Pugnaces Britanniae vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison

Both Bullmastiff and Pugnaces Britanniae are originated from United Kingdom. Bullmastiff may grow 7 cm / 2 inches shorter than Pugnaces Britanniae. Bullmastiff may weigh 51 kg / 112 pounds lesser than Pugnaces Britanniae. Bullmastiff may live 3 years less than Pugnaces Britanniae. Bullmastiff may have less litter size than Pugnaces Britanniae. Both Bullmastiff and Pugnaces Britanniae requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Miscellaneous dogs
undefined
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Height Male:
61 - 68 cm
24 - 27 inches
67 - 75 cm
26 - 30 inches
Height Female:
59 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
67 - 75 cm
26 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
41 - 59 kg
90 - 131 pounds
52 - 110 kg
114 - 243 pounds
Weight Female:
39 - 59 kg
85 - 131 pounds
52 - 110 kg
114 - 243 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
10 - 15
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
Bull Mastiff
War Dog of Britannia
Colors Available:
Fawn, Red or Brindle
brindle, tan, Fawn
Coat:
Short and dense
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

bullmastiffThe Old English Mastiff as well as the Bulldog are the breeds behind the Bull Mastiff. The Bullmastiff was originally developed in England around the 1860’s. Gamekeepers in England wanted a large, brave, robust dog which could help with keeping poachers away from their large estates which kept game.

As these large estates dwindled, so did the need for the services of the Bullmastiff and later they were simply bred to be family companions. As more Old English Mastiffs were bred, the dog became lighter, so that light tan or fawn became the preferred color.

The breed was officially recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1924, and the American Kennel Club in 1933.

Pugnaces Britanniae is a dog which is now extinct. There isn't certainty surrounding the origins of the dog but it is thought they descended from dogs brought to Britain way back in the 6th century BC already.

These are ancient dogs, and when you do research you find references dating back to centuries ago. In fact when you read of the Roman conquest of Britain you read of huge dogs, which the Romans referred to as Pugnaces Britanniae.

It is believed that the English Mastiff descended from the ancient Alaunt and Pugnaces Britanniae and that the dog was used as a war dog.

Description

bullmastiff puppy - descriptionBullmastiffs are large, brachycephalic dogs, and heights are between 61 and 68cm and the dog weight anything between 41 – 59kg. While it isn’t particularly tall, the dog is thickly set with a deep chest and strong, muscular legs. The Bull Mastiff has a powerful build and plenty of strength with an imposing look on his face. He is a powerful, active breed with a short coat which is also weather resistant and can be any shade of fawn, red or brindle.

The dog has a black muzzle and the skull is large and square. The ears are set high and are short and floppy. The tail was once docked, giving the dog an even more distinctive, powerful appearance, but these days, due to regulations, the tail is left long.

Temperament

The Bullmastiff is a loyal, devoted, fearless, protective dog. When he belongs to a human family, he becomes a companion but a fierce protector too, being a territorial dog. They love being with their family and can be good with children too, and even other pets, but proper training and socialization will be important. They aren’t aggressive around strangers, though he does make a wonderful guard dog.

He is intelligent and stubborn and if you don’t want him becoming destructive, even though he is a low-energy dog, you will need to exercise him and walk him every day.

The Pugnaces Britanniae was a huge dog standing at roughly 67 to 75cm and weighing 52 to 110kg.

He was a heavily built dog, a Mastiff type dog that had a large head, broad muzzle with fairly loose skin around the mouth, brown eyes, a broad back and rump, muscular legs and floppy ears with a long tail. In fact the Mastiff, thought to have descended from the ancient Alaunt and Pugnaces Britanniae, gives you an idea of what the dog looked like. He no doubt has a short, smooth coat available in fawn, tan or brindle and with the black mask.

Temperament:

The Pugnaces Britannia was a naturally aggressive dog so it is to be expected that he wouldn’t automatically have been a good family dog, possibly being aggressive around children and other dogs. They were intelligent and were no doubt taught some simple commands.

They were also very territorial dogs, wanting to instinctively chase and attack unknown people and animals. They were strong minded, confident, loyal ad loving dogs towards their owners, being protective of them, wanting to please them.

Characteristics

bullmastiff dog - characteristicsContrary to his formidable looks, the Bullmastiff is a gentle, affectionate pet when he has been properly socialized. He is a great pet for families and will guard them with his life. He is loyal and devoted but can be somewhat aloof, particularly with strangers.

He isn’t a highly energetic dog and he is more or less low maintenance and easy-going. Feed him correctly, give him a nice, warm sleeping spot to call his own and give him attention like he deserves as a family member. The Bullmastiff will reward you by being a solid and devoted companion.

The Pugnaces Britanniae may well have been a large dog and quite imposing to look at but he was in all likelihood a good-natured pet who got on well with his family members, being loyal and loving if brought up correctly.

