If you want to know how famous the Bullmastiff is, take note of the celebrities who dote on these wonderful dogs. Among those who have made the Bullmastiff a part of their household are singers Christina Aguilera who has named her dog Cocoa and Robbie Williams who has named his dog Duke. Not yet convinced? A Bullmastiff is actor Robin Williams' constant companion in the movie License to Wed where he plays a reverend.

So why do dog lovers generally have a soft spot for the Bullmastiff? The answer is in the dog reputation as a worthy and reliable family dog. The Bullmastiff is the result of breeding the Old English Bulldog (40%) and the English Mastiff (60%).

The Bullmastiff was bred by gamekeepers sometime in the 1800s for the purpose of guarding and immobilizing poachers. However, it took three generations of Bullmastiffs being bred before the English Kennel Club registered it as purebreds in 1924 and by the American Kennel Club in 1933.

True to its purpose, the fierce Bullmastiff helped the gamekeeper in tracking down and immobilizing poachers. The dark color of the early Bullmastiff made it a good camouflage when hunting poachers at night. It gained popularity though as a hunting guard for the army and was relegated by the Diamond Society of South Africa as a watchdog.

The Bullmastiff is a big dog and the male dogs can grow up to 27 inches tall and 140 pounds while the female dogs can grow up to 26 inches tall and 120 pounds. It does not bark much but when it barks it produces a hollow sound that can make you stare.

Despite the Bullmastiff fierce and massive appearance it is a loyal dog and has a strong protective instinct for his owners. But even in its early days as a gamekeeper dog, the Bullmastiff is not trained to bite but only to disarm and knock down the enemy. Its size can however be threatening to anyone even if it just stands there in front of you.

Like the other Mastiffs the Bullmastiff should be taught how to socialize early. It is not ideal to mix them with other dogs they are not familiar with. The female Bullmastiff should not be mixed with other females when in heat.

While the Bullmastiff is a hit among children, adults should maintain close supervision. A Bullmastiff in a playful mood can knock down small children or even adults due to its size. The Bullmastiff is tolerant when it comes to children and they are very loyal and will protect them when necessary.

However, the Bullmastiff is an attention seeker and it requires someone who is firm and who can exercise authority as a master. It is a very aggressive breed compared to the other Mastiffs so a firm hand is necessary.