Poaching was an expensive problem for British landowners who also saw it as an invasion of their property. They, and the constabulary, believed profits made from poaching were spent in pubs, and they were unsympathetic with those who were caught.

It fell to their gamekeepers to catch these thieves. The men experimented with several breeds that sounded like a version of the Three Little Bears. The mastiff was too slow. The Bulldog was too more ferocious (at the time). But between the two, a breed was born that combined the best of both breeds, the Bullmastiff. The breed could track quietly, cover short distances quickly, and pin and hold poachers without mauling them. It was perfect!

Bullmastiff in pastel by Izabela79
Find and support her work here: http://izabela79.deviantart.com/