How Much Do Bullmastiffs Cost? [Finance Guide For New Owners]

Are you considering a Bullmastiff but are not sure how much they cost? Both upfront and the ongoing financial commitment? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Today we are going to be running through everything related to financing this large, solid built and short-muzzled breed.

So, how much does a Bullmastiff cost? Bullmastiff puppies cost approximately $1,500 on average when bought from a reputable breeder. Although, top-quality Bullmastiff puppies can cost as much as $3,500. Your expenses over the first year can reach up to $5,000, and they will cost you around $2,000 per year to take care of as adults.

Bullmastiffs are generally a little cheaper than bulldogs but more expensive than Mastiffs.

But regardless of the breed you choose, when preparing to welcome a new puppy, making a budget should be something you put at the top of your to-do list.

Dogs, in particular, come with a multitude of expected and some not-so-expected expenses.

There are the once-off initial costs that you can easily budget for upfront, and then there are ongoing costs such as food, training, vets bills, grooming, and so forth.

So to make things easier for you and your Bullmastiff, here are a few things you need to bear in mind when doing your calculations.

How Much Do Bullmastiff Puppies Cost?

You can find a Bullmastiff puppy for anything between $1,000 to $3,500 and over. The price can vary depending on who you buy from and what they include in that price (vaccinations, deworming, and so on).

Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended that you research different shelters or breeders to make sure that you find someone reputable.

Someone with a proven track record will give you health clearances for the parents of your new puppy as well as proper papers proving that they have good pedigree and bloodlines.

And here is why it is important.

The breeding of your Bullmastiff will give you an idea of the long-term health and well-being of your puppy.

If this seems a little on the expensive side, then thankfully, there is another option for you.

If you decide to rehome a puppy by adopting, your costs drop substantially.

Adoption fees range from $50 to $500, and shelters generally vaccinate, spay or neuter your puppy and give them a deworming treatment.

Just consider there is always going to be a range.

The above prices may vary depending on where you get your puppy.

Some breeders and shelters give their puppies their initial vaccinations, deworm them and spay or neuter them.

Some may include your basic puppy supplies, and breeders should include health clearances and registration certificates.

Whether these things are included or excluded affects the price that a breeder or shelter will charge you for a puppy.

There are other things you need to consider when looking at the cost of a puppy.

And we will soon be exploring them. So keep reading!

But first, why does the price of a Bullmastiff range so much?!

Factors That Influence Bullmastiff Puppy Prices

The two factors that influence the price of Bullmastiff puppies are the type of breeder you go through and whether you decide to buy a purebred or crossbreed. Other factors such as health, training, socialization, age, and color all influence the price of a puppy.

Mixed breeds are not as expensive as purebred dogs, but even within the category of purebreds, you get large swings in the price.

For example, some breeder’s dogs are more sort after, and some bloodlines are more prized than others.

Puppies that have a good pedigree, such as parents who are purebred show quality dogs, will command a much higher price than others.

Breeders that sell these high pedigree dogs will invest more time and money into caring for their dogs and puppies, which will inflate the price.

Bullmastiffs are registered with kennel clubs all over the world, such as the American Kennel Club.

Breeders may register their dogs with these clubs and will provide a registration certificate in this regard which adds to their fees.

In the same vein, reputable breeders will have health certificates for their dogs.

This means that the puppies have already been checked by a vet to rule out medical issues, as well as having their vaccinations and possibly a microchip.

Although you pay a higher price for this, it may be worth considering as you know that the risk of getting an unhealthy dog or one that has chronic conditions is reduced.

In addition, your chosen breeder may only sell their puppies after they have trained and socialized them.

Unfortunately, everyone wants a cute 8-week-old puppy. A puppy that is six months old is less desirable and thus less expensive.

When buying a purebred Bullmastiff, or any purebred for that matter, kennel clubs only accept certain colors or color combinations.

Puppies with the “right” color coats or a coat that is a rare color demand a higher price. As strange as it may sound, your normal market forces in respect of color can affect the price of your puppy.

For example, if it becomes popular to own a black Bullmastiff, then the increased demand will cause an increase in the price of black Bullmastiffs.

Other Upfront Costs Of Buying A Bullmastiff 

Upfront costs that are incurred when buying a Bullmastiff are those related to puppy vaccination, shelter, crates, transport, and vet fees such as for spaying or neutering your Bullmastiff.

Let us now breakdown each one:

Puppy Medical Costs

You should take into account medical costs that you will incur during the first year of puppyhood.

You will need to make at least three trips to the vet for examinations, essential vaccinations, flea prevention medications, and deworming treatment.

These visits begin at eight weeks old and cost between $65 and $170.

The medication for heartworm and fleas can cost approximately $120 and $150, respectively.

Depending on your lifestyle, your Bullmastiff puppy may need additional vaccines.

For example, if you go camping or hiking and want to take your puppy with it’s a good idea to get them vaccinated against Lyme disease (from ticks) and Leprospirosis (from playing in puddles or ponds).

If your puppy is going to be in daycare or kenneled, most places require a flu vaccine.

Crate(s)

As they are very large dogs, Bullmastiffs will need a very large kennel or crate.

These can be used not only for shelter but also to assist with housebreaking.

The recommended size for a crate is 48″, which can cost around $50.

If you choose to buy a crate, then you must make sure that it is made of solid material.

Bullmastiffs are very strong and muscular, and puppies or untrained dogs can rip a crate apart if it’s too flimsy.

