The Dogue De Bordeaux it is a dog with very ancient origins: according to some theories, the dog breed would descend from the Alani; according to other hypotheses, the Dogue De Bordeaux would be the result of the crossing between English Mastiffs and Spanish Mastiffs (with the clear intention of giving the breed a more ferocious aspect).
The dog simply called «Dogue» was used in hunting, fighting and guarding houses and herds. During the first French gender exhibition, a female specimen of Dogue De Bordeaux revealed the strength and the typical harmonious aspect of the Molossians. The first standard of 1896 was revised several times until 2007, when the little known dog breed was finally presented in its different varieties: black mask, brown mask and no mask.
Today, despite the different varieties, the Dogue De Bordeaux specimens reveal the same characteristics in terms of weight and height: theheight at the withers in males it varies from 60 cm to 68 cm while in females it ranges from 58 cm to 66 cm; the weight in males is at least 50 kg while in females it is around 45 kg.
DOGUE DE BORDEAUX CHARACTER AND BEHAVIOR
The Dogue De Bordeaux is an alert and affectionate dog, a brave companion tied to his master but never aggressive. Although the Dogue De Bordeaux’s character is calm and balanced, his ancient fighting heritage has prompted him to take an aggressive attitude towards his fellowmen (unless he has been well socialized before).
DOGUE DE BORDEAUX PUPPY
The Dogue De Bordeaux puppy looks like a very heavy tender puppy that will grow into a strong and mighty dog. The brachycephalic molossoid it will grow based on the genetic component and nutrition, elements that determine the physical structure of each specimen. In the first months of life it is preferable that the puppy of Dogue De Bordeaux is not encouraged to exercise because otherwise it would increase the risk of joint problems, skeletal development and muscle extension in an already genetically predisposed breed.
In general, the price of a Dogue De Bordeaux puppy in good health and with pedigree exceeds 1000 euros. In any case, if you want to ensure optimal development of the specimen, it is advisable to establish a lasting relationship with the breeder and with the trusted veterinarian.
DOGUE DE BORDEAUX SUPPLY
The nutrition of the Dogue De Bordeaux must be calibrated in consideration of the imposing body structure, the development and the specific nutritional needs: it is advisable for a Dogue De Bordeaux puppy to eat a lot in the first years of life (a high protein intake will allow a correct psychophysical development) or that an adult specimen eats a couple of times a day (in such powerful breeds, weight gain could also cause significant damage to the skeletal level), for example.
Given the structure and size of the canine breed, it is important to check the relationship between the energy and protein value and the fat content. A healthy and balanced diet allows you to prevent many of the skeletal problems that the Molosser dog breed frequently suffers from (a gradual development of the skeletal system is definitely the best way to trace the profile of a healthy and happy animal).
Grooming and hygiene
The coat of the Dogue De Bordeaux does not require considerable care. However, it is good practice to keep the animal’s fur clean (brushing it at least once a week) and to ensure at least six-monthly grooming (too frequent washing could in fact eliminate the layer of fat that covers and protects it).
HEALTH, CHECKS AND VACCINATIONS
From a genetic point of view, the most common pathologies in Dogue De Bordeuax are: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hyperkeratosis and heart problems. Generally speaking, precisely because of its mighty constitution, the dog breed is not in good health (life expectancy is calculated around 9-10 years).
A first preventive visit and subsequent checkups by the treating veterinarian may be able to highlight the presence of any problems early and draw up a plan of corrective interventions. The main vaccinations (distemper, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, rabies, etc.), the relative reminders and the appropriate antiparasitic precautions represent the fundamental tools for a healthy and happy life.
DOGUE DE BORDEAUX STANDARD
Head The head must be voluminous, angular, broad, rather short and trapezoidal seen from above and from the front. In the male, the cephalic perimeter corresponds almost to the height of the withers.
Eyes The eyes should be oval and set wide apart. The space between the inner corners of the eyelids should be approximately twice the length of the eye.
Ears The ears should be relatively small and hanging, slightly darker in color than the coat. On insertion, the front base should be raised a little. The ears must fall back, but without flaccidity; the front edge must be close to the cheeks when the dog is attentive. The tip of the ear is slightly rounded; it must not go beyond the eye. They are set quite high, at the level of the upper line of the skull, whose width they seem to accentuate even more.
Mouth The jaws must be powerful and broad. The posterior face of the lower incisors must be in front of and not in contact with the anterior face of the upper incisors. The lower jaw should curve upwards. The chin must be well marked and must not exceed the upper lip excessively, nor must it be covered by the latter.
Neck The neck must be very strong, muscular, almost cylindrical and separated from the head by a slightly accentuated, slightly curved transverse furrow. The average circumference must be almost equal to that of the head. Its upper profile is slightly convex. The dewlap, well defined, must begin at the level of the throat, forming folds up to the chest, without hanging excessively. The neck, very broad at the base, must gently join the shoulders.
Body The length of the body, from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock, must be greater than the height at the withers in the proportion of 11/10.
Tail The tail must be very thick at the root: its tip must preferably reach the hock, without surpassing it.
Front limbs The forelegs must be very muscular.
Hind limbs The legs must be strong, with strong bone and well angled. Seen from behind, the hind legs must be parallel and vertical, giving the impression of power even if the hindquarters are slightly less broad than the front.
Feet The feet must be strong and must have compact toes, curved nails and well developed and elastic pads. The hind feet should be slightly longer than the front ones, with toes clenched.
Coat and color The coat must be fine, short and soft to the touch. The coat must be solid in all ranges of fawn, from mahogany to isabella (shades between yellow and brown). Small white patches on the chest and extremities of the limbs are allowed.
Machera There are three varieties of mask: black mask (it is often not very extensive, does not invade the skull region and is accompanied by light carbonations on the skull, ears, neck and top of the body), brown mask (may be accompanied by non-invasive brown and from lighter sloping parts of the body) and without a mask (the coat is fawn and the skin and nose appear red).
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