Want to know what it takes to keep your Bullmastiff looking good? If you thought feeding one was the only difficult part about owning a Bullmastiff, then think again. To keep your gentle giant looking its best, regular baths and grooming time are extremely important, too.
The Bullmastiff’s coat requires regular grooming, of which the routine should include a brush once a week, a bath once a month, and cleaning their eyes and ears once a month.
We’ve devoted this article to showing you how you can keep your Bullmastiff looking like a top dog.
Bullmastiffs have short and dense coats, so haircuts generally aren’t a must, but trimming to tidy up areas such as their paws and tails can keep your mastiff looking like a prize winner.
The sound and vibrations of some trimmers can alarm dogs that aren’t used to them, so go slow, especially to avoid nicking your precious pooch.
A Bullmastiff’s short coat will do a significant amount of shedding, so haircuts will be few and far between. Most dogs with short coats will generally only need brushing, so you can eyeball this one and give your Bullmastiff a trim depending on style preferences or whether certain areas are starting to look untidy.
Unless you’ve managed to get your hands on the long-haired breed, your styling options will be significantly limited because of the nature of a standard Bullmastiff coat. Some owners like etching in patterns when a coat is short, but doing so without knicking your dog’s skin can be risky unless done by a professional.
One of the reasons why the Bullmastiff breed is so popular is because their grooming requirements are not as extensive as their other canine counterparts. This, however, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give your Bullmastiff the attention it deserves.
For good measure, a Bullmastiff should be groomed every six to eight weeks, depending on your dog’s lifestyle and activity levels. Here are some easy ways to groom your dog in the comfort of your home.
Giving your Bullmastiff a brush on a daily or weekly basis is the best way to remove dead hair from the dog’s coat and reduce excessive shedding.
The brush that you use for your own hair might not do, so head down to your local veterinarian or pet store and pick up a slicker brush that suits the length of a Mastiff’s coat. Brush in the direction of hair growth with firm strokes but avoid applying too much pressure to the coat as this could result in you damaging the skin.
Frequent baths are a must to prevent skin problems and to keep a pooch smelling fresh and free of pests. If given the opportunity, a lot of pooches would prefer to skip bath time, so don’t be surprised if your massive Bullmastiff would prefer to do the same. Convincing some dogs may require treats, some trickery, and a whole lot of patience.
Before bathing your Bullmastiff, ensure the water is warm to make your furry friend comfortable. Choosing the right shampoo is crucial, as the wrong product can irritate your dog’s skin. Create a nice lather with the shampoo to cover the Bullmastiff evenly. Massage the lather in, and be sure to get into the deep face wrinkles before rinsing.
A high-velocity dryer is recommended for removing any excess water after the bath.
Avoid overcleaning your Bullmastiff, as doing so can cause skin irritation. Brushing, baths, and haircuts can be followed up with nail trimming and ear and eye cleaning.
For a lot of beginners, grooming tends to end after bathing a dog, sorting out its hair, or when their dog runs away. But there are many other things to remember before the job can be considered done, and some of these might require some training:
Be sure to inspect your dog’s ears every week to identify signs of and prevent ear mites and ear infections; the Bullmastiff breed is much more prone to problems with their ears. Notable signs of an ear problem in Bullmastiffs include excessive head shaking and a reduction in food consumption.
Ear cleaning is easiest when your Bullmastiff is calm. Use cotton balls and a solution that has been approved by your veterinarian to wipe away the debris and buildup gently. Avoid using cotton tips because if they protrude, it can cause a lot of damage.
Natural oils like lavender essential oil can work well for their ears and have a reputation for working wonders while relaxing your pampered pooch.
Thorough yet gentle ear cleaning should be done at least once a month, as your canine needs to have its sensory systems firing on all cylinders to protect you and live a happy life.
The teeth are an often overlooked part of keeping your Bullmastiff healthy; poor dental health can even result in heart or kidney disease if ignored. So start brushing their teeth as soon as possible. And much like when working with their eyes and ears, be very cautious.
Brushing your Mastiff’s teeth regularly is a simple yet highly effective way to prevent tooth decay. Be sure to select a toothbrush that suits the jaws of a Bullmastiff and a dog-specific toothpaste.
With its massive paws, it’s essential to keep up to date with your Bullmastiff’s nail maintenance to avoid them hurting people and themselves. Here are a few details you need to know when keeping their nails at a decent length.
Grinding a Bullmastiff’s nails is a much safer option compared to using a nail clipper. Every dog’s nails have a point where the blood vessel and nerve meet, called the “quick.” Because Bullmastiffs have black nails, spotting the quick can be difficult, so go with a grinder rather.
When nail trimming, start slowly to avoid frightening your Bullmastiff. Go nail by nail and grind the nail from all angles. It’s always recommended to get help for this, as handling a large dog can be quite a task.
If you ever find yourself wondering when exactly your mastiff should have its nails trimmed, then the answer is simple, a dog’s nails should not touch the ground when they are standing. Another way you can tell is if you hear the nails clicking as your Bullmastiff walks on a hard surface. Infrequent nail trimming can result in foot problems which neither you nor your dog need.
Check your dog’s eyes to ensure they are bright and clear. Discharge or irritations can be carefully wiped away using warm water and cotton balls. If your mastiff is blinking or pawing at its eyes excessively, then this may be an indication of a more serious problem that should be vet checked.
Grooming can take place as soon as your dog is between 12 to 16 weeks old, as anything after 16 weeks may prove difficult.
Bullmastiffs should be bathed every six to eight weeks but can be subject to how active your dog is. If your dog is visibly dirty, then it’s best to give them a bath as soon as possible.
Enlisting the services of a professional groomer is often recommended and easier. Still, it can become costly over time, and you might want to eventually cut costs by doing it yourself. Maintaining your Mastiff at home is a good opportunity to bond with your dog, save money, and identify any potential health issues.
Because of their coat length and the amount of hair they lose, shaving your mastiff for summer is not necessary.
Maintaining a dog is important for enhancing its health and quality of life. Taking care of a big dog is a big task, so always be patient and gentle, and if you can’t handle it, set aside some cash for a professional groomer.
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