Transportation

Your preferred breeder may live on the other side of the country.

They may offer their own service to get your puppy home which can cost from $160 to $500.

However, if you have to arrange this yourself, you will have to use a proper pet transport service.

Prices for these agencies are much higher, from $450 within the United States to $3,500 if they need to be transported to another country.

These costs may or may not include clearances and food so remember to add that into the budget.

Spraying/Neutering

It is generally a good idea to spay or neuter your dog.

Vet fees for sterilizing a Bullmastiff are between $200 and $500.

A female will cost more to sterilize than a male, and the price can change depending on your location.

Recommended Medical Procedures

A Bullmastiff’s flatulence and a tendency to gulp in the air comes from their Bulldog heritage and can be very serious.

Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV) can be a life-threatening condition that is a result of the stomach filling with gas and becoming distended or bloated, hence its more common name, bloat.

To prevent this, vets will normally recommend a gastropexy which is done during the sterilization process.

This is a surgical procedure performed on large breed dogs to prevent bloat and will add about $400 to your vets’ bill.

Items

Other upfront costs are toys, harnesses, food bowls, clothing if you live in a cold climate, collars, leash, and a dog bed.

It’s impossible to estimate how much all this will cost, as there are so many different products on the market, and you can always find something that will fit your budget.

There is no shortage of good value items at an affordable price.

What Are The Ongoing Costs Of Owning A Bullmastiff?

Ongoing costs of owning a Bullmastiff would be attributed to items such as insurance, dog walking, training, as well as toys, beds, and grooming products like shampoo and toothbrushes.

Training

Bullmastiffs are very independent, which makes them difficult to train.

In addition, their strength makes it necessary to have them professionally trained if you do not have a lot of experience in this area.

Usually, 7 to 10 private lessons are enough to get your puppy sufficiently trained, along with another 5 group lessons.

Experts will charge approximately $1,000 for a private session and $200 for a group lesson.

This amounts to a rather eye-watering bill of $8,000.

Food

It goes without saying that food is a never-ending expense.

Bullmastiffs are prone to flatulence and bloat as they tend to gulp air while eating. Some foods that you buy off the shelf have ingredients that will worsen the gas that they are already predisposed to.

As such, Bullmastiffs do best on a specially formulated diet that avoids items like beans and starch and is made up of red meat and low-fiber vegetables.

Grooming

Bullmastiffs are low-maintenance dogs, so the costs associated with grooming them and minimal.

You need a brush for their fur, baby wipes for their face, and cotton to clean out their ears. These items come to around $25 a month.

Walking Equipment

These dogs can never be trusted to walk off-leash.

A sturdy harness and leash specifically made for Bullmastiffs can cost upwards of $30 depending on the material used.

The better the quality, the higher the price and the less often you will have to replace it.

Why Are Bullmastiffs So Expensive?

Bullmastiffs are very difficult to breed. They suffer from so many health complications that a strong, healthy Bullmastiff is a rarity, and breeding them is expensive and difficult.

This breed is notorious for being the most deformed of all dog breeds and has a laundry list of diseases that are common to them.

A good breeder can prevent a lot of these issues from becoming critical through proper breeding and care.

However, the better the breeder, the more expensive the puppy.

Some of their health problems are a result of lifestyles such as ruptured ligaments or infections.

Torn ligaments can be fixed by surgery, but the surgery can cost around $1,000.

At the same time, the larger the dog, the more medication it needs when it does get sick.

Even if the trips to the vet are only for their annual check-up, it can still cost you about $800 per year just to keep your Bullmastiff healthy.

Their size is also the reason why it costs so much more for medical procedures on a Bullmastiff.

Vaccinations, continual flea and heartworm medication deworming treatments, and blood work (when your Bullmastiff is a senior) can up the bill substantially for a dog this big.

If you need additional vaccines, as mentioned above, this can add an extra $30 to your account.

Hip and elbow dysplasia is very common in large dogs.

There are many treatment options depending on the severity of the problem, ranging from physical therapy and pain medication to total hip replacement.

The costs associated with this disease can range from $500 per year to $5,000 for a total replacement.

Hip Dysplasia is not only found in adults but also in puppies.

This is one of the reasons that it’s important to get a dog from a reputable breeder who will do health checks and prevent naturally occurring diseases.

Bullmastiff Puppy Cost vs Other Breeds

Please note that the prices listed below are only rough estimates and can vary widely based on factors like location, lineage, breeding practices, and demand.

These are just average figures to give you an idea:

Dog Breed	Approximate Cost as Puppy (USD)
Dachshund	$400 – $1,500
Golden Retriever	$500 – $3,000
German Shepherd	$500 – $2,500
Shih Tzu	$500 – $1,500
Siberian Husky	$600 – $1,500
Boxer	$700 – $2,000
Labrador Retriever	$800 – $2,000
Bullmastiff	$1,000 – $2,500
Poodle	$1,000 – $3,000
Rottweiler	$1,000 – $3,000

Finally

A Bullmastiff is a large dog that comes with a large price tag.

So, if you are serious about adopting one, just be mindful of the financial commitment you are taking on.

You may be able to afford them now, but you need to ensure you can afford them later down the line.

And remember to do your homework when it comes to breeders; if you see a Bullmastiff for an overly good price – this should serve as a red flag.

But as long as you are vigilant, patient, do your due diligence and go through reputable organizations such as the AKC – there is no reason why you should encounter any issues.