The Bullmastiff Husky mix is a rare and unique dog that combines the loyalty and protective nature of the Bullmastiff with the quirkiness and energy of the Siberian Husky.
These dogs are a handful to own for various reasons: they’re prone to being stubborn, require lots of exercise every day, and must be socialized to learn how to behave appropriately around others.
It isn’t all bad news, though. Bullmastiff Husky mixes are incredibly loyal and make great family pets if you’re up to the task of owning one.
Contents
Quick Overview Of The Bullmastiff Husky Mix
Before we jump into the main details, here’s a quick overview of the Bullmastiff Husky mix:
- Other names: Bullsky Mastiff
- Average Lifespan: 9 to 12 years
- Average Height: 23 to 26 inches
- Average Weight: 60 to 120 lbs
- Coat appearance: Short to medium and double coated, with lots of color combinations and markings possible
- Grooming Frequency: Low to moderate grooming needs
- Typical Temperament: Affectionate, Loyal, Energetic, Protective
- Daily Food Consumption: High
- New Owner Friendly: Not suited at all due to large size, exercise needs, and stubbornness
- Suitable to live with children? Usually great with children and babies but requires lots of socialization and supervision
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Need to be socialized with small dogs from a young age due to prey drive
- Suitable to live with cats? Need to be socialized with cats from a young age due to prey drive
Appearance
Bullmastiff Husky mixes vary a lot in appearance, with some taking on more of a Mastiff-type look with a large skull, broad shoulders, and muscular body, while others look more Husky-like with a slender body and pointed ears.
The Bullmastiff Husky mix below clearly takes after the Bullmastiff much more in appearance, which seems to be more common with this mix.
Some Bullmastiff Huskly mixes can take on more of a Husky-like appearance, especially in the face and head, with pointed ears and a more pronounced snout, as you can see in the image below.
I’ve included several examples of both in this article to give you a better idea of what to expect.
You can expect a Bullmastiff Husky to be quite large no matter their appearance, though, with many different coat colors and eye colors possible.
Siberian Husky Appearance & Background
Siberian Huskies have a classic wolf-like appearance, with several Spitz-type features, including erect ears, a thick double coat, and curled tails.
They come in many colors and patterns, including all white, red and white, Agouti, and many more.
Their piercing eyes can also come in various colors, from blue to brown and everything in between.
Huskies were originally domesticated by the Chukchi people of Siberia and used as sled dogs capable of pulling light sled loads for miles at a time.
They have a very slender and agile build that helps them exercise for very long periods.
Bullmastiff Appearance & Background
Bullmastiffs are large, powerful dogs that are a mix between the Mastiff and Bulldog. Note that these Bulldogs are not the same as the ones you see today and were much larger.
They have a classic Mastiff appearance with a large, broad head and shoulders. They have dark eyes, high set, v-shaped ears, and a broad, deep muzzle, contributing to their alert and confident appearance.
Bullmastiffs were bred to protect vast country estates in England, combining the Mastiff and Bulldog in a 60:40 ratio to produce a dog intelligent enough to work but calm enough not to maul a poacher once caught.
Bullmastiffs today are incredible family companions but still have a powerful protective instinct, which needs to be controlled from a young age.
They come in many colors, including the classic fawn, red fawn, and many others.
Average Size
It’s no surprise that the Bullmastiff Husky mix is a large dog, capable of easily reaching 100 lbs or more, depending on the genetics.
They’re also pretty tall, reaching 23 to 26 inches in height. The overall build is more slender than your average Bullmastiff, which helps this mix sustain higher energy levels throughout the day.
Coat Appearance
The coat of the Bullmastiff Husky is usually short and double-coated, which means that grooming is much easier than with the thick, medium-length double coat of the Husky.
Some Bullmastiff Husky mixes have a slightly longer coat, which can require more grooming (more on this shortly).
Many colors are possible, as well as patterns, thanks to the various colors of the parent breeds. Black face markings or masks are also very common from the Bullmastiff side.
Grooming Guide
Most Bullmastiff Husky mixes only need to be quickly brushed with a grooming comb a few times per week at most to get rid of any loose or dead hairs and mats.
Those with a longer coat might need more intense grooming sessions a few times per week to target both layers of the coat, and complete details for this process can be found here.
Expect seasonal shedding, though, as is normal for all double-coated breeds as they prepare for the warmer months.
Bathing
Short-coated Bullmastiff Husky mixes can be bathed quite regularly when needed.
Those with a longer coat benefit from less frequent bathing, as excessive bathing can dry out the coat and affect its natural function.
Remember to use a soap-free, pH-neutral shampoo and conditioner in both cases so that it doesn’t cause any irritation to the skin.
Temperament
Temperament should be at the top of the list when looking at any new dog, especially a mix like the Bullmastiff Husky, where it can vary significantly.
Let’s take a look at what you can expect from this mix.
Affectionate & Loyal
Bullmastiffs are incredibly loyal and affectionate to their families, including children and babies, and are widely regarded as one of the best family companions.
Huskies are much the same and love spending time around their families. The Bullmastiff Husky mix is guaranteed to take after the Bullmastiff and Husky in this regard and become an ideal family member.
