Do Bullmastiffs like to cuddle? (Here’s what we found!)

If you’re considering a Bullmastiff as a new pet, you may be wondering whether they enjoy physical affection and cuddle time. So, do Bullmastiffs like to cuddle?

Bullmastiffs love to cuddle. They can take a bit of time to warm up to, but once they see you as family, they are likely to spend a lot of time trying to cuddle up. Their big, meaty bodies and soft coats are perfect for snuggling on the couch. 

There are still a few things to be cautious about when looking to cuddle your big beast.

First, they can be significantly affected by different moods, and although they are friendly with you, they can be very defensive when it comes to strangers. Keep that in mind as you read on to learn more.

Are Bullmastiffs Affectionate?

Along with their love of a cuddle, Bullmastiffs are very affectionate with family. Generally, they are easy-going dogs that like to laze around most of the day, snuggling up when they get a chance.

They can get aggressive when provoked, though, so you have to be careful with small children and Bullmastiffs.

Outside the family, they act as guard dogs. They are highly suspicious of strangers and will likely act aggressively if untraining and unsocialized. 

Although highly loyal to their family, they are not the most obedient dogs. They are independent thinkers and can be hard to train. Meeting other animals can also be a bit difficult for them.

Be cautious when you first have a Bullmastiff meet your other pets.

Do Bullmastiffs like to Cuddle?

Do Bullmastiffs like to cuddle

Bullmastiffs love to cuddle! Their big, meaty bodies with soft fur make them excellent cuddle buddies. They’ll show you they want to cuddle when they come clambering after you wagging their tail with eyes bright. They might even start licking your hand while you’re on the couch. 

Then, he might try to paw at your thigh, nuzzle you, and then jump up onto your lap. If he can’t do that, he may just lean on you.

After they start cuddling, like many dogs, they’ll probably want to lick your face too. That’s a sign they want to hang out with you!

If you want to make friends with a bullmastiff, be sure to greet them and pet them gently.

To first make friends with your Bullmastiff, you’ll want to learn to greet them and pet them nicely. Usually, they are naturally friendly.

However, they may want to spontaneously cuddle with you and spend lots of time looking for your affection.

To show how much they like you, they might shower you with wet doggy kisses, sit beside you or on your lap, and try to lick you to get your attention.

Why does my Bullmastiff Sit on me?

Your Bullmastiff is just excited to hang out with you for the most part. But, the sitting instinct does come in part from their guard instinct – it’s called body blocking.

Often, your Bullmastiff will sit as close to you as possible to guard your body.

When they get a chance, they might sit on your feet or try to get into your lap. 

This is the same idea as when someone comes to the door, and they’ll block the way as much as they can to protect you.

They’ll also notice anything that’s changed or new in the house and on their walks. They’re keeping track of these things to help with protecting you.

With all that, they want to sit on you because they are trying to protect you or because they want to cuddle a bit more.

Why does my Bullmastiff Lean on me?

A bullmastiff laying with a boy

Leaning is a widespread dog behavior that is simply a sign of affection. Since it’s about getting attention, if you don’t like it, you can walk away when they begin to lean and pay no attention to them. Eventually, they’ll learn it doesn’t gain attention and stop the behavior.

Some dogs want a ton of attention from their owners and will follow their owners around the house all the time, trying to lean on them when they can.

This can be a sign of separation anxiety. Taken to the extreme, dogs will yelp and panic whenever away from their owner for even short periods.

You can do some training exercises to help establish a healthier connection. These come down to helping your dog understand that you’ll be there for them and that they’ll be okay without you.

One trick is to leave and come back within a couple of minutes many times over days, and eventually, they won’t associate you going as a moment to panic. 

Bullmastiffs will happily cuddle with you on the couch or in your bed despite their size.

They love cuddling and don’t mind getting cozy on the bed or the couch. Since they are giant heat sinks, they’ll tend to warm up the area, too, increasing the overall coziness. 

