Dogue De Bordeaux

The Dogue De Bordeaux is one of the ancient breeds originating in France. There is much speculation when it comes to its ancestry but one theory is that it is a descendant of bulldogs and mastiff-type dogs that were crossed with local cattle dogs and hounds. Some say that the Bullmastiff and the Dogue were developed around the same time.

In 1863, the breed joined the first French dog show in Paris under the name Dogue De Bordeaux. The first breed standard was created in France in 1896. The Dogue almost became extinct between the two World Wars as it is said that Adolf Hitler did his best to eradicate the breed. In fact, after World War II, less than 10 breeding pairs were left worldwide. Breed enthusiasts started reviving the breed in the 1960s. From being a breed that had similarities with the Cane Corso, it learned to adapt as a family companion that got along with other animals. It was recognised by The Kennel Club in 1997 under the Working group and its numbers are growing.

The Dogue De Bordeaux is a giant dog that stands 58 to 69 centimetres at the withers and weighs 125 to 150 pounds. It has a powerful and muscular look, and although it is heavy, it is quite athletic and agile when necessary. This massive dog has an exceptionally large head with short muzzles. Its skin around the face and neck is loose, which forms deep wrinkles. It has a moderately prominent forehead, small ears that are a bit darker than its coat, small oval eyes, and powerful undershot jaws. It has a serious, imposing and intimidating expression.

The Dogue has a short, fine coat that is soft to the touch. It has a loose-fitting and thick skin without excessive wrinkles. It has self-coloured coats, which according to KC standards should be in all shades of fawn, from mahogany to Isabella. Chocolate is considered undesirable, so are white patches on the head or body. In addition, the breed can have any of the three masks: no mask, black mask and brown mask.

While it is gentle towards family members, this breed is not recommended for families with toddlers because of its giant size. However, interactions with older children still need supervision. The Dogue generally does well with other family pets especially those it grew up with. Its high prey drive will compel it to chase small pets it does not know.

It is a better fit with experienced dog owners that can be the alpha in the household and consistently provide guidance so it won’t become willful and uncontrollable. The Dogue is intelligent but it can have a stubborn streak. This means that while it can learn a lot of good things, it can also catch some bad habits.

• Senior and less active: up to 2,450 calories daily
• Typical adults: up to 2,760 calories daily
• Physically active/working dogs: up to 3,060 calories daily

Taking care of a Dogue De Bordeaux is not cheap. First off, the price of buying a well-bred Dogue does not go lower than £700 to £1,000. Insuring this large dog costs around £80 to £180 for basic and a lifetime policy, respectively. It can even get more expensive if you choose a more comprehensive pet insurance premium.

Since giant breeds have a bigger appetite and require more calories, the Dogue is more expensive to feed, costing about £80 a month. Annual veterinary costs comprising of routine check-ups, vaccinations and other basic treatments will set you back a minimum of £1,200.

Basic equipment for your Dogue puppy to make it comfortable at home will initially cost around £300. Naturally, its things such as bed, collar and lease, food and water bowls, and toys will be bigger in size so they will also be more expensive.