Group: Mastiff

Weight: 120-145 lbs

Height: 23-30 inches

Overview

In spite of the French name of the Dogue de Bordeaux, they are probably the result of England's reasonably short occupation of the Northwestern French province of Aquitane. For the duration of this occupation, many believe that the English Mastiffs were crossed with the local French guard dogs, and this resulted in the Dogue de Bordeaux. Even though random information of the Dogue de Bordeaux has been around from the 1200s, these dogs weren't exclusively documented by name until a dog show in the 1800s. The Dogues have been used for the protecting of flocks, the hunting of foxes and bears, hauling heavy loads and even during war.

Temperament

Although these dogs used to be very fierce, their characters have been softened over the years by breeders. This is a very calm and gentle breed when brought up in the right home with correct socialisation. It is advised that a male is not placed in a home where there is already another male. The Dogue de Bordeaux is a very commanding breed; but they will do well with children and should always be supervised when with them.

Care

The Dogue de Bordeaux is an average shedding dog that does not require a whole lot of grooming. Brushing these dogs with a firm hair brush will help to get rid of loose hair. They can also be wiped down with a damp cloth or dry towel to get remove any excess hair.

Training

It is vital to train your Dogue de Bordeaux very well as a male can weigh up to one hundred and fifty pounds, and it will be extremely difficult to control an untrained dog of this size. Physical training for these dogs should be kept to a minimum until they reach adulthood. Most large dogs are particularly at risk to develop joint problems when too active when still young. Positive training methods should be used when training this breed, but some negative training methods can be effective from time to time to control the natural eagerness of these dogs. The Dogue de Bordeaux is extremely fond of human companionship and will not do well when left alone for too long at a time. Although the Dogue de Bordeaux is fairly calm, their history of fighting and protection can be a problem when they feel threatened. Try to always be patient with this breed as their low energy levels make it difficult for them to engage in long training sessions.

Health problems

As with many of the larger dogs, hip dysplasia is an important problem. The Dogues de Bordeaux is also vulnerable to some types of cancer. Veterinary aid should be used if you plan to breed your Dogues de Bordeaux, as the breed has a rather high litter size.