Dogue de Bordeaux breed: the rugged exterior hides a sensitive heart

He has a big, wrinkled, slightly scary look in his eyes, and sometimes he drools. But don't let that put you off, the French-born Dogue de Bordeaux can be a real family pet. Calm and collected, emotional and devoted to his loved ones to the last drop of his blood.

Once used for hunting and guarding, this lovable giant has become a family pet thanks to his good qualities and predictable temperament. With its reddish-brown coat, this imposing dog is one of the oldest French breeds and the national pride of the Gauls. Of course, we don’t see many Dogue de Bordeaux in the big cities, which is no coincidence, as they are a dog that requires a lot of space and are better suited to outdoor living.

History

The FCI Group II Bordeaux is considered one of the oldest breeds in Europe. Is said to have been mentioned in 13th century codices. In any case, the Dogue de Bordeaux was used as a war dog by the ancient Celts, who used it to set dogs against their opponents in battle. Later, it was used mainly for hunting, mainly for chasing and shooting big game, until around the 19th century. They were excellent for protecting the gates of houses and faithfully accompanied their owners on dangerous country roads. At that time, it was not uncommon for the Bordeaux to be both the victim and the participant in bloody dog fights.

The dog not only had to perform against his own kind in the ring, but also had to fight wild animals. However, World War II and the Great Depression did not spare this dog breed, which was subsequently driven to the brink of extinction. The saviour of this Molosser was a French breeder named Raymond Triquet, and with his help the dog’s standard was finally finalised in 1995.

Breed standard

According to the FCI standard, the Dogue de Bordeaux is a short-headed, wheaten type dog, with or without a black or brown mask on the face. Standard colours are brown, with black fur on the face and ears, mahogany and Isabella. And dull yellowish-brown is also typical. The depth of the chest is more than half the height of the chest. The muzzle hanging down below the jaw, may extend on either side to a maximum of one third of the length of the head. In males, the circumference of the head is approximately equal to the height at withers, in females it may be less.

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a very powerful dog, but its muscular body retains its harmonious overall appearance. It has a rather “close to the ground” conformation, which means that the distance between the sternum and the ground is slightly less than the depth of the chest. Stocky, athletic, imposing and very imposing in appearance. The head is huge, angular, broad, rather short, trapezoidal in shape when viewed from the front and above. Muzzle is well pigmented, with wide, flaring nostrils, the eye socket pressing into the cheek. Jaws are particularly strong, this breed is forelimbed.

Eye colour ranges from hazel to dark brown in dogs with a black mask. In dogs with a less black mask, the eye colour ranges from hazel to dark brown. In unmasked or brown masked individuals, less dark eye colour is permitted but not desirable. The gait is very flexible and agile for a moleskin. The Dogue de Bordeaux is a short-haired breed with a thin, soft-feeling coat that does not require special grooming. Height at withers is 60-68 cm for males and 58-66 cm for bitches. The minimum body weight is 50 kg for the boar and 45 kg for the bitch. Their lifespan is shockingly short, only 8 years.

Character

Let’s start with the basics: for first-time dog owners, it is not recommended. Although it is a very reliable and calm dog. Although nowadays it can be described as a giant companion dog, a less than firm or over-indulgent owner can also “misbehave” this breed, which is stubborn and can become aggressive in the extreme. In addition, it has a huge body size and can jump up at a “weak handed” owner, with somewhat violent consequences. However, it is a big “bear” with a very loyal and calm temperament and is not aggressive with other dogs.

It is no coincidence that this is not the heroic breed for rescue or guiding. It is not very trainable, a bit slow, and cannot be expected to be taught different performances. Nor is it really interested in play. However, there are plenty of arguments in his favour, as he is not very sedentary and therefore does not need to be pushed too hard to run or go on long walks. However, he loves people and is very affectionate, if the owner is happy, the dog is happy. He is child friendly and would never “lay a hand” on the little ones. Anyone who takes on this breed should be very consistent and train the younger ones with loving severity. The owner who observes this not very many, but important principle, will make a lifelong friend in this warm-hearted and reliable big bodyguard.

Ideal environment

He has excellent hearing and will always defend his territory and any person or property in his area, as it is in his genes. Although not a barking breed at all, he is guaranteed to signal if he senses anything unusual around the house. The Great Dane of Bordeaux has no tendency to bite humans. It may stray, although it is not a flighty breed, but of course you should have a secure fence! It will settle for leisurely, short walks.

Care

As it is a short-haired breed, its coat does not require much grooming. However, as is the season, it sheds, and it is very unpleasant to step on the tiny hairs. Don’t neglect to trim the claws regularly, as they don’t wear out too much! Don’t forget to have the stink gland professionally squeezed! (It can become inflamed in all breeds of dog if left untreated.) This should be left to the vet. Regular emphasis should be placed on tartar removal, which can be done either by a groomer or a vet. Also, if this occurs, regularly wipe the discharge out of the eyes, for example with a boric water solution.

Common health problems

One of the main reasons for the short lifespan is that the Bordeaux, is susceptible to many diseases. Like the large-bodied mastiffs. A breed-specific disease may be hip dysplasia, but it may also be prone to epilepsy. Due to their loose and wrinkled skin, they may also contract various skin diseases, including dermatitis. In addition, they often have heart problems as their hearts are smaller in proportion to their body size.

If you want to protect your dog from these often fatal diseases, always choose your puppy as carefully as possible. And only from registered and tested breedin!

Literature: János Szinák – István Veress: A világ kutyái I.