Italian Greyhound vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison

Italian Greyhound vs Bullmastiff - Breed ComparisonItalian Greyhound is originated from Italy but Bullmastiff is originated from United Kingdom. Italian Greyhound may grow 30 cm / 11 inches shorter than Bullmastiff. Italian Greyhound may weigh 52 kg / 114 pounds lesser than Bullmastiff. Italian Greyhound may live 3 years more than Bullmastiff. Italian Greyhound may have less litter size than Bullmastiff. Both Italian Greyhound and Bullmastiff requires Low maintenance.

History

italian greyhound - historyThe Italian Greyhound is an ancient breed, a purebred originating in Italy but with evidence to suggest it was also to be found in Turkey and Greece.

It's a small breed dog that became popular with Italian royalty in the 16th century. Over the centuries, the dog's appearance has remain unchanged, although breeders tried to make it even smaller, leading to problems with the health of the dog.

Towards the end of the 1800s, it was fortunate that breed fanciers implemented breeding programs to restore the dog's look's and strength. The American Kennel Club registered the Italian Greyhound in 1886. Today the dog is a wonderful companion dog.

bullmastiff - historyThe 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.

Description

italian greyhound puppy - descriptionThe sweet Italian Greyhound is much like the regular Greyhound, just smaller but every bit as sleek, elegant and fine-boned. He stands at between 33 and 38cm at the withers and weighs just 3 to 7kg. He is slender and elegant.

He has long, fine-boned legs and his short, smooth coat makes him easy to groom too. The coat comes in a number of colors such as fawn, tan, grey, reddish, chocolate and black.

Temperament.

Described as sweet, intelligent and playful, the Italian Greyhound adapts easily to life in the city or to country life.

He is easy to train too, and even though he is small and amicable, it is still a good idea to have him trained and socialized as he is just a simple pleasure to have around then. He just loves the company of his human family and becomes a gentle friend to other dogs, to children in the home and to the elderly.

He is a frail toy dog, and he needs to be constantly watched over that he isn’t handled roughly by disrespectful children or from bigger pets. He is an active breed and will love to be played with and join you on your walks. Even though he is such a frail, fragile looking dog, he has a feisty, stubborn, defiant side to him and that is why training and socialization becomes important. He will be reserved around strangers.

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.

Characteristics

italian greyhound dog - characteristicsIf you’re looking for a sweet, gentle canine friend, the Italian Greyhound promises to be just that. They just crave human companionship and are eager to please.

He isn’t the ideal playmate for children, simply because he is frail and can get hurt easily in rough play.

Small he may be, but he is intelligent and alert, and he will bark to warn you of strangers. They are essentially indoor dogs, and when you bring one of them into your home, you’ll be rewarded with a devoted, loving and loyal canine friend.

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.

Health Problems

italian greyhound puppies - health problemsYour small Italian Greyhound isn’t a sickly dog breed, and in fact, with the right care, he can live to be between 10 to 14 years of age.

As with any dog breed however, there will be some more common conditions to watch for in the Italian Greyhound. Some of these are epilepsy, hyperthyroidism and periodontal disease.

Epilepsy:

There are different types and causes of seizures, and there are actually no definitive tests for epilepsy. One seizure isn’t enough to make a diagnosis and more than one seizure is usually recorded before a diagnosis can be made and treatment prescribed.

These treatments don’t cure Epilepsy but rather control the symptoms and keep the dog seizure-free so that they can have a normal life.

Seizures are not all the same – some are life-threatening and advice from the internet can’t be looked upon as adequate. With a dangerous disease such as epilepsy, excellent and qualified veterinary help will be required.

Periodontal Disease:

Gum disease can be terrible for your pet. Apart from bone loss and loss of teeth, your pet will experience pain. Periodontal disease may well be common in dogs, but it can be prevented.

Once an animal has eaten food, particles of food, saliva and bacteria form plaque over the teeth and this doesn’t only cause damage to the teeth but to the entire immune system.

This disease can cause inflamed gums and loss of teeth. It is important to brush your pet’s teeth with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste.

The truth is, periodontal disease can cause more problems than just tooth pain which is bad enough. Dogs with gum inflammation may be at higher risk for heart- and kidney disease too. If you’re worried about your dog, take him in to your vet for an oral examination and teeth cleaning.

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.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

italian greyhound dogs - caringThe Italian Greyhound has a short, smooth, satin-type coat which is easy to maintain. Gently brush him once or twice a week, being careful not to press down hard as he has frail, bambi-like legs.

He also sheds little, making him a low maintenance breed. Because of the short coat, take particular care of him in the Winter and don’t allow him to become overly cold.

Diet:

Your Italian Greyhound will require a diet rich in nutritional value, and if your particular dog is quite active you will need to feed him about 450 calories a day and sometimes more.

Each dog is an individual and will have different dietary needs. If you feed your pet a top quality commercially manufactured food, read the packaging for guidance on food portion sizes.

Speak to your vet if you are unsure how to feed your dog so that his food and the amounts you feed him contribute to his good health. He must always have access to fresh, cool water.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Working dog
Origin:
Italy
United Kingdom
Height Male:
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
61 - 68 cm
24 - 27 inches
Height Female:
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
59 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
41 - 59 kg
90 - 131 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
39 - 59 kg
85 - 131 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 4
6 - 10
Size:
Small dog
Large dog
Other Names:
IG, Iggy
Bull Mastiff
Colors Available:
grey, tan, Fawn, chocolate and black., reddish
Fawn, Red or Brindle
Coat:
Short and smooth
Short and dense
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Samoyed vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  2. Bullmastiff vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  3. Bullmastiff vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  4. Bullmastiff vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  5. Bullmastiff vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  6. Bullmastiff vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  7. Bullmastiff vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  8. Bullmastiff vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  9. Bullmastiff vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  10. Bullmastiff vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  11. Bullmastiff vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  12. Bullmastiff vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  13. Bullmastiff vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  14. Bullmastiff vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  15. Bullmastiff vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Bullmastiff vs Alano Espanol - Breed Comparison
  17. Bullmastiff vs Antebellum Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  18. Great Pyrenees vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  19. Presa Canario vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  20. Labrador Husky vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  21. Argentine Dogo vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  22. Giant Schnauzer vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  23. Goldador vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  24. Dogo Cubano vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  25. Dogo Sardesco vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  26. Pomeranian vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  27. Maltese vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  28. Pug vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  29. Maltipoo vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  30. Papillon vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  31. Japanese Chin vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  32. Miniature English Bulldog vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  33. Italian Greyhound vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  34. Italian Greyhound vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  35. Italian Greyhound vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  36. Italian Greyhound vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  37. Italian Greyhound vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  38. Italian Greyhound vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Italian Greyhound vs Dorgi - Breed Comparison
  40. Italian Greyhound vs Belgian Griffon - Breed Comparison
  41. Italian Greyhound vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  42. Italian Greyhound vs Dorkie - Breed Comparison
  43. Italian Greyhound vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  44. Italian Greyhound vs Doxiepoo - Breed Comparison
  45. Italian Greyhound vs Bospin - Breed Comparison
  46. Italian Greyhound vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  47. Italian Greyhound vs Damchi - Breed Comparison
  48. Italian Greyhound vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  49. Italian Greyhound vs Doxiepom - Breed Comparison
  50. Jug vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds