The Dogue De Bordeaux falls under the purebred category which is also popular as “French Mastiff”.
It has a massive body structure with a stud built. This powerful breed has its presence in ancient French histories. The muscular dogs were called working dogs and guard dogs as they were used for pulling carts and guarding cattle and sheep. The presence of this dog is also evident in the various castles of ancient Europe.
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History & Origin
In the early fourteenth century, a large species of canine was found in southern France particularly around Bordeaux. The dog acquired their name from the place of their habitats. But, uniform breeds started to develop after 1920.
Initially, two varieties of Dogue De Bordeaux were present. The bigger variety was called Dougue while the considerably smaller type was popular as Doguin, nowadays whose presence is only available in books and photographs.
A theory says this breed predated from the Bordeaux bulldog and the bullmastiff. But other theories believe that Dogue De Bordeaux originated from the Tibetan Mastiff. In 1989, an American comedy movie named Turner & Hooch portrayed the story of a police with his canine partner.
Dogue De Bordeaux breed was used as the pooch here, which helped the breed regain its popularity in recent times
Dogue De Bordeaux Pictures
Quick Information
| Characteristics | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Dogue De Bordeaux |
| Other Names | Bordeaux Bulldog, Bordeauxdog, French Mastiff, Bordeaux Mastiff |
| Color | Shades of brown, tan, brown,Fawn, Red, Mahogany |
| Coat | Fine, Soft, Short |
| Skin | Loose-Fitting |
| Breed Type | Purebred |
| Breed Group | Working Group (AKC) Guardian Dogs (UKC) |
| Size | Large |
| Hieght | 23-30 inches (58-75 cm) |
| Weight | 120-145 pounds (54.4-65.2 kg) |
| Life Span/Life Expentancy | 8-10 Years |
| Temperament | Loyal, Vigilant, Patient, Fearless, Devoted, Courageous |
| Shedding | Average |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
| Barking Level | Occassional |
| Good with Children | Yes |
| Good with Other Dogs | Yes |
| Drooling | Yes |
| Snoring | Yes |
| Litter Size | 5-7 puppies |
| Country of Origin | France |
| Competitive Registration/Qualification Information | ANKC, FCI, NKC, NZKC, CKC, APRI, ACR, DRA, AKC, NAPR, ACA |
Appearance
Dogue De Bordeaux is gigantic in size with a tough build. It is quite low to the ground level and the circumference of the collar is also big. An adult female weighs 99pound while the male weighs 110 pounds on an average.
The standard height of the breed varies from 61 to 69cm in case of male and 58 to 66cm in case of the female.
Dogue De Bordeaux possesses a distinct massive head with pinched nostrils, which is an important characteristic for identifying the breed. The circumference of the female head is usually little lesser than the male. Red or black musk is present, the color of which differs from the rest of the body color.
A loose skin is found in the neck. Dogue De Bordeaux comes with a fine and short coat of hair. The color of the hair may vary from fawn shades to mahogany.
Some dogs may bear shade of white on nose tip and underneath the chest. But, the white color other than these areas makes the dog faulty according to American Kennel Club (AKC).
Temperament and Personality
This breed may be a large breed but has a calm, relaxed and quiet nature. The size of the dog makes it unfit as apartment pets. A considerable amount of space is required for keeping the dog active.
Personal interaction with the breed makes them feel more secure and loyal to their owners. The breed is known for its trustworthy nature and it loves human interactions.
Shyness and aggression can be managed with socialization. It has a sturdy personality with a calm and cool appearance that can be very aggressive in certain situations.
Exercise
Dogue de Bordeaux requires regular walks for at least 30 minutes. They have a tendency to gain weight. Overweight give rises to various diseases and as the natural build of the dog requires excess calorie, it tends to gain weight very quickly.
Grooming
Regular bathing and routine bathing is not required for this breed. Bathing every four to six weeks according to the surrounding weather condition and particular lifestyle of the dog is more than enough.
The short fur coat of the dog requires moderate regular brushing to maintain a healthy skin habit and also decrease the hair shedding.
Special attention is recommended while cleaning the facial folds as certain infections producing bad odor may develop if left untouched.
Health Problem
Dogue De Bordeaux usually has an average lifespan of 8-10 years. An exceptional case may give rise to this number maximum to 12 years.
This breed is prone to health hazards like hip dysplasia, drooling, gastric dilatation and poor eyelid. Other diseases that may develop in some cases include hypothyroidism, cancer, Ectropion, and Familial nephropathy.
Some diseases are adopted by the species from their parental generation. The most common and almost present in all species of this breed is breathing problem and snoring sound while sleeping.
The shape of the nostrils is solely responsible for the reason. Some dogs may develop a cardiac problem in later stages of life.
Training
This dog possesses a stubborn personality that prefers to follow its own way but, can be trained easily if tried from an early age. Obedience training must be started at 3 months of age.
Proper training from early and excessive socialization helps to maintain good temperament and the dog will not be aggressive toward humans or other animals.
The dogs are well reputed for their territorial guarding ability and have been in quite popular as guard dogs in various parts of Europe.
French Mastiffs can also take part in various sports and athletic activities.
Dogue De Bordeaux (French Mastiff) Puppies
The litter size of the puppies varies from 4 to 6 puppies. The baby mastiffs are cute and adorable with small wrinkles on face similar to their adults.
They are very playful and their stubborn nature can only be handled if socialization and training get started from the puppy stage. It is easier to make the dog obey his master in younger age.
Feeding/Diet
For puppies, three to four times meal per day is advised for the puppies. For enhancing growth best dog food must be given.
An adult dog weighing 140 pounds needs a 3000 Kcal amount of calorie intake per day while a puppy weighing around 70pounds needs 1900 Kcal of calorie each day.
This breed has a tendency to eat everything that is supplied so, unnecessary weight gain must be checked. This courageous breed has been popular for its loyal nature and well serves the purpose of a working dog.
Dogue De Bordeaux Puppies Pictures
Video of Dogue De Bordeaux (French Mastiff) Playing with Baby
Popular Mixes of Dogue De Bordeaux Breeds are
- American Bull Dogue de Bordeaux (Cross): American Bulldog x Dogue de Bordeaux
- Bully Bordeaux (Cross): Bullmastiff x Dogue de Bordeaux
- Muscle Mastiff (Cross): Dogue de Bordeaux x Mastiff Mix
- Dogue de Bordeaux x Pitbull mix
FAQ’s and Trivia
Q. What kind of dog is Hooch?
A. Hooch’s real name was Beasley, who was an acting dog who starred in Tom Hanks movie Turner & Hooch as the dog “Hooch”.
He was a Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff) dog, a French breed of working dog developed in France.
Beasley died in 1992, 3 Years after Turner & Hooch was released at the age of 14.