Is a bull mastiff the same as an English mastiff? My next door neighbors have 2 English mastiffs.
The intent was to get a smaller more aggressive Mastiff for a herdsman's night dog to drive off predators and subdue poachers.
In final composition it is (IIRC) 3/4 Mastiff and 1/4 Bull dog.
They are a fine dog. In a lifetime of dog ownership no breed has impressed me like a healthy active Bull Mastiff.