| Country of origin: | France |
| Registries: | AKC FSS, UKC |
| Occupation: | Versatile working dog |
| Size: | 22.5 to 26.5 in tall; 90 to 100+ lbs |
| Longevity: | 10 to 12 years |
| Exercise: | Low to moderate |
| Training: | Vitally important |
| Grooming: | Easy |
| Colors: | Fawn, gold, mahogany |
Rarely seen outside France until the 1989 film Turner & Hooch gave it worldwide recognition, the Dogue de Bordeaux was developed in Bordeaux at the time this French region was ruled by English kings. It was almost certainly created by crossing English Mastiffs with regional giant guard dogs. Males in particular can retain their formidable guarding instincts. Similar in many aspects to the Bullmastiff, this breed is best in the capable hands of experienced dog people. Its pendulous lips make it prone to considerable drooling.
Dog name synonyms: French Mastiff, French Fighting Dog, National Guard Dog of France
HISTORY
The exact origin of this ancient breed with gargoyle-like appearance is not known. It is though that the Dogue’s ancestors came from the confines of India and China, more than 3000 years ago and then traveled to Epire, Rome and Gaul. Originally they were bred for hunting and fighting animals much bigger than themselves.
After WWII Dogues de Bordeaux were threatened with extinction. It is believed that Hitler ordered the execution of all Dogues. Following the war, food shortages and other difficulties additionally threatened the survival of the breed. A concerted effort to rebuild the breed began in the 1960s.
It was not until the release of the Tom Hanks movie ,,Turner and Hooch,, in 1989 that the Dogue de Bordeaux caught the attention of the American public. Today it is a very popular breed worldwide.
PERSONALITY
Although Dogue de Bordeauxs have intimidating appearance, they are affectionate and extremely loyal. They thrive on human companionship and are the happiest when spending time on family activities such as laying on the sofa and cuddling. Properly socialized Dogues get along well with other dogs, cats, smaller pets and children of all ages.
Dogues seem arrogant, serious and self-assured but have an underlying sense of humor. They are very talented dogs, especially when it comes to snoring, sliming, and drooling.
TRAITS
The Dogue de Bordeaux is Mastiff-like type of dog with massive, strong and intimidating rectangular body. Their appearance is powerful, muscular and athletic. The Dogue’s head is considered to be the largest head in the canine world.
Dogue de Bordeauxs have short and soft coats and loose skins, but without many folds and wrinkles. The coat’s color can be red, tan, fawn or mahogany combined with black or brown mask or without a mask. Limited white patches on the chest and paws are allowed.
Males stand 23.5-27’’ (60-68.5cm) at the shoulder and weigh a minimum of 110Ib (50kg). Females stand 23-26’’ (58.5-66cm) at the shoulder and weigh a minimum of 99Ib (45kg).
HANDLING
Usually Dogue de Bordeauxs are independent, stubborn, arrogant, dominant and willful. However they are very intelligent dogs with good memories, impeccable ability to make correct associations and easy to convince if treat-like rewards are included. Therefore training the Dogue de Bordeaux is not that difficult, as long as the dog sees its owner as the alpha. Males have stronger tendencies towards dominance, than females, and are not recommended for first time owners.
Dogues have protective instincts and are aloof with strangers. They need time to get used to new people. If extensively exposed to friendly new people, they can easily learn to recognize normal behavior.
Dogue the Bordeauxs are very friendly and affectionate by nature, which makes the socialization training very easy. Just taking the dog out, for a walk and letting it spontaneously socialize with other dogs would be enough.
HEALTH
Although Dogue de Bordeauxs are moderately healthy breed, their average lifespan is extremely short – only 5 to 6 years. They are prone to dermatological conditions such as footpad keratosis (with early onset, at 6 months of age) and inflammatory changes to the skin folds. The incidence of both entropion on both the lower and upper eyelid is very high. Because it is a large breed, it often suffers from joint problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia and cruciate syndrome.
Other common conditions include epilepsy, dilated cardiomyopathy, aortic stenosis, immunodeficiency syndrome and juvenile glomerulonephropathy. The Dogue de Bordeaux is very sensitive to temperature extremes.