Large
8 Years
65 Kg
Working Dogs
Courageous, Friendly, Loving, Loyal
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a large breed, featuring a heavy set body with a huge head, some reaching a circumference of 68.5 - 76 cm. The front legs are straight and heavily boned. The head is wrinkled with an undershot jaw, small ears that hang downward and a muzzle that is about a third of the head's length. The upper lips hang down to the lower jaw. The nose has very wide nostrils while the skin around the neck is loose which forms a dewlap. The tail has a thick base and tapers to a point. The stocky body is covered by a thick skin, with a coat made of soft and short hairs which come in colours of mahogany to fawn and distinctive white markings on the chest and the tips of the toes. The height at the withers is usually 56 - 69 cm but for show dogs, the standard is 58.5 to 66 cm. A male Dogue can weigh in excess of 45 kg. Some have been known to stand 76 cm and weigh up to 65.75 kg.
All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
There are several existing versions as to the origin of the Dogue de Bordeaux but the most widely claimed is that the Dogue may be descended from the mastiff such as the Molossus of Rome or Greece. Some theories suggest that this breed came from the Spanish dogs from Burgos. Whatever the origin was, the Dogue de Bordeaux was known in France since the 12th century. It has been utilized as a war dog, flock guardian, dog fighter, personal bodyguard, hunter, and bull baiter. In the 19th century, dog fighting became a popular spectator sport in Europe, particularly around the Bordeaux region of France, where the breed got its name. The Dogue De Bordeaux became an effective dog fighter and was very popular until dog fighting was banned. The breed became utilized for other tasks, but over time the breed's popularity slowly faded. Raymond Triquet, a French breeder is accredited with saving the breed from total extinction by founding the Dogue de Bordeaux Club. The Dogue breed standard was established only in 1920, where emphasis on keeping the old breeding line was taken. Today, it is still considered a rare breed.
Years of successful breeding has made the Dogue de Bordeaux a more tamed breed than it was originally. The modern Dogue is a good-natured dog with a very calm temperament. This loyal and affectionate dog is very devoted to its family, always needing the attention of the members of its family. It is a fearless dog, often meeting head-on with strangers, which makes it an excellent candidate as a guard dog and watch dog. The only downside of the breed is its tendency to drool and snore.
Training the Dogue de Bordeaux should start at an early age to lessen or avoid aggressive behaviour. An experienced handler is required that could provide consistent and firm training because this breed is a little slow to learn.
Grooming the Dogue is not a problem since the short coat requires only occasional brushing. Bathe only when absolutely necessary.
This breed is prone to hip dysplasia due to its large and heavy body, and is typical of large breeds. It is also prone to certain types of tumours and cancers. It is not a dog that is easy to breed because although litters are generally small, they do have extremely large heads which requires Cesarean section at birth. Being broad chested, the dams often nurse their pups while lying on their stomachs, often accidentally squashing their pups which requires continuous supervision especially within the first few weeks after whelping. Those who survive and grow up healthy can live up to 11 years.
Feed the Dogue de Bordeaux with a mixture of beef, wheat, oats and beet pulp. A few small meals a day is ideal rather than one large meal.
The Dogue needs a moderate amount of exercise. Daily walks and a few hours of fun activities off the lead in a fenced-in garden or secured area is an ideal exercise routine to maintain a healthy physical and mental balance. It will live happily in an apartment provided that the daily exercise requirements are met. It is fairly inactive indoors.
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a dominant breed and has the tendency to become aggressive with other dogs and other males of the same breed. Although it has a ferocious look, it is very gentle with children, but is typically not a breed for a novice pet owner.
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