This article Boxer dog vs Bullmastiff aims to show you the key similarities and differences between these breeds. Moreover, this article might help you decide which breed to take home to your family if you are torn between the two. Let’s find out which breed might be more suitable for your home.
Table of Contents
Boxer dog vs Bullmastiff: Which working dog is more suitable for your home?
The boxer dog and the bullmastiff are both large dog breeds that require plenty of space and exercise. Moreover, these are both working dogs that need specific tasks to remain occupied and happy. At first glance, you might see that the boxer and the bullmastiff have some physical similarities. However, this might be due to similar ancestry many years back. But, with many years of selective breeding, these two breeds ended up differently.
Appearance
The boxer dog is muscular, yet elegant breed. They usually stand 21.5 to 25 inches tall and weigh around 65 to 80 pounds. The boxer dog is a short-haired dog with various recognized colors and patterns. On the other hand, the Bullmastiff from the bulldog and mastiff ancestry stands 24 to 27 inches tall and weighs around 100-130 pounds. The bullmastiff has numerous colors and patterns to choose from, too.
Grooming
Both the boxer dog and the bullmastiff are large short-haired dogs that require minimal grooming. However, neither of them is hypoallergenic due to their seasonal shedding. The boxer dog might even shed like crazy at times which is attributed to excessive sun exposure and poor diet. On the other hand, the bullmastiff has to be bathed and brushed regularly to prevent hair from getting into the furniture during seasonal shedding.
If the amount of shedding and grooming needs is your deciding factor between these two breeds, they are fairly matched. However, there are some instances that the boxer dog may shed more than usual. There is no recorded instance of excessive shedding in healthy bullmastiffs, except during horrible skin problems.
Health
Before you get a dog, you probably want to know about its overall health. However, in purebred dogs, some are predisposed to certain health issues that might be life-threatening or detrimental. Luckily, there are available tests to detect and treat potential health problems linked to a specific breed. In the boxer and the bullmastiff, you have to get a puppy from a responsible breeder who does regular health checks in their dogs.
For the boxer dog, you might want to test our dog for the following health problems to avoid the condition from getting worse upon early detection:
- Cardiac conditions
- Hip or elbow dysplasia
- Thyroid problems
- Cancer
- Hearing problems attributed to the white coat
- Degenerative disease (myelopathy)
For the bullmastiff, you might want to have your dog tested for the following health problems:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Eye problems
- Heart problems
- Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
In this case, the boxer dog is more prone to some health issues. However, this condition may be avoided with proper breeding practices and regular checkups. But, if a condition has been diagnosed by a veterinarian, it would be more manageable if treatment id administered early on.
Temperament
The boxer dog is the 11th most popular dog in the US because of its fun-loving and active demeanor. Moreover, the boxer dog is very intelligent and eager to please which can make them master certain commands easier. Besides, the boxer dog is very protective and loyal to their owners, so it would be great to teach them a few commands to utilize their skills.
The bullmastiff is an affectionate and brave breed. Being a working dog, the bullmastiff is also capable of various tasks as protection or watchdog. Moreover, many people love the loyalty of this breed. The bullmastiff is a good protector and companion. Besides, they can be tough when at work and very docile with family members.
Both the boxer dog and the bullmastiff are highly trainable. However, these breeds need an assertive handler who uses positive reinforcement to get them to listen. Harsh punishment would not work on either of these breeds and physical punishment might only lead to behavioral problems. If you begin to have difficulty in training the boxer or the bullmastiff, you might want to check out some dog training collars to keep them on track during training.
Lifespan
You probably want a dog that can keep you company for a longer time. In this case, you might want to get a boxer dog since they can live for 10-12 years on average. On the other hand, if you opt for a bullmastiff, you may just expect your dog to be with you for an average of 7-9 years. A boxer dog can keep you company for a longer time as long as it remains healthy and physically capable.
Boxer pros and cons
There are many things to love about the boxer dog. However, it is not a perfect dog. To sum it up here are pros and cons of owning a boxer dog:
Pros
- Loyal
- Active
- Smart
- Naturally protective of people and property
- Fun-loving
- Low grooming needs
- Easy to train
- Longer lifespan
- Need plenty of exercises
Cons
- May sometimes shed excessively
- Susceptible to separation anxiety when left alone
- Can be destructive when bored
- Predisposed to several health problems
Bullmastiff pros and cons
The bullmastiff is not a very popular breed in the US and it might be for the following reasons:
Pros
- Courageous
- Loyal
- Eager to please
- Predisposed to fewer health problems
- Low grooming needs
- Calm with family members
- Very keen as a working dog
- Need less exercise
Cons
- Shorter lifespan
- Potentially destructive when bored
- Aggressive tendencies towards other animals
- Plenty of legal liabilities in some areas
- Aggressive tendencies towards people if not properly socialized
The Verdict
Boxer dog vs bullmastiff is a guide for aspiring dog owners to help you select the right dog breed for your home. The needs of each breed have to be taken into consideration before taking one home. Also, owning a specific breed also has its cons, so make sure that it is something that you can deal with.
