| Other names | Sindhi Mastiff Pakistani Mastiff |
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| Country of origin | Pakistan [1] | |||
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| Notes | Provisionally accepted by the National Kennel Club | |||
| Dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | ||||
Bully Kutta (pashtoo: بللے کتا)(Sindhi: بللے کتا) is a Molosser type dog which is found largely in Pakistan.[2] The word Bully actually derives from the languages of Sindhi and Urdu as bohli — meaning heavily wrinkled and the word Kutta means dog. Bully Kutta is known as the Pakistani Mastiff around the world but, in the country itself it is referred to as the Sindhi Mastiff. In India it is known as the Alangu Mastiff.[3] They are typically found today in heavily rural areas of Pakistan. While they are starting to get worldwide attention, it is because of their size and strength that these dogs are used in dog fighting.[4] New York Times best-selling author Greg Iles depicted this breed in his 2009 novel, “The Devil's Punchbowl.”[5] The breed is also used for guarding purposes.[6]
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The Persian Army used this breed extensively for guarding soldier’s camp-sites and enemy prisoners-of-war in their campaigns during antiquity. One of the largest Satraps of Persia in Babylon paid all of its taxes for the expenses of breeding and taken care of these large dogs.[7] They were later introduced into Ancient Greece by Xerxes the First when he marched towards that country in 486-465 B.C. In addition, Alexander the Great had also brought a similar type of dog on his way back during the campaign against King Porus. The Bully Kutta originated in and around the Thar Desert of Sindh, a large part of this desert also extends towards the Bahawalpur area of southern Punjab. The breed was used mostly for hunting large games such as bears and wild boars during the Mughal Empire. This practice eventually declined with the sudden change in the hunting techniques of Royal families who instead started to use Asiatic Cheetahs. Consequently, this changed the Bully Kutta’s job back to as guard dogs and more recently as dog fighting.
| Pakistani Mastiff Appearance | |||
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| Weight: | 140-210 pounds | ||
| Height: | 30-42 inches | ||
| Coat: | Short | ||
| Activity level: | Moderate | ||
| Learning rate: | High | Temperament: | High |
| Guard dog ability: | High | Watch-dog ability: | High |
| Life span: | 8-12 years | ||
The Bully Kutta has a short smooth coat that is usually predominantly white in color. However fawn, black, harlequin, red and brindle markings are seen as well. The muzzle is black and the skin around the neck and mouth is loose. The brisket is deep and the limbs are very well muscled. The back is extended with the tail tapering to a fine point. The ears are set high on the large skull and pricked. It has a long and graceful stride. The males vary from 32 to 42 inches and the females vary from 28 to 36 inches tall. They usually weigh 150 to 170 and few bullys have been known to reach over 200 pounds. They are very muscular and thick boned.[8]
The “Beast from the East”, a title given to the Bully Kutta because of its aggressive nature in dog fights, it is a very intelligent and noble breed.[9] Above all, it must be handled by the most experienced dog handlers. However, with proper socialization and appropriate training, the Bully Kutta can make an amenable companion for responsible and knowledgeable owners. They can be very protective, having a strong guarding instinct due to the nature of the breed. The Pakistani Bully Kutta is a powerful mastiff, strongly-boned and muscular. Long-legged and wide-chested, this breed is an agile and resilient, capable of great speed and known for its impressive stamina. The head is large with a strong muzzle and well-developed jaw. A pure-bred Bully Kutta is also famous for its tiger-like stride and movement, which sets it apart from other breeds.