What to feed a Bullmastiff
A Bullmastiff is a giant, powerfully built breed, typically reaching 50 to 60kg as an adult, so the feeding priorities are controlled growth as a puppy, careful weight management as an adult, and choosing a calorie-appropriate food rather than assuming a big dog simply needs more of everything.
Puppy growth and why it matters
A Bullmastiff puppy grows extremely quickly toward a very large adult size, and growing too fast puts real strain on developing joints and bones. A large or giant-breed puppy formula, fed to a measured amount rather than free-fed, supports steadier, more controlled growth than a standard puppy food.
Follow the feeding guide on the specific product and weigh your puppy regularly, adjusting the amount based on how they are actually growing rather than sticking rigidly to a fixed figure regardless of their progress.
Adult feeding and weight
Keeping an adult Bullmastiff at a genuinely healthy weight matters more than it might for a smaller breed, since a flat, powerful face already works harder to breathe during exertion than a longer-nosed breed's does, and extra weight adds further strain on top of that. A lean, easily felt waist is worth aiming for rather than judging weight by eye on a naturally bulky breed.
A complete adult food fed to the amount recommended for your dog's actual weight and activity level, rather than their intimidating size, is the straightforward way to manage this day to day.
Portion control tools that help
Weighing food out on kitchen scales rather than using a scoop keeps portions accurate, since a large breed's daily amount is big enough that a slightly generous scoop adds up to real extra calories over a week.
Splitting food into two meals rather than one large one also suits a big, deep-chested breed better, reducing the discomfort a single very large meal can bring on and spreading the day's calories more evenly rather than in one sitting.
What we stock
Our puppy food range includes large and giant-breed specific formulas, and our dry and wet dog food ranges cover plenty of options suited to a large adult dog's calorie needs.
A joint supplement is also worth considering as your Bullmastiff ages, given the load a giant breed's joints carry throughout life, though this is worth discussing with your vet rather than adding one on a guess without knowing whether it is actually needed.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Forthglade Soft Bite Grain Free Joints & Bones Treats
Grain-free salmon dog treats with salmon oil, glucosamine and chondroitin
£2.45
Pooch & Mutt Salmon Oil
Scottish salmon oil for dogs, dosed by weight from toy breeds to giants
£13.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Common questions
- When should a Bullmastiff move from puppy to adult food?
- Giant breeds mature more slowly than smaller dogs, so many stay on a large or giant-breed puppy formula well beyond a year old. Follow the specific food's guidance and check with your vet rather than switching on a fixed age alone.
- How much should I feed an adult Bullmastiff?
- This depends on the specific food's calorie content and your dog's actual weight and activity level, so follow the feeding guide on the product and adjust based on regular weigh-ins rather than a generic large-breed amount.
- Are Bullmastiffs prone to weight gain?
- Their naturally bulky build can make extra weight harder to spot by eye than it would be on a leaner breed, so a hands-on check for a waist and ribs with your vet is more reliable than judging weight by appearance alone.
- Is a large breed puppy formula really necessary for a Bullmastiff?
- Yes, given how quickly and how large this breed grows, a formula that controls calorie density and calcium balance specifically supports steadier bone development than a standard puppy food, which is not built around a breed reaching this size.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.