The Dogue de Bordeaux is recognized by its powerful build. Stocky and massive in appearance, he sports typical Molossoid features. He is appreciated for his formidable protective spirit. He makes an excellent watchdog. But behind his intimidating physique, this mastiff shows remarkable gentleness and calm. Very attached to his master, he is particularly affectionate. This breed is also famous as Lionel Messi Dog as he owns one.
History of the Breed
The Dogue de Bordeaux remains one of the oldest French breeds. It is believed that its origins date back to the end of Antiquity. His ancestors would have accosted in the south of Gaul during the great invasions with peoples of Asia. The latter would have imported a robust canine breed in Spain, the Alano Español. This breed spread in the southwest of France, including Bordeaux in Aquitaine. It would have been crossed with different breeds of local dog which probably gave birth to the Dogue de Bordeaux.
The pedigree of this dog was officially recognized in 1926. During the twentieth century, it came close to extinction because of the two great wars. Around the 70s, Professor Raymond Triquet avoided the worst by revitalizing the breeding of the breed.
Physical Features
Such as Mallorca Mastiff, the Dogue de Bordeaux or French Mastiff is distinguished by its powerful stature. It is not imposing, but it is massive. He has a well-developed musculature with a strong, short kidney. He has a powerful chest and arched ribs. Her back is wide and her stomach is firm. Her body ends in a tail falling to her hock. Its body is covered with short, fine and soft hair. Her dress is unicolour, in the same way as the Dogo Argentino. It features tawny mahogany to deer red colors. This is sometimes adorned with white spots on the chest and at the end of the legs.
Its body is surmounted by a head of brachycephalic morphology with an underlined stop. It is traversed by mobile wrinkles. Its ears are small, drooping, and slightly darker compared to its coat. Its eyes are oval and tinge from a nutty to dark brown color.
Behavior and Character
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a calm and gentle dog despite his hound’s appearance. He is a pleasant company. With children, he is particularly gentle and patient unlike the Tibetan mastiff. This dog is very loyal. As soon as he becomes attached to his masters, he becomes very dependent and clingy. He is courageous and very protective, even if he is placid and not very athletic. He is wary of strangers. It is a breed that barks little, except in case of necessity. On the other hand, he drools a lot. Once properly adapted, he is obedient. He needs a fair and firm education with rewards and praise. His master must know how to impose himself to properly train his dog.
Living Conditions of the Dogue De Bordeaux
The Dogue de Bordeaux adapts to any family setting. However, it does require space to let off steam. The ideal would be to accommodate him in a house with a garden. He needs moderate exercise a day.
Price And Budget For A Dogue De Bordeaux
A Dogue de Bordeaux is worth between $ 1,000 and $ 1,500. Over the year, its maintenance requires a minimum budget of $ 1,850. This maintenance cost can be amortized by paying the cost of pet insurance.
