Dogue De Bordeaux

The Dogue De Bordeaux is a member of what can be described as one of the original types of dog, a group known as Molossers. They are the breeds from which the Mastiffs in all their variations have evolved. With an obsolete certainty giant Mastiff-style dogs have been known for more than 4,000 years. Depictions in stone and drawings from the Sumerians show a recognisable Mastiff, the type of dog may well have existed before that time. The Indo-European tribes, the Alani, took their great dogs with them when they fled from the excesses of the Huns and finished up in Spain and Gaul in the 4th and 5th centuries. Other routes were from Babylon, Egypt and Greece, some went by Northern rout via Tibet and Russia, the Romans admired their tremendous strength and courage and would use them as gladiators fighting them against many types of animals.

Hisory of Dogue De Bordeaux

In those early days, dogs had to fulfill a specific function and the better they were at their jobs the more likely they were allowed to live. Life was hard and dangerous and it was essential that big guard dogs capable and willing to defend the community and their animals were developed and, when the chips were down, to fight, alongside the fighting men. The Mastiff of these times was such a dog. Apart from the sheer strength he has an intelligence and a sense of loyalty to match and because of this he has been bent to the will of man in all aspects legal and otherwise, often to his detriment.

Original Uses for the Dogue De Bordeaux

Like many other European breeds the Dogue de Bordeaux suffered during and after World War 2 and numbers were severely depleted. Dr Raymond Tribuet began in the 1960's the long job of reviving the breed. In 1970 with Tim Taylor he produced the breed standard which stands today, essentially the same as it was. Since then, the breed has slowly gained recognition throughout the world, particularly in America where there was a resurgence in 1984 after the release of a film entitled Turner and Hooch which depicted a Dogue de Bordeaux.

Dogue De Bordeaux Temperament

This is very definitely not the dog for a beginner. Although in the family environment they are calm, very affectionate with strong guarding instincts it has to be considered they are very territorial and the males can be dominant, they need to be kept under control because if challenged by another large dog they will assert themselves very effectively. They do have a stubborn nature and because of their power they need a committed owner prepared to socialise them from puppy hood, train them very carefully with firm kindness and rear them with considerable thought. They are shorter in the leg than other Mastiffs but they are still big, muscular dog and when adult they need plenty of high quality food with proper exercise to develop their bodies without gaining weight. They must not be over exercised when young-ordinary play and puppy activity is normally enough. Their physical development is fast and unless correctly reared they may develop hip dyspasia and in common with other giant breeds bloat (twisting of the stomach) is a very real hazard, they should not be excessively exercised or excited before and after meals.