Long ago dog training and socialization didn’t exist but a large dog like this would have to be socialized and trained to become obedient and an amicable all-rounder.

Health Problems

bullmastiff puppies - health problemsThe Bullmastiff is a generally healthy breed, but even so, the breed is known for having to contend with certain health issues. He doesn’t have a particularly long life span either and can live to be about 10, ll or 12 years of age. Some of the more common illnesses to look out for include -

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a condition where the thighbone doesn’t fit properly into the hip joint. The troublesome part is that it can lead to arthritis, pain and lameness for your pet.

Bloat:

This is a worrisome, life-threatening condition for a dog, particularly for large, deep-chested dogs such as your Bullmastiff. Instead of feeding your Mastiff one large meal, it is recommended to feed him 2 smaller meals. Bloat occurs when the stomach is distended with gas or air and twists, restricting the normal return of blood to the heart.

The Pugnaces Britanniae could live to 10, 11 or 12 years of age with good care. Large Mastiff type dogs like this would have had to watch out for common canine diseases such as hip dysplasia, cancer and bloat.

In those days, no screening tests were available for health problems like this. Gastric dilatation volvulus or bloat is a common health issue with large, deep chested dogs where the stomach fills with gas and the stomach twists. Its a life threatening disease.

Canine heart disease is another serious health issue with these mastiff type dogs. Early stages with heart disease show there may well be no symptoms at all. However, as the heart disease progresses towards congestive heart failure, the dog will have symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty with breathing, weight loss, a distended abdomen and coughing.

A dog with symptoms like this would have to see a vet immediately.

Caring The Pet

Grooming for Health and Happiness

bullmastiff dogs - caringThe Bullmastiff has a short dense coat which is looked upon as low-maintenance. He will require a brushing twice a week, being a light to average shedder. He is a dog that tends to drool quite a bit so you may need to wipe away slobber from time to time. Because his face has wrinkles, check the creases to ensure they remain free of dirt and food particles to ward off infection.

Check his ears at the same time, brush his teeth at least twice a week with special dog-toothpaste and brush and keep the nails trimmed.

Diet:

Your large Bullmastiff will require high-quality commercial dog food but he will also need some home-made food in between such as rice, vegetables and meat. He is a large dog and will have to get an intake of raw meat too. Dogs denied raw meat can end up with skin problems as well as other health issues.It is better to feel your Bullmastiff smaller meals than to give him one large meal which he scoffs down quickly. Smaller meals will help prevent the most dangerous illness known as Bloat.

Ensure he has a steady supply of fresh, cool water.

Diet:

The diets of ancient dogs were different to what they are today, as in those days there were no commercially manufactured dog foods. Dog owners in all likelihood tossed scraps to them which included starch.

Today a large dog such as the extinct Pugnaces Britannia would have no doubt been fed a high quality kibble from a leading brand and packed with minerals and vitamins specially formulated for a large dog breed.

Homemade food is also important, but not any kind of food – it has to be food which doesn’t upset the dog’s digestive system. Simple but nutritious food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach is ideal for a dog, and when it is chopped up can be added twice a week to the dry kibble for a tasty, healthy treat.

Raw meat added in occasionally is also hugely beneficial. No dog should ever be without fresh, cool water constantly available.

Grooming:

As a short haired dog, the Pugnaces Britanniae would have required a brushing twice a week to rid the dog of loose hairs. Maybe in those days they didn’t check their dogs over to see that all was well, but today you would need to check the inside of the ears. If the insides were red, it could be a sign of an ear infection brought on by dampness, excess wax and dirt.

The eyes would need to be checked for discharge and the teeth checked a well. One rotten tooth can cause a lot of havoc. The nails of the dog would have had to be checked and clipped as well.

Exercise:

As a war dog, the Pugnaces Britanniae would have been fit. He is a big dog and while they require exercise such as walks and hide-and-seek type of games, he isn’t the kind of dog that would go running with you on a jog, as large, heavy dogs can overheat easily.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Bullmastiff vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Bullmastiff vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Bullmastiff vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Bullmastiff vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Bullmastiff vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Bullmastiff vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Bullmastiff vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Bullmastiff vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Bullmastiff vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Bullmastiff vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Bullmastiff vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Bullmastiff vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Bullmastiff vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Bullmastiff vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Bullmastiff vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Bullmastiff vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Bullmastiff vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Bullmastiff vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Bullmastiff vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Bullmastiff vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Bullmastiff vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Bullmastiff vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Bullmastiff vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Bullmastiff vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Bullmastiff vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Pugnaces Britanniae vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Pugnaces Britanniae vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Pugnaces Britanniae vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Pugnaces Britanniae vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Pugnaces Britanniae vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Pugnaces Britanniae vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Pugnaces Britanniae vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison