Mary Allen
A French beauty, the Dogue de Bordeaux is one of France’s oldest dog breeds. We introduce you to the extra portion of dogs.
Très Magnifique: With its elegant name and impressive looks, the Dogue de Bordeaux is definitely not a dog to be overlooked.
The breed from France weighs a lot and it is not small either. At first glance, the dog looks a bit crumpled and sad with its low-hanging lips – but the impression is deceptive! The Dogue de Bordeaux is considered gentle, relaxed, and cheerful.
But is the French mastiff suitable as a family dog? You can find out about their character, health, upbringing and care in our breed portrait
What does a Dogue De Bordeaux look like?
The Dogue de Bordeaux belongs to the Molosser family, which also includes the English Mastiff or the Great Dane. The Great Dane’s body is broad and muscular, showing a lot of strength.
The dog’s angular face is particularly striking. As is typical for the Great Dane, the muzzle is rather short and has many folds. The lips are large and loose. There are also deep wrinkles on the forehead, which often give the mastiffs a gloomy facial expression.
The dog’s coat is short and smooth. According to the FCI standard, the coat of the Great Dane may appear in all shades of fawn (a reddish-brown hue). Some dogs also have a black or brown mask, which is also acceptable. The fur is very soft and has average hair.
How big is a Dogue De Bordeaux?
While the Dogue de Bordeaux doesn’t make it among the tallest dog breeds in the world, its size is still impressive. On average, bitches reach a height at the withers of 58 to 66 cm. Male Dogue de Bordeaux grow to 60 to 68 cm.
How heavy is a Dogue De Bordeaux?
The Bordeaux mastiff also misses a place on the list of the heaviest dog breeds in the world by a hair’s breadth. Nevertheless, the mastiffs are not feather-light angels: bitches weigh an average of 45 to 57 kg, while males can weigh a good 50 to 68 kg.
How old does a dogue de bordeaux get?
Even though breeders today place a lot of emphasis on health and robustness, the Dogue de Bordeaux is plagued by a number of hereditary diseases. Of course, these diseases also affect life expectancy. On average, the French mastiff is between six and eight years old. However, a few Dogue de Bordeaux also live to be more than ten years old. The Hollywood Dogue de Bordeaux from the film “Scott und Huutsch” reached an incredible 14 years.
What is the character or nature of the Dogue de Bordeaux?
As is typical for many other members of the Molosser family, a Dogue de Bordeaux is not easily upset. Well aware of their size, power, and strength, the Great Dane gropes through life calmly and calmly. The stimulus threshold is very high and character traits such as aggression or exuberance are rather foreign to the dog.
Dogs generally have a very close bond with their humans. They are considered affectionate, cuddly, and playful. Especially when dealing with children, the gentle dog shows immeasurable patience and forbearance.
The “Dogue de Bordeaux”, as it is called in its home country, is considered to be intelligent. However, dogs also have stubborn skulls. With this, they like to think three times about whether this or that command makes sense at all or whether it can be ignored.
Despite their gentle nature and easy-going nature, the Dogue de Bordeaux should not be underestimated. If the dogs think their family or their house and yard are in immediate danger, they can get pretty uncomfortable. With good socialization, however, they are always controlled and warned, never aggressive.
Dogs usually treat strangers and animals such as cats in a friendly, reserved, or even indifferent manner. Some dogs observe foreign figures extensively at first. If they finally appear trustworthy (or have a hand full of treats), the Dogue de Bordeaux quickly thaws afterward.
History of the Dogue de Bordeaux
The Dogue de Bordeaux is not only heavy but also very old. The breed is said to be traceable back to the 14th century. It is one of the oldest dog breeds in France. The massive dogs are descended from the so-called “saupackers”. This term refers to a group of hunting dogs that have been used in Europe primarily for hunting wild boar. Numerous dog breeds known today descend from the Saupackers.
The mastiff of the Dogue de Bordeaux was initially mainly in southern France around the city of Bordeaux, which is why the breed is called that today. The mastiffs from Bordeaux were valued hunting dogs when hunting wild boar and as fearsome guard dogs for butchers and slaughterers. In 1863, the breed was shown for the first time at the French dog show and quickly gained notoriety throughout Europe.
Similar to other heavy dog breeds such as the English Mastiff, the Bordeaux Mastiff nearly became extinct during the two world wars due to a lack of sufficient food for them. After World War II, breeders began reviving the breed. In 1954 the Dogue de Bordeaux was officially recognized by the FCI.
Dogue de Bordeaux: The right attitude and training
The French mastiff’s easy-going, good-natured, and friendly nature contrasts with its stubborn head and sheer strength and size. Dogs should therefore be trained lovingly but consistently when they are still puppies. The same applies to socialization. Dogs should be taught as early as possible that they are not in charge of the household. Rather, he occupies the lowest position in the “order of rank”.
Despite their patience, gentleness, and friendliness, the Bordeaux mastiff is only conditionally suitable as a family dog and not as a beginner’s dog. The upbringing and keeping require a certain amount of sensitivity and experience. Children in the household should definitely be a bit older. Although the dog loves children more than anything, it can sometimes be difficult to assess its strength and size. It is therefore quite possible that accidents happen unintentionally.
The powerful dog is not suitable for a large city apartment. Climbing stairs isn’t good for him either. He should definitely have a fenced yard or property where he can romp around extensively … or rather: can lie around. Because despite their strength, Dogue de Bordeaux is considered to be quite lazy. While puppies are often still boisterous and boisterous, older dogs prefer to doze non-stop next to their family and snore and drool like crazy.
What care does the Dogue De Bordeaux need?
Because the Dogue de Bordeaux has a short and smooth coat, grooming the coat is easy. Briefly brushing the dog several times a week with a brush or a grooming glove is completely sufficient here. For good care, always pay attention to parasites such as fleas and ticks in the fur.
It is also important to take care of the skin folds on the face. Clean the folds regularly so that no painful inflammation can develop. Since the dog likes to eat but doesn’t like to move, you should also make sure that the French beauty doesn’t overeat.
What are the typical diseases of the Dogue de Bordeaux?
Unfortunately, the Dogue de Bordeaux has to contend with a number of hereditary health problems. The dogs are particularly affected by breathing problems due to their short snouts. This can make some dogs very sensitive to heat and exercise. Other diseases that can affect the Dogue de Bordeaux include:
- Hip dysplasia (affects almost every second Dogue de Bordeaux)
- elbow dysplasia
- retinal dysplasia
- Aortic stenosis (heart valve disease with symptoms such as weakness, fainting, and cardiac arrest. Predominantly occurring at a young age.)
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease leading to cardiac arrest.)
- Hyperkeratosis (Excessive keratinization of the skin, especially on the paws.)
How much does a Dogue de Bordeaux cost?
Due to their numerous inherited conditions, Dogue de Bordeaux puppies should only be purchased from a registered breeder. This usually ensures that his Dogues de Bordeaux and the puppies have or will have a few health restrictions as possible. We recommend breeders who join the Club für Molosser e. V. have connected. The prices for a small puppy from Bordeaux start at the breeder from 1,500 euros and go up to around 2,500 euros. Alternatively, just go to the animal shelter and see if an adult Dogue De Bordeaux is looking for a new home.
Do you have a big garden and a big heart for gentle giants? Then the dog with the lovable face from Bordeaux might be just the thing for you.