Intelligent, alert, and calm dogs. Although described as stubborn this tendency may be reduced via a reward-based approach to training. Enjoys dog sports such as agility, carting, both rally and competitive obedience, weight pull, water rescue, and tracking. May be reserved around strangers or not get along well with other dogs.
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Identifying Features:
Average Height: 23 - 27 inches
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This is an ancient French breed that was originally used as a hunting dog in the 12th century. The breed’s exact origins are unclear and a variety of breeds have been proposed as being involved in the development of the Dogue de Bordeaux. These include a variety of Mastiff and Molossus-type guard dogs. Originally there were three types of Dogues: Toulousain, Parisien and Bordelais, the latter being the ancestor of today’s Dogue De Bordeaux. The breed has survived severe depletions in numbers from the French Revolution and the two World Wars. In 1863 the first canine exhibition was held at the "Jardin d’Acclimatation" in Paris. The winner of the Dogue de Bordeaux was a bitch named Magentas, and it was then that the Dogue de Bordeaux was given the name of the capital of their region of origin. This breed has been used for hunting, guarding and herding and was historically used for both animal baiting and dog fighting. The breed’s popularity and numbers increased in the early 1990s in America following the film Turner and Hooch which featured a Dogue de Bordeaux. It was formally recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2008.
