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 HOW
IT ALL BEGAN
Poaching
was a crime punishable by death, or sent
abroad to Colonial Australia for seven
years or brutal whippings. Why did they
do the crime? To some this was a means
of life and the only way to support a
family to others fortune. Poachers used
dogs called Lurchers, which consisted of
a cross between a Greyhound and Shepherd
to assist them with retrieving chasing
and hunting down game from Gamekeepers
properties. Lurchers were also trained
to attack on command that were usually
apprehending Gamekeepers.
In the
beginning Mastiffs were used but
Gamekeepers found the Mastiff was too
large and cumbersome and unfortunately
didn't leave too much of the poachers
behind. Some poachers were only children
of around 10 years of age.
Gamekeepers then started
their search for a dog that was strong,
silent, fearless, agile and powerful
enough to be able to run down and knock
the poacher to the ground. They also
required a breed that would not maul the
poacher but only hold them until help
came from the Gamekeeper.
Obviously all of these
traits would not be found in one breed
of dog. Many crosses between Mastiffs
and Saint Bernard's Labradors and Great
Danes were trailed until they had
success with the Mastiff for its power,
trustworthiness, fearsome appearance and
loyal nature and the Bulldog for its
tenacity, silence and agility. Hence
the Bullmastiff which consisted of 60%
Mastiff and 40% Bulldog. The
Bullmastiff is a dependable loyal
guarding breed, which earned the respect
of the Gamekeeper not just as a guard
dog but as well as a family dog.
Even though records have
shown that the cross of a Mastiff
Bulldog type found in editorials as
early as 1795 it wasn't until 1924 that
Bullmastiffs were to be judged but three
generations of breeding of Bullmastiffs
was required for Bullmastiffs to be
registered as purebreds. Thankfully to
the dedication of Mr. J. Biggs of
Osmaston Kennels, Mr. J Barrowcliffe,
Mr. J Barnard, Mr. S. E. Mosley of
Farcroft Kennels and Mr. V. Smith of
Pridzor Kennels, Bullmastiffs attained
full registration in 1927. Challenge
certificates were issued as of 1928 to
make up the title of Champion. The first
show where Challenge Certificates were
issued was the 1928 Crufts Show judged
by H. R. Brown Jr. Dog challenge was
awarded to Mr. V J Smiths Tiger Prince
and bitch challenge was awarded to Mr.
S. E. Mosley's Farcoft Silvo who also
went on to be the first Bullmastiff
titled Champion. The first dog to be
titled Champion was Tiger Prince.
To have a better
understanding of the breed standard we
as breeders today need to understand the
importance of the history of our breeds.
By Nellie Abela
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 THE
GAMEKEEPERS NIGHT DOG
The original
working dog colour choice
was always brindle.
The reason
behind this was, that it
made the Bullmastiff very
easily camouflaged into the
background and the darkness
of the night, thus making
him less detectable to an
unsuspecting poacher.
A fawn or red dog was too
easily seen in the
moonlight, an as such, were
not preferred by the
Gamekeepers for working
dogs.
Dark eyes were essential.
It enabled them to blend
into the dogs black mask,
making him even more
difficult to detect in his
surroundings.
The characteristic wrinkling
on the dogsí forehead when
it becomes alert, was
used as a silent warning to
the gamekeeper to beware.
In the dark, the Gamekeeper
would place his hand on the
dog's forehead. If the
the became alert in the
darkness, the wrinkling
would appear and give the
silent signal to his master
that something had taken his
interest.
It is for that
is the reason the Breed
Standard calls for the dog
the have wrinkling when
interested but not when in
repose. A dog with
excessive wrinkle that did
not recede when the dog was
relaxed, would be deemed
unworthy of being a working
dog.
It was
quickly discovered that dark
toenails wore better than
the light coloured ones, and
therefore provided better
protection in the rough
terrain. The Bullmastiffs
short weather-proof coat
protected the dog from the
extremes of weather, as
well, it did not allow
sticks or debris to become
caught in it to which may
slow him down or inhibit him
from performing his task
efficiently.
The Bullmastiff requires a
powerful, purposeful gait.
This, combined with it's
wide, deep muscular chest,
enabled him to knock down
poachers, and hold them to
the ground until the
Gamekeeper came within reach
and released the dog.
Tight, cat-like feet enabled
the large dog to move in
stealth, so as not to alert
the poacher of it's
approach.
These points as well as many
others are still reflected
in todayís breed standard.
By Nikki
Marshall |
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