Yeah...and 3 years ago, they were owned by the same person. Which supports my statement, that there was most likely abuse going on.
“A Look Back
The Bullmastiff’s known history in England begins around 1860, when they were developed to keep large estates and game preserves free of poachers. Gameskeepers needed a dog that could track quietly, cover short distances quickly and pin and hold poachers without mauling them. The foundation breeding was 60% Mastiff and 40% Bulldog; breeders were hoping to create a dog faster and more aggressive than the Mastiff, yet bigger than and not as ferocious as the Bulldog.”
Well, it’s a man hunter. However, much like firearm designers never created a firearm that had the barrel do a 180 and point at your forehead(ignoring the physics of it), the people who created/bred Bull Mastiffs didn’t envision a dog that randomly killed its owner. There isn’t much point in guarding the Lord’s estate if the Lord was mauled by the hounds 3 months back. So it is what it is...a large, powerful animal, requiring care and dedication to own.
There may have been no abuse but simply the owner didn’t know how to take command of them. They are animals. If the lead dog didn’t respect their owner, he’s kibble. The other dogs will follow what the lead dog does.