What’s nice is that compared to smaller dogs, they can quickly get on and off the couch and bed themselves, so you don’t have to help them out all the time.

But, on the other hand, this can be frustrating if you want more control over where they go and when cuddle time will be.

How to Increase Cuddle time with your Bullmastiff?

Girl having cuddle time with bullmastiff

Bullmastiffs are great cuddle buddies. However, sometimes they might not be in the mood. Figuring out why that is can be tricky, but there are some common reasons.

Usually, you’ll be able to tell by experience with your Bullmastiff when they want to cuddle or not.

You have to be mindful of how you pet them, especially if there are any sensitive spots. You want cuddling to be a relaxing experience for both of you. 

1. Age and health

As they age or have some internal health issues, they may lose their appetite for cuddling. It can be a sad experience, but it can also indicate that it’s time to see a vet. 

Aging is expected, though, and many dogs don’t like to cuddle as much when they are old.

2. New people or environment

When a Bullmastiff is in a new environment or strangers are around, they usually can’t relax. They are likely to feel they need to get into guard mode and figure out what’s going on. 

For the most part, they only like cuddling one person at a time, and it has to be someone they are close to. 

3. Stress

There are lots of reasons your Bullmastiff might be stressed, and any one of them can make them less willing to cuddle. 

Common sources of stress include being sick, other animals in the area, a worsening relationship with their owner, and changes in food or routine.

To keep a bullmastiff happy, feed them high-quality food that agrees with their stomachs.

Having the wrong food can make your Bullmastiff stressed, leading to them not wanting to cuddle as much. A good Bullmastiff diet will include at least 80% meat. 

Their diet directly affects their moods and well-being, so keep that in mind. A happy, healthy Bullmastiff means more time playing and cuddling!

Bullmastiffs are known to be a bit lazy, so you should ensure they get enough exercise and playtime.

That means you may have to work a little harder to encourage them to exercise as much as they should. You want to keep their weight down and their muscles strong.

The minimum daily need for exercise is between 30 and 45 minutes. You can mix it up between a daily walk (20-30 minutes) and additional playtime.

However, be careful with too strenuous exercise for Bullmastiffs as it can stress their joints.

Remember that mental stimulation is essential too. Kong toys, letting them explore with their nose, and other puzzles and games can keep their mental lives occupied and use their creative brains.

Why take notice of your Bullmastiff’s Moods?

Mood can tell you a lot about whether your Bullmastiff wants to cuddle or needs alone time. It can also tell you if there’s something seriously wrong going on. 

They are most ready for cuddles when they come up to you all bright-eyed and wagging their tail. If you’ve just come into the room and they are doing the same, often that’s a sign for playtime first.

On the other hand, if they’ve got tucked ears or tails, they’re avoiding eye contact or other signs of stress, aggression, or depression, then it’s not a good time for cuddles.

Why is it Important to Bond with your Bullmastiff?

Why is it important to bond with your bullmastiff

Building a bond is crucial for training and lifelong companionship. So when you first bring your Bullmastiff home, it’s going to be essential to establish a level of trust as soon as you can. 

When your Bullmastiff has a secure bond with you, they’ll be loyal to the family and respond better to training. Training and socialization from a young age are extra crucial with bullmastiffs. When left alone, they can be aggressive as they get older.

The main ways to build a strong bond are:

1. Establishing a level of mutual respect.

2. Spending quality time in each other’s company.

3. Communicating with each other clearly and meeting needs.

4. Exploring the world together.

Keep these general tips in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to a great relationship with your Bullmastiff.

Final thoughts

As much as you might love your Bullmastiff, here are some last-minute thoughts to keep in mind when trying to cuddle.

  1. Watch out for their body language. Sometimes they are not in the mood for a cuddle bomb.
  2. They are wary, if not outright aggressive, to strangers. So while they may be very cuddly with you, you can’t expect the same reaction when meeting new people.

If they act a little less responsive, that could be a sign of an underlying health problem. However, take them to a vet if it persists and seems very out of character.