The Dogue De Bordeaux: A Wonderful Breed
The Dogue de Bordeaux is today one of the best known breeds in the world. His loyalty and his loyalty towards his owners make him the ideal dog for families of all kinds, and today we will talk about these wonderful dogs and their main characteristics.
Dogue de Bordeaux
It has been one of the most popular breeds over the past two centuries, thanks to the variety of roles it has played throughout history. This imposing-looking dog with enormous features is easily recognizable by its bearing and its distinctive muzzle that stands out easily.
In the past, the Dogue de Bordeaux belonged to the breed of mastiffs, dogs designed for the protection of the flock ; later, however, it evolved in correspondence with the need of breeders to make it a hunting dog, making it look more like a molossoid or a retriever.
Previously there were three staves of this type: Paris, Toulouse and Bordeaux, each with its own characteristics. Currently, the only descendant of the three varieties has remained Bordeaux, which was able to spread worldwide thanks to the exhibition at a dog breed fair that took place in that city in the nineteenth century.
Physical aspect
The main strength of this breed is the large head which stands out even more than its body:
- The perimeter of the head usually coincides with the measure of the withers.
- On the face he has large wrinkles because his skin is particularly sagging, as a method of defense.
- It has a short muzzle with powerful jaws and has prognathism : the lower jaw is protruding compared to the upper one, which leads it to have a powerful bite that is difficult to release.
- The cheeks tend to hang over the lower jaw.
- The nose is small, set slightly higher than in other breeds.
- The eyes are small and round, very far apart.
- The ears are small, turned down and triangular in shape.
With reference to the body, it is possible to highlight the following characteristics:
- Males weigh an average of 52 kilos, females 45.
- Males usually reach 60 centimeters in height, while females reach 58.
- They have well defined and distinguishable muscles even at rest.
- The chest is broad and deep, well proportioned with the rest of the body.
- The tail is not very long and is thicker at the base.
Ultimately, we are talking about a powerful dog, ideal for hunting in other times, with a jaw designed not to let go of the prey. Nowadays it is used very often as a house keeper and sometimes also to lead livestock.
Character of the Dogue de Bordeaux
We do not blame you if you are a little scared by seeing a specimen of this breed. The truth, however, is that the Dogue de Bordeaux is not an aggressive dog, quite the contrary. It is a rather calm and affectionate animal with its owners, but which keeps its appearances in front of strangers.
In fact, he is a very affectionate dog and even playful with children, he loves to participate in daily activities with them. It is very quiet and rarely barks for no reason: it will only do so in front of a thief or a warning sign.
In front of strangers and other dogs, he maintains a rather cold and polite demeanor, always alert and ready to take care of his master – without however showing jealousy which could result in unpleasant situations.
How to train the Dogue de Bordeaux
From an early age, you have to teach him what are the right and wrong behaviors. It is a very intelligent breed that learns easily, however its stubbornness can cause some problems when it comes to training it. The best thing to do is to use your pulse and kindness. If you are a beginner, we recommend that you try another breed, perhaps with a German Shepherd.
Health and diseases of the Dogue de Bordeaux
Its large skull can have brachycephaly, which is a disorder that leads to breathing problems due to the obstruction of the nose. But don’t despair, it usually comes in a very mild form. If you believe the case is escalating, take him to the vet immediately.
The Dogue de Bordeaux is undoubtedly a very long-lived dog, some specimens exceeding 20 years of age. For this reason he is prone to suffer from joint diseases or from hip and shoulder dysplasia.
On the other hand, his skin can also present problems: the folds on the muzzle are prone to retain moisture and make fungi appear, so it is recommended to clean those areas daily to avoid unpleasant infections or scabies.
Finally, this breed tends to have eye problems often, and it is best to take him to the vet regularly to inspect this area. Other disorders that can occur are hypothyroidism, epilepsy and in some cases retinal atrophy.
To sum it up, although it is an ideal companion dog, it is a breed that involves many challenges not only related to training, but also to its maintenance. In fact, they tend to suffer from many diseases during their lifetime.
