Dogue de Bordeaux

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a powerful, muscular French breed and is known for his balanced temperament and imposing presence. Dogue de Bordeaux is also known as the French Mastiff, Bordeaux dog and Bulldogue Francais. Dogue enthusiasts simply call him the DDB.

The Dogue de Bordeaux is believed to have originated in southern France in the region around Bordeaux more than 600 years ago. The DDB worked as a hunter and cattle herding dog and was trained to bait bulls and bears, but his original role was to protect the homes, butcher shops, and vineyards of his wealthy masters. The breed almost perished during the French Revolution during the late 1700s when the French monarchy collapsed.

Today, the Dogue de Bordeaux is a devoted and affectionate family dog. It is very important to socialize and train the DDB early as they do tend to be overly protective and sometimes even dog-aggressive. The DDB needs consistent and confident leadership from his master.

Grooming the DDB is a breeze. An occasional light brushing will reduce shedding to a minimum. The ears and wrinkles need to be cleaned regularly to prevent yeast build-up.

The Dogue de Bordeaux does have some health issues. As with most large, heavy breeds he can develop hip, knee, shoulder or elbow dysplasia. Unfortunately, certain cancers are common in the DDB. Watch out for bloat and keep your DDB on a good, consistent diet to avoid flatulence.

Excerpts from the Standard

General Appearance

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a very powerful dog, with a very muscular body yet retaining a harmonious general outline.

Size, Proportion, and Substance

Males: 23.5-27 inches at the shoulder. Males should weigh at least 110 lbs

Females: 23-26 inches at the shoulder. females should weigh at least 99 lbs

Fun Fact

In the 1989 movie "Turner and Hooch" The title role of Hooch is played by a Dogue de Bordeaux named Beasley. Dogue de Bordeaux have also appeared on the daytime soap General Hospital and the HBO hit Sex and the City.