Dogue de Bordeaux Dog Breed Info: Pictures, Traits & Facts

The Dogue de Bordeaux is among the gentle giants. They are a handsome hulk of the dog world, with wrinkling faces that bring on compliments from passersby. They are a protective breed and have been used since their beginning as a guard dog and a protector.

The Dogue de Bordeaux also goes by the French Mastiff and Bordeaux Bulldog because they have some of both in their bloodline. They are shorter and have a bulkier build than many other mastiffs, the resemblance to Bulldogs being plain.

The Dogue de Bordeaux is patient and calm but can be stubborn if not paired with a reliable trainer. They love their people but tend to drool and shed quite a bit, and owners need to be careful of the temperatures they are in.

Dogue de Bordeaux Puppies — Before You Get One…

3 Little-Known Facts About the Dogue de Bordeaux

1. The Dogue de Bordeaux was once a movie star.

In 1989, Tom Hanks co-starred in a movie with a Dogue de Bordeaux named Beasley. The comedy, “Turner and Hooch,” had Hanks playing a police detective with his dog Hooch (Beasley) lending a helping paw.

Before the movie aired, the breed, despite their extensive history, was practically unknown outside France. However, after the lovable, drooling pooch was on the silver screen, they became much more accessible to people worldwide.

The pup stole people’s hearts during the movie and took the spotlight in almost every scene. However, after this movie, Beasley retired from acting and was not in another film.

2. Pinpointing their exact origination is not possible.

The Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the small handful of breeds recognized by the AKC whose origin date is unknown. The reason for this is the sheer length of their lineage. They are an ancient breed that traveled the world to arrive in France.

There are two central beliefs. One theory is that they have always resided in France and have slowly developed into the Dogue we know today over thousands of years. There is not much physical proof, however, to support this theory.

The story that has the most backing is that the Dogue’s ancestors came with the legions of Julius Caesar’s army. During this period of the first century B.C., they received their introduction to France through the Romans.

Unfortunately, they would not have been well received at first because the Romans often used them as war dogs. Beyond that, though, they were matched against each other like gladiators in the Romans’ gruesome sporting events. They fought each other and numerous wild beasts until the death of one or both.

Gratefully, much of this aggression has been trained out of them over the last thousand years. They are more commonly used as working and hunting dogs now. Many of them are also employed as guard dogs. The practice started in France but took an abrupt pause after the French Revolution because they were only used as such by the nobility.

After this, the Dogue earned their name as the “Butcher’s Dog” by finding themselves commonly owned by livestock drovers.

3. These dogs used to come in two typical sizes.

There is evidence that the Dogue used to come in two different sizes. There is not much known about the history of the two and their breeding differences, since the smaller sized pup disappeared from our current historical records shortly after the 1700s.

The smaller dog was named the Doguin. Both the Dogue de Bordeaux sizes almost came to extinction twice, once during the French Revolution and the other WWII. Fortunately, only the Doguins were lost to history. Now, we have the larger version of the breed that embodies the name the Dogue de Bordeaux.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Dogue de Bordeaux 🧠

Since the Dogue de Bordeaux has long been an established and recognized breed, they have specific traits typical to them. Although originally used as fighting dogs, they do not have naturally aggressive personalities. They have calm and patient temperaments.

Beyond their calm demeanor, they are highly loyal and utterly devoted to anyone they deem their family. This attitude is why they are often used as guard dogs or protectors.

These dogs are intelligent, as many ancient breeds are. They learn quickly but can be stubborn. If you want to train one to behave appropriately, especially in various social scenarios, you need to have a steady hand and heart. They respect the confidence that surpasses their own.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Even though they have an intense and intimidating appearance, the Dogue de Bordeaux is typically gentle. Unlike other large dogs, they have more awareness of their size and weight.

That said, it is still absolutely necessary to monitor the time that these dogs spend around little children. Teach both the children and the dogs how to behave appropriately around each other to establish better bonds.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

It is essential to socialize your Dogue de Bordeaux as early as possible. They have a strong prey drive because of all their years as fighting and hunting dogs. They can do well with smaller animals like cats but are not recommended to have freely around smaller rodents.

You should train them from as young as possible since they are so powerful and react quickly.

Things to Know When Owning a Dogue de Bordeaux

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Many large dogs with a great deal of muscle have a big appetite. They need enough protein and nutrition to fuel their bulk and keep them healthy.

Feed the Dogue de Bordeaux approximately 4 cups of food each day. Spread it out in portioned meals so they don’t suffer from indigestion.

Although the amount of food makes it feel like they could eat through your budget quickly, it is still important to feed them with a high-quality diet. Ensure that the food has a high protein content and is formulated for large dogs.

Exercise 🐕

As with any working breed, these dogs need plenty of exercise to prevent them from being destructive. They always prefer to have some sort of job to exercise them mentally and physically. They do not adapt well to living in apartments or small homes.

If you own a Dogue de Bordeaux, take them daily walks for at least an hour spread throughout the day, or 8 miles.

Be careful when you take these dogs out during hot and cold weather. They are not able to regulate their temperature that well. They quickly suffer from heatstroke in hot and humid weather, which can be detrimental to their health.

Training 🦮

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a stubborn breed when faced with a shy or unsure trainer. They respect and listen well to people who have experience training dogs. Do not ever become aggressive or physical with the dog because they do not respond well to this kind of treatment.

Early socialization is one of the vital aspects of training the Dogue de Bordeaux. Take them to dog parks and introduce them to other animals as early as possible. Pay attention to their behavior. Specific training sessions will probably need to involve how to behave well around other animals.

They might not be dangerous but are perhaps more assertive than they should be because they are likely to be the dog with the most muscles on the block.

Grooming ✂️

The fur of the Dogue de Bordeaux is easy to maintain and unique. They need a couple of brushings each week with either a curry comb or a soft bristle brush to control shedding.

These dogs need a bath around once a month, but make sure to use a medicated shampoo. They often suffer from skin conditions. It is essential to dry their skin off, especially in between the folds of their skin. If moisture gets trapped between these, it can irritate and create foul odors.

They need special attention around their face. Wipe them down at least once a week to prevent yeast infections or bacterial infestations. The dog drools heavily, and the moisture can get trapped in their facial skin folds.

The pads on this pup’s feet dry and crack more quickly than other dogs and need to have lotion applied regularly to keep them healthy. It helps prevent pain when they walk.

Like all other dog breeds, brush their teeth a couple of times a week and keep their nails trimmed down.

Health and Conditions ❤️

These dogs have developed a strong immune system that has supported them through many years of war and disease. They do suffer from specific diseases that hybrids have more genetic defense against because they are purebred.

Take your pup to their annual or biannual vet appointments, especially as they get older. Doing so helps to ensure that whatever they might suffer from gets caught early enough for treatment.

Male vs. Female

The males and females of this breed do not exhibit many personality differences. Their sizes vary slightly, though. The female Dogue is somewhat smaller, standing at around 23 to 26 inches tall and weighing between 99 to 130 pounds, still a formidable force. Males stand between 23 to 27 inches and are bulkier at around 120 to 145 pounds.

Final Thoughts

The Dogue de Bordeaux isn’t just another dog, but history packed into a muscled form. They have survived and thrived against all the odds. You get a determined dog with intelligence and form that speaks to their many years of breeding.

These pups may take a bit of management with their wrinkles and folds across their faces and bodies. However, they make up for it with their love and protection, ready to do anything for their family.

Featured Image Credit: Pickpik