of the Mastiff, and the courage
of the Bulldog, but it had to be an animal with greater speed and agility than the Mastiff, although the Mastiff himself
was more versatile in the old times than it is today.
Pictures of "CH. Brum" in the 1920's, about the time the Bullmastiff was recognized.
Brum had a weight at 63 kg. (138,6 lbs).
In the background at left the bitch "CH. Grandie" can be seen. She weighted 47,5 kg. (104,5 lbs).
Mr. Moseley is beleived to have used 30 years to perfectioned the breed, and it can be seen on old photos of the
Bullmastiff that the type was not set in this early years of the breed's history. Mr Moseley said himself; "Many years
ago I began to fix a standard and now I have succeeded to establish the right type. But do not believe that I have
made this through inbreeding. Four bitches is of one line, four more of another line, and the two dogs is of seperated
lines. In the crossing there is 60 % Mastiff and 40 % Bulldog. The dogs have a very good nose, they can track,
take a man to the ground on command, but are not aggressive or "fightoriented".
The Bullmastiff soon got many admireres and devoted breeders, so much so that the breed for many years have been larger
in numbers, all over the world, than its larger brother, and parent breed, the Mastiff.
For the ones that want to go more "in depth" in the history of the Bullmastiff, I want to recommend the excellent book
of Mr. Douglas B. Oliff, "The Mastiff and Bullmastiff Handbook", and the equal excellent books of Mr. David Hancock; "The Bullmastiff,
A Breeder's Guide", volume one and two.
Well bred Bullmastiffs will prove that the attemt to create a breed that can guard,
and at the same time be agile with great speed, has been a sucsess.