Protective Instinct
The protective instinct is where the Bullmastiff and Husky vary a lot.
Bullmastiffs have a strong protective instinct thanks to their background as guard dogs, whereas Huskies have little to no protective instinct at all.
It’s more common for Bullmastiff Husky mixes to be on the protective side, especially when they’re at home and guarding their territory, but they’re also quite friendly with strangers, especially if socialized from a young age.
Active
Bullmastiff Huskies are very active dogs, needing around 2 hours of daily exercise.
Huskies are known for being difficult in this department; they can pull sleds for miles at a time through rough terrain, after all.
Bullmastiffs are also very active, more so than the English Mastiff, and need significant exercise every day.
This means that the Bullmastiff Husky mix is only suited for active people or families who can meet their exercise requirements.
Stubborn
Bullmastiffs are known for being very stubborn and headstrong and often have their own way of thinking about things.
Like many Spitz-type dog breeds, Huskies are naturally very stubborn and often refuse to listen to commands.
Due to this, Bullmastiff Husky mixes are prone to being quite stubborn, which can make obedience training difficult.
Difficult To Train
On the topic of obedience training, Bullmastiff Husky mixes can be challenging to train because of their stubborn trait.
It’s essential to have lots of patience, though, as obedience training is still essential to owning this breed due to their large size and guarding instinct.
Starting from a young age is ideal, starting with the basics like sit and lay and moving on to more advanced commands like stay.
High Prey Drive
The Bullmastiff and Husky have high prey drives, although the likelihood of them harming another animal is low.
This is because Bullmastiffs were originally used to apprehend poachers but not to kill them.
Huskies were rarely used for hunting and instead were used mainly as sled dogs. They still have a high prey drive, but their instinct to kill prey is lower than most other dogs with a high prey drive.
It’s still important to be aware of the high prey drive of this mix, though, as it does mean they’re prone to chasing after small animals instinctually, which can put both the animal being chased and the dog itself in danger.
Pulling Tendencies
It’s important to be aware of the pulling tendency of the Bullmastiff Husky mix, which comes mainly from the Husky side due to their sledding capabilities.
This behavior will require specific training because the Bullmastiff Husky is incredibly strong.
If they decide to pull on the lead for whatever reason, they could easily pull you over if you aren’t expecting it.
Prone To Separation Anxiety
Huskies and Bullmastiffs are both prone to separation anxiety, and this trait remains strong in Bullmastiff Husky mixes as well.
Separation anxiety is when a dog may develop stress and exhibit destructive behaviors when left alone for long periods.
Huskies suffer from this due to their pack mentality and tendency to easily get bored. Bullmastiffs are similar, but they tend to form a close bond with their owners, which can lead them to anxiety when their owners leave the house for periods.
Intelligence
Both parent breeds are intelligent but in their own ways.
Bullmastiffs were bred specifically for intelligence in learning how to work and fulfill their role as guardians of estates, but they can be independent at times as well.
Huskies are also intelligent, but getting them to listen to you is a whole different story.
This means that the Bullmastiff Husky mix will require a lot of patience, but you must persevere, as the intelligence is there to learn most commands or tricks.
Is The Bullmastiff Husky Mix A Good Family Dog?
Bullmastiff Husky mixes are ideal family dogs for active families.
Not only do they form close bonds with family members, but they love to spend as much time with you as possible and enjoy being exercised and going out regularly.
They’re also great with children and babies – with supervision, of course – and will become protective quickly of the whole family.
Requires Lots Of Socialization
All dogs benefit significantly from socialization, and it’s very important for the Bullmastiff Husky mix for several reasons.
This mix is a very large dog that can be very energetic around new people. Depending on the traits they inherit, they can also be wary or suspicious of strangers due to the potential protective instinct of the Bullmastiff side.
In either case, the last thing you want is a 100-pound dog getting over-energetic around strangers or being protective towards them. Socializing them early will help build their confidence and teach them how to act around new people and in new environments.
How Much Do They Cost?
The parent breeds of the Bullmastiff Husky mix can be very expensive, but it’s much more likely that you would find this mix in an animal rescue or dog shelter, given how rare it is.
- Huskies cost anywhere from $800 to $1,500 on average
- Bullmastiffs are also expensive and cost anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 on average
Rescue Bullmastiff Husky mixes can be even more work if they haven’t been socialized properly, so you may need to seek professional help if you face behavioral issues that you can’t fix.
If this is the case, I recommend consulting with an American College of Veterinary Behaviorists accredited dog behaviorist.
In Summary
So that’s it!
Hopefully, you’ve got a better idea of what the Bullmastiff Husky mix is all about after reading this guide.
These dogs are a lot of work to own, but if you’re up for the task, they are rewarding and then some.
If you’re interested in learning about more Husky mixes, you can check out some of our recent articles below:
- Husky Border Collie Mix [Borsky]: Full Guide With Pictures
- Husky Yorkie Mix [Yorksky] – Full Guide With Pictures
- Husky Newfoundland Mix (Newsky): Full Guide With Pictures
- American Bulldog Husky Mix: Full Profile & Pictures
- Husky Coonhound Mix: Full Profile, Pictures, Q&As
- Husky Rottweiler Mix [Rottsky]: Full Breakdown & Pictures
