Other names/Nicknames:
- French Mastiff
Country/Date of origin:
- France
- 4th century
Height:
- 23 to 27 inches
Weight:
- 80 to 100 pounds
Personality:
- Beneath the scowling face there really is a pugnacious nature.
- This breed does not take to strangers.
- A natural guarding instinct.
- Extremely loyal to the person it chooses as its master.
- Generally calm and tranquil in nature.
- Not a high-energy animal.
- Surprisingly agile when aroused.
History:
The Dogue De Bordeaux can trace its ancestry back to the great Mastiff dogs that came across the alps with the Roman legions. From the same stock that produced the Rottweiler, the Dogue obviously has been infused with more than a dash of Bulldog blood, too. For centuries, the dogs served as guards and dispatchers of large, dangerous animals. In temperament and disposition they were meant to be aggressive and surly. This has been a stumbling block to the breed’s popularity today. Some of the fierce nature has been bred out and they are enjoying a new surge in popularity.
Body Type:
- A typical dog of the Mastiff family, with a foreshortened muzzle.
- Ears are set well back on the head and are small for the dog’s size. They are not altered.
- Tail is medium length and tapers. It is carried low and is not altered.
- Eyes are light amber to match the coat tones.
- An undershot jaw and furrowed wrinkles on the brow impart a characteristic scowl and pugilistic expression.
Coat:
- Short, fine, and soft.
- Color is a solid red.
- Dark red with warm tones is preferred.
- There must be a contrasting face mask of darker tone. In the red-fawn dogs it is a dark red; in the dark-red dogs it is black.
- Moderate grooming.
Health and Wellness:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Bloat.
- Bone cancer.
- Thyroid problems.
- Fungal or bacterial infections in deep wrinkles.
What you should know:
- Almost unknown in the United States until 1988 when the movie Turner and Hooch introduced the breed.
- The biggest drawback of owning a Dogue De Bordeaux is the slobber.
- Snorts, snuffles and spit go with the breed.
- Can be fierce with other dogs.
- Puppies should be available in most parts of the United States.
