Breed Of The Month: Dogue de Bordeaux

This French favourite is fast becoming popular all over the world…

The French have had a long connection to their canine companions, but far before the French Poodle came along and became synonymous with the elegance of Paris, there was a far more substantial, meatier national dog – mais oui! We’re talking about the Dogue de Bordeaux, that drooling, wrinkled, lumbering beast of a dog – a loveable giant with a rich history.

Origin

As the name suggests, the Dogue de Bordeaux originated in Bordeaux in the south of France, around the 14^th century. Because of their considerable size and hardy nature, they were put to a number of uses by the French aristocracy, including as guard dogs, hunting dogs and even bear and bull-fighting dogs!

One theory suggests that because of their sheer size and brute strength, the breed is descended from the Greco-Roman molossoids that were used as war dogs. What is certain is that during the French Revolution many Dogues perished with their masters, because they were seen as a rich man’s dog and therefore shown no mercy.

In later years, Dogues were used to guard homes and a variety businesses, including butchers’ shops. And if that isn’t an indication of self-controlled dog, we don’t know what is! It wasn’t until 1920 that French breeders got together and standardised the breed, which has gone on to thrive around the world as a popular pet and guard dog.

Star quality

Americans first became really aware of the breed thanks to a Dogue called Beasley, who played Hooch in the Tom Hanks film ‘Turner and Hooch’. More recently, Aussies have been exposed to the breed’s loveable qualities thanks to the recent adverts for Olympus cameras in which a Dogue ‘chews’ and generally slobbers all over a camera. Both showcase how well-trained the breed can be, which accounts for its growing popularity. Specialist breeders exist in Australia, with organizations like the Dogue de Bordeaux Club of Australia providing detailed information.

Appearance

The Dogue de Bordeaux has a striking appearance, sharing similarities with the bulldog and mastiff, albeit with far more distinctive facial structure than either of those breeds. With wrinkles cascading down its face and an often inquisitive, perplexed expression, this canine cuts a memorable figure. Standing at up to 70cm tall and weighing in at a minimum of 52 kilograms for males, there’s a whole lot of dog in a Dogue de Bordeaux!

Temperament

While the Dogue de Bordeaux is a naturally inquisitive and watchful dog, which makes him a suitable guard dog, he is rarely unnecessarily aggressive and is slow to anger. Because of its size, it is absolutely mandatory that Dogues de Bordeaux receive early socialisation and are not allowed to become dominant. However, these giants make incredibly loyal, affectionate and amusing family pets for people who know how to handle them.

Image Sourced from: Commons.Wikimedia