About The Dogue de Bordeaux Breed ...
Above Delilah and Saffy Ann ... Above Doofus and Delilah .....
The Origin of the Dogue De Bordeaux
Below Saffy Ann and Doofus ....
The Dogue de Bordeaux where used as guardians, hunters, and fighters. They were trained to bait bulls, bears, and jaguars; hunt boars; heard cattle; and protect the homes and work places of butcher shops and vineyards .
In France the Dogue de Bordeaux were well known as protectors and were often found in the homes of their noble and wealthy masters.
During the french revolution ,many of the Dogue De Bordeaux's are thought to have perished with their wealthy masters during the uprising of the classes, but the Dogue of the common man must have thrived .
These Dogues became the champions of the arena ,they where powerful dogs bred to do their jobs and do them well .
The Dogue De Bordeaux was known in France as early as the fourteenth century particularly in southern France in the region around Bordeaux.. Hence the city lent it's name to this large breed .
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DID YOU KNOW?.......
After 5yrs of advocacy by the British Dogue De Bordeaux club ,The Kennel Club of Britain finally accepted the Dog De Bordeaux in November
of 1998.This move by the Kennel Club came just a few months after Raymond Triquet ,known to many as 'The Father of the Dog De Bordeaux,
spoke at a seminar in Ascot .His presentation championing the breed was a key element in persuading The Kennel Club toward acceptance .
The introduction of the breed was celebrated at a special exhibition of several Dogue De Bordeaux at Earls court ,the venue of the original
Crufts event .
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Temperament...
The Dogue de Bordeaux is gentle, obedient and patient with a tremendous amount of affection and loyalty to his master and their training ability is similar to the German Shepherd.
They are devoted to their friends and family and they make an excellent family dog and should be viewed as a permanent member of the family as they will soon become one.
The Dogue De Bordeaux is not generally hyperactive but as pups and young adults they are full of energy. The adult may seem lethargic but don't be fooled by the size as they are quick on their feet but they are not endless runners .
They have a high energy threshold although they do not display it on a twenty four hour basis, making them easier to live with than many dogs a fraction of their size.
They are quite and pretty subdued animals and in Europe the breed commonly are kept in apartments even though they can snore rather loudly and can drool some, mainly after being exercised and drinking large amounts .
Typically friends of the family may question the Dogue's ability as a guardian in response to his congenial nature. In contrast to its congeniality towards friends, this is amongst the world's most determined of guardian dogs. Often described as the ultimate intruder's nightmare". Intruder's to the home that contains a DDB will undoubtedly encounter a package of size, strength and fiercely protective nature that is unexcelled in the world of dogs. We must always remember the Dogue's original purpose was to and protect.
The Dogue De Bordeaux can be stubborn and arrogant but once they learn a command or task they rarely forget it. They will respect you but only if you give them the respect they deserve.
The Dogue De Bordeaux is sweet and even tempered, it protects what is theirs, including their owners. They are devoted to their family and friends, but it is very important to socialize the Dogue in its early stages of life.
Remember that even though the body is large, the mind is still young. It is common for a 7 month old puppy to knock over the largest man while playing.
The breed have a keen sense of smell and hearing and are intelligent and balanced.
The Dog De Bordeaux is Gentle, kind, and very protective, they are excellent with other pets and children ,Although a male dogue will not do well around other males of this breed .
Height & Weight...
The standard states that the desirable height, at maturity, should range between 23½ inches to 27 inches (58-67.5 cm) for male dogs and from 22½ inches to 25½ inches (57 cm-65 cm) for females.
As far as weight a Male: should be at least 110 lbs. (50 kg); Female: at least 99 lbs (45 kg).
General conformation
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a well balanced, muscular and massive dog with a powerful build ,large head with plenty of wrinkles .The Dogue's overall size should come mostly from width and muscle, rather than height. The breed is set somewhat low to the ground and not tall like the English Mastiff.
The body of the Dogue de Bordeaux is thick-set, with a short, straight top-line and a gentle rounded croup.
The front legs should be straight and heavy-boned. The straight tail begins thickly at the base and then tapers to a point at the end. It should not reach lower than the hocks. The breed is to be presented in a completely natural condition with intact ears, tail and natural dewclaws. The Dogue de Bordeaux has a short, soft coat and Very little grooming is needed for this breed .
The DDB coat can come in shades of fawn (light, coppery red) to mahogany (dark, brownish red) with a black, brown or red mask. White markings are permitted on the tips of the toes and on the chest, but white on any other part of the body is considered a fault.
Head...
The massive head of the Dogue de Bordeaux is a crucial breed characteristic. The Dogue de Bordeaux is claimed to have, proportionally, the largest head in the canine world. For males the circumference of the head, measured at the widest point of the skull, is roughly equal to the dog's height at the withers (shoulders). For females, the measured circumference may be slightly less.
The jaw is undershot and powerful. The Dogue can have a black, Brown or red mask that can be distinguished from the rest .
The muzzle should be at most 1/3 the total length of the head and no shorter than 1/4 the length of the head, the ideal being between the two extremes. The upper lips hang thickly down over the lower jaw. The skin on the neck is loose, forming a noticeable dewlap, but should not be excessive like that of a Neapolitan Mastiff. Small pendant ears top the head, but should not be long and hound like .
Litter size
As with any breed, litter sizes may vary from dog to dog. On average, litters are usually between five and eight.
Life span
As with other large breeds of canine, the lifespan of the Dogue de Bordeaux is fairly short. They usually live for 8 to 10 years, though up to 15 years of age have been recorded.
Health Concerns...
Dogue de Bordeaux are prone to bloat, twisting of the stomach, which could lead to death. The reason is Excessive exercise and excitement after or just before eating and drinking .Hip dysplasia is the most common problem of the breed. Heart murmurs and skin disease are other problems with the Dogue De Bordeaux.
Special Skill...
Watch Dog skills are measured at a medium.
An excellent guard dog, a lover of the family, gets along with everyone, patient and calm with children .
