"In judging the Bullmastiff I see varying degrees of bites, but mainly good bites with wide underjaws and straight teeth. Missing teeth and dropped incisors are not uncommon. Over the years the canine teeth have gotten smaller, which I believe should be addressed in breeding programs. Without those big canines, the dog might not hold as effectively.

The evolution of the breed to a less moderate and more 'bully' appearance has led to the reversion to the more Bulldog type of bite, although the perfect bite can and should be accomplished with the best of heads."

Breeder-judge Helene Nietsch looks a would-be Bullmastiff winner in the mouth.

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"Ours is a breed of 'if onlys' -- 'if only' this dog with the good head had a better bend of stifle, "if only" this dog with the good, deep chest had a shorter back, 'if only' this near-perfect dog had better pigment! And so it goes on. It has been noticeable in the U.K. over recent years that poor fronts and excessively straight shoulders have been creeping into the breed; shallow and 'cathedral' fronts not only seem to be accepted but bred from and passed on to the progeny."

Bullmastiff breeder-judges from around the world (including Janet Gunn of Flintstock Bullmastiffs in the United Kingdom, quoted above), weigh in on the breed, the standard and their favorite dogs.

"A Bullmastiff has to have a good temperament or, in my opinion, he isn't a Bullmastiff. They are much too big and powerful an animal and could do a great deal of damage if they have an unsound temperament. Temperament is at the heart of the breed. They were beautifully trained by their gamekeeper from puppyhood on to do a specific job at a specific time. The rest of the time was spent with the gamekeeper's family, which included children of all sizes. This was the dog's "family," and he would die to protect it.  This trait remains to this day, and it is what makes him such a good family companion." 

Pat O'Brien of Bullmast Bullmastiffs offers her insight on 10 "always remember" tips for judges and breeders alike.

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"What makes the Bullmastiff a less popular choice in the Best in Show ring? Not a 'sexy' breed, the Bullmastiff might be less understood and not as flashy as the other dogs in the final lineup. Many lack the showy attitude of the other Working breeds, and because they're not from a prominent breed, their correct type might be less commonly understood, which in turn can shake a judge's confidence in awarding the prestigious honor. Many Best in Show Bullmastiffs have been owner-handled, and campaigned and advertised more sparsely, which also contributes to them being unjustly overlooked. ..."

Breeder-judge Helene Nietsch of Banstock Bullmastiffs presents a visual gallery and historical commentary on some of the Bullmastiffs that have earned this AKC honor.

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"Let's be honest, 170-pound dogs are not uncommon, and whilst they may look like Bullmastiffs, they are as far from the original breed as a Neapolitan Mastiff. They would never be able to work alongside a gamekeeper or do a fraction of the work that the dogs of 100 years ago were expected to carry out. Huge and heavy-boned dogs may look the part, but their structure is closer to the Dogue de Bordeaux. Heads like pumpkins may get admiring looks from the casual observer, but short, heavy muzzles with restricted breathing are not desirable for this breed or the work it is intended to do."

Breed specialist Billy Brittle of Oldwell Kennels in Great Britain asks whether the Bullmastiff has become too extreme.

"Tomboy's milk was in force, but it was toxic. Now she didn't want to be separated from the babies but had to be removed from the room. The vet gave me several medications to soothe the pups' intestinal tracts. Nothing seemed to work. They cried and cried and scalded their bellies and legs so badly with the discharge that their toenails fell out of their swollen little toes. I carried them around in a big robe. They were wrapped in soft paper towels to catch the discharge - one pup under each armpit and one each in the two big robe pockets so they had my body warmth and constant contact. I was sure they weren't going to make it."

Bullmastiff veteran Carol Beans shares her whelping adventures.