Dogue de Bordeaux

The Dogue de Bordeaux, also known as the French Mastiff is a solid, stocky but relatively short mastiff. Their stand out features are their stunning coloured coat, a fawn to mahogany colour sometimes red, and their massive wrinkled head!

There are a number of theories in regards to the origin of the Bordeaux, they may be a decedent of the Bulldog or Tibetan Mastiff or also from the mastiffs brought to Europe by the Alans. They were used at the end of the Middle Ages as a cattle driver and personal bodyguard, sadly a lot of Dogues passed away during the French Revolution. They served not only as war dogs but as guard dogs, flock guardians and trained to bait bulls, bears and hunt boars. After the war their numbers rose again. Their breed was officially recognized by the AKC in 2008 and they are now thoroughly established in more countries including France.

They are an extremely calm dog with a great temperament. They are very devoted to their family and extremely loyal. They make for a fantastic guard dog due to their fearless and confrontational nature, despite this though they are very gentle with children. They are best to socialize from a young age to avoid any further behavioral problems.
They are serious snorers and tend to drool quite a bit. They are an extremely powerful breed and aren’t well suited for inexperienced dog owners and need someone who has the time to put in. They thrive on a firm, but calm, pack leader.

They can grow anywhere between 58 -75 cm and can weigh up to as much as 65.kgs or as little as 54kg. They require stimulation so daily walks are essential and the right balanced diet is necessary for their solid structure. The breed is prone to hip dysplasia but aside from this are generally a healthy dog.

---