THE DOGUE DE BORDEAUX

Other Name:

French Mastiff

Height:

Dogs: 23.5 - 27.5 in. (60 - 68 cm)
Females: 22 3/4 - 26 in. (58 - 66 cm).

Weight:

Dogs: at least 110 lbs. (50 kg)
Females: at least 99 lbs (45 kg).

Colors:

Self-colored, in all shades of fawn, from Mahogany to Isabella (lightest fawn). A good pigmentation is required. Limited white patches are permissible on the chest and extremities of the limbs. They are available in three mask colors. 1. No mask or red mask; 2. Brown mask; 3. Black mask. Coat: Skin, thick and sufficiently loose fitting. Hair, Fine, short and soft to the touch.

Temperament:

Dogue de Bordeaux are calm, balanced and affectionate

With Children: Dogue de Bordeaux get along well, very patient.

With Pets: Usually gets along with everyone.

Special Skills: Lover of the family and watch dog.

Watch-dog: Medium

Guard-dog: High

Care and Exercise:

Easy care, moderate exercise. The Dogue de Bordeaux loves nothing better than to go for a walk or swim.

Training: The Dogue de Bordeaux are a very powerful animal and it is highly recommended that you provide your Dogue de Bordeaux with some basic obedience training. Consistent training and a fair and calm manner.

Learning Rate: Don not let the face fool you, they are highly intelligent and learn quickly although they can be quite stubborn. Once they learn a command they rarely forget it.

Activity: Medium

Living Environment:

Dogue de Bordeaux thrive on family contact so the closer they are to you the happier they are. Will live inside or outside, but do require a fair sized yard.

Life Span:

8 - 10 years

Litter Size:

6 - 8

Country of Origin:

France

History:

The Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the oldest French Breeds. Its actual origins are obscure but it probably descended from one of the strains of Mastiff type dogs that accompanied Macedonian and Roman armies through Asia, Europe and Britain. They were used as guardian dogs for protecting homes, butcher shops and vineyards, as well as pack hunting dogs that baited bulls and pursued boars, bears and jaguars. The breed narrowly missed extinction during the two world wars but enjoyed resurgence in the 1960's. Sometime in the early 1980's the first Dogue was imported to the United States. The breed is now used today almost exclusively as a family companion and house guardian.