DOGUE DE BORDEAUX

Temperament: Affectionate, Loyal, Courageous

AKC Breed Popularity: Ranks 67 of 196

Height: 23.27 inches (male), 23-26 inches (female)

Weight: 110 pounds & up (male), 99 pounds & up (female)

Life Expectancy: 5-8 years

Group: Working Group 

ABOUT THE DOGUE DE BORDEAUX

The DDB, as he’s nicknamed, originated in France’s Bordeaux region 600 or more years ago. He’s known for his massive head, fearless temperament, and powerful body. The Dogue de Bordeaux first came to the attention of the American public with the 1989 release of the Tom Hanks movie Turner and Hooch and has gained popularity ever since.

PERSONALITY

Serious and self-assured, but with an underlying sense of humor, the Dogue de Bordeaux is a vigilant and courageous companion. He comes in a range of personalities: aloof, outgoing, comical, sweet, feisty, quick to learn—each belongs to a different dog.

At his best, the Dogue is calm and gentle, but he can also be stubborn. When a dog this size is stubborn and wants to have his own way, he can be difficult to deal with. The DDB must have early and extensive socialization combined with strong leadership by his owner, or he can become aggressive toward other dogs, smaller animals or even people. If you want to live with a DDB, you must be willing to learn how to work with him, control him, and earn his respect.

NUTRITION

How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level.

HEALTH

Like any giant breed with a short muzzle, the Dogue de Bordeaux has health problems. The limited gene pool for the breed creates a dog susceptible to temperature extremes, heart diseases such as dilated cardiomyopathy and aortic stenosis, and ectropion, a condition in which the eyelid everts outward. The DDB is also prone to footpad hyperkeratosis.

Not all of these conditions are detectable in a growing puppy, and it is impossible to predict whether an animal will be free of these maladies, which is why you must find a reputable breeder who is committed to breeding the healthiest animals possible.  They should be able to produce independent certification that the parents of the dog (and grandparents, etc.) have been screened for common defects and deemed healthy for breeding. That’s where health registries come in.

CARE

It is important to provide dogue de bordeaux with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, as they may become bored, anxious, and destructive if their needs are not met.

GROOMING

The Dogue’s short coat is easy to groom. Brush him once a week with a rubber curry brush to remove dead hairs. But there’s more to grooming than coat care. The Dogue has wrinkles and they need special care so they don’t become infected. Wipe them out using a damp cloth or a baby wipe, then dry the folds thoroughly to prevent skin infections.

Carry a hand towel for wiping his wrinkled face after every meal or drink of water. When he shakes that big head, he slings gobs of drool everywhere. He also sheds heavily, so you’ll be spending plenty of time sweeping and vacuuming.

Source: dogtime, vetstreet, akc.