Dog breed profile
Dogues de Bordeaux
A detailed profile covering characteristics, everyday care and linked health conditions.
Quick facts
Typical guide only; individual needs vary.
Profile description
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a large French mastiff breed historically used for guarding estates, driving livestock, pulling loads and assisting with hunting. Most adults stand around 58 to 68 centimetres tall and weigh approximately 45 to 68 kilograms, with males commonly larger. The breed has a massive head, powerful body, deep chest, short muzzle and loose facial skin. Modern representatives of the Dogues de Bordeaux type may live primarily as companions, but inherited body shape and behavioural motivations remain relevant to exercise, training and home selection.
Its short coat occurs in shades of fawn, sometimes with a darker or red mask. Dogues de Bordeaux are typically loyal, calm and affectionate with their families. They can be naturally watchful and protective around strangers but should remain stable and controllable. Their size and strength require early training, and adolescent dogs may become difficult to manage if manners are not established. Many are patient with respectful children, although all interactions require supervision because of the dog’s weight and power.
The breed often drools and may be sensitive to heat because of its heavy build and shortened muzzle. It has a relatively short average lifespan and is predisposed to several heart, joint and respiratory concerns. The Dogue de Bordeaux is best suited to experienced owners who can provide companionship, careful weight management, moderate exercise and proactive veterinary care.
The decision to live with a Dogues de Bordeaux should account for adult size, temperament, activity and coat care. Responsible selection of a Dogues de Bordeaux should consider stable temperament, functional structure and documented health history alongside colour, coat and outward breed type.
First-time dog owner tips
Practical preparation for welcoming this breed into your home.
Care requirements
The Dogue de Bordeaux requires moderate, low-impact daily exercise and careful management of growth, breathing and joints. Several steady walks and gentle play periods are preferable to strenuous running or prolonged exercise. Puppies should avoid repetitive jumping, slippery floors, excessive stair use and forced activity while their bones develop.
Exercise should be reduced in hot or humid weather, with constant access to shade and fresh water. Training should begin early and focus on lead manners, calm greetings, handling and appropriate visitor behaviour. Positive reinforcement with clear boundaries is generally most effective. Facial folds and lips should be kept clean and dry.
The short coat requires weekly brushing, while teeth, ears and nails need routine care. A complete large-breed diet for the Dogues de Bordeaux should promote slow, controlled growth and a lean body condition. Measure the Dogues de Bordeaux's food against actual workload and reassess portions after growth, desexing, illness or a change in activity rather than relying indefinitely on the packet guide. A monthly weight or body-condition record makes gradual change in a Dogues de Bordeaux easier to detect than appearance alone, particularly when day-to-day familiarity masks a slow trend.
Meals should be divided into multiple portions, and vigorous activity avoided around feeding because the deep chest increases the risk of bloat. Regular veterinary examinations should monitor heart health, hips, elbows, knees, eyes, breathing and skin. Owners should seek prompt care for fainting, coughing, breathing difficulty, abdominal swelling or sudden weakness. Preventive planning for the Dogues de Bordeaux should reflect family history and give particular attention to mobility and joint comfort, eye comfort and vision, without assuming that a breed association means an individual dog is affected. Owners should establish the Dogues de Bordeaux's normal appetite, breathing, movement, sleep and social behaviour so a persistent departure from that baseline can be investigated promptly.
Conditions linked to this breed
General dog health conditions
These conditions can affect dogs generally and are not presented as conditions specifically associated with this breed.
Cataract [Cloudiness of the Lens of the Eye]
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Diabetes Mellitus
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Hypothyroidism
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Otitis Externa (Ear Infections)
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Pancreatitis
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