The BB should be fearless and courageous and should willingly sacrifice his own life to save yours.

Over the years they have had many chores on their agenda and they have been used for protecting people and property as well as livestock. One of their typical traits is that they should be very loving and affectionate towards their family, particularly the children, and at the same time be somewhat reserved towards strangers. They are generally fast learners and very eager to please, which makes them highly trainable and perhaps not as stubborn as your typical mastiff.

However, a BB is not a dog for everyone. You have to take under consideration their size and needs, before rushing off to get yourself a puppy. Can you accomodate a fully grown BB male of approx 55 to 75 kilos? It is certainly not a dog for an apartment or a flat. If you don't have a farm with unlimited space for your dog, then a big garden to roam around in, preferably combined with daily long walks is advisable.

Obviously, with a dog of this size, some basic obedience training will be necessary. What you put in in effort while they are still young, you get back tenfold in the adult dog. It is also important to socialise your dog at an early stage so that he will learn how to interact with other dogs, as well as crowds and traffic. The occasional walk in a city comes in handy when training the young BB.

Try and arrange your life so that your BB wont be alone for too long periods of time. They don't have to be activated 24/7, but they do need to be close to you as your bonds are so tight. Someone once said "When you've got a BB, you will never again go to the bathroom alone".