Dogue de Bordeaux: breed description, nature and subtleties of content

Dogue de Bordeaux is very often chosen both by regulars at international exhibitions, and by ordinary people who dream of a pet. This breed is rather complicated, and only a calm person with a strong character can establish relations with a previously fighting dog. In addition, the dog does not like loneliness, and therefore it is not suitable for workaholics who are always absent at home. When purchasing a dog, it is important to first learn about the nature of the future pet, the conditions for caring for it and the rules of feeding.

Dogue de Bordeaux, aka French mastiff, has a very vague origin. There are three versions of dog handlers, and not one of them is still official. According to the first theory, mastiffs separated from the bulldogs. The second connects the Bordeaux doges with the Tibetan mastiffs. Finally, the third, most famous and popular theory, holds the position that the Bordeaux dogs came from the fighting ancient Alans, common among the French.

One of the oldest hunting breeds in France was well described in a book published by Gaston de Foix back in the 14th century. The ancestors of the French mastiffs were used to hunt boars and other large animals, protect livestock, transport meat and participate in “dog pits”. The dogs of that time were divided into three varieties, very different in appearance. Not only the color or size of the head, but even the bite could be different. The name "Great Dane of Bordeaux" itself took root only in 1863, and before that the breed was always called the "French Mastiff".

The first pedigree club of Bordeaux dogs was formed in 1924.The institution was created in order to restore the number of dogs, significantly reduced after the First World War. The next significant drop in numbers occurred after World War II., since to feed quite large dogs in wartime proved to be an impossible task. Many dogs were euthanized by the owners themselves. Breed restoration began to be actively carried out in the 1950s. In the 1990s, the breed gained worldwide fame and began to be actively imported into other countries.

Characteristics of Bordeaux Great Dane mainly contain information on the appearance of dogs. Although modern dogs have retained some features of their overly aggressive ancestors, they look a little different. Puppies of French mastiffs have soft features, which over time become more pronounced. The dog looks massive and muscular, but rather squat. The weight of males can reach almost 90 kilograms, and the growth is 68 centimeters. As for the female representatives, their sizes are almost the same: growth reaches 66 centimeters at the withers.

On the exterior, it is customary to distinguish three classes of French mastiffs. The first is the show standard, which means animals with perfect exterior performance. Such a dog participates in exhibitions, and is also used for breeding. The second class was called the brid standard. Dogs of this class have slight deviations from the ideal, and therefore are also used for breeding. Finally, there is a pet standard class. Such dogs are not used for breeding and rarely participate in exhibitions, as there is no point in this. Dogue de Bordeaux is just a pet, a devoted and intelligent member of the family.

Specialists distinguish 7 individual exterior indicators, according to which the class of the animal is determined. The muscle of the cheeks and cheekbones should be developed, and the eyes located under the convex forehead, widely spaced. The ears are pretty close to the muzzle, ideally reaching the ends of the line of the eyes. The loin of the dog is wide and powerful, and the chest is 20-30 centimeters wider than the height. Finally, the sufficient development of intuition and facial expressions is important.

The character of the dog, surprisingly, is quite calm and measured. The dogue of Bordeaux is smart and sincerely devoted to its masters. He tolerates separation and being alone for a rather long time, is very bored because of this, and is always ready to protect his owners. but the main owner of the mastiff is still one - his dog himself chooses from households, most often giving preference to a person with a calm character. With the "leader" of the family, the dog keeps on an equal footing, and belongs to the rest of the inhabitants of the apartment with a patronizing, friendly and even tenderness. Mastiff enjoys communicating with children and he is always ready to spend time in games, but not too active.

The dog can be aggressive towards strangers, but it will not attack without any reason. The dog may bark loudly, but consider such a "gesture" as a warning. It’s important to mention that dogs are considered a direct threat to people who are intoxicated, therefore, the smell of ethyl alcohol itself can serve as a signal to attack.French mastiffs quite calmly live with other domestic animals and, with proper training, even with dogs of the same gender. However, animal friendliness does not apply to other people's pets.

Training is carried out taking into account the characteristics of the character. Having received the command, the dog will first consider it, but after that it will begin to execute. At this moment of thought, to say something else to him will be completely meaningless. Dogs are hardy, but a little lazy and rather stubborn. Having discovered the weakness of its owner, the dog will begin to use it without a twinge of conscience. Training animals of this breed will be successful if you do not use harsh methods and scream, but use the right motivation.

According to the standard, the dogue de Bordeaux is a large dog. His head is large, his chest is wide, and his body is quite stocky. The muzzle looks wrinkled due to the large number of folds located on both sides. The short nose is slightly raised up, and the lower jaw comes forward. Delicate ears are crowned with curved edges. The color of oval, widely spaced eyes ranges from black to beautiful brown. The expression of the face looks unhappy, which, by the way, does not at all speak of the true emotions of the dog. The tail has a sickle shape, and the limbs themselves are powerful and stable. The color of the French mastiff is red, but the shade also varies from light, almost yellow, to dark brown. The mask is painted in black or brick color. The dog’s coat is thick, dyed uniformly, but spots on the chest are often white.

Dogs of Bordeaux are acquired at a young age when they look charming thick-bellied with shiny hair. Getting acquainted with them in the nursery, it is important to see how the kids move. A healthy dog ​​does not have problems, climbing on its feet, which do not braid or disperse. It is necessary to check the availability of a veterinary passport, as well as vaccinations given. In addition, it is important that 10 days have elapsed since the last vaccination.

In the case when it is planned to participate in exhibitions with the mastiff, the choice cannot be based only on the appearance of the animal and its own emotions. It is necessary to study the breed standard, check the documents of the parents, evaluate several litters and it is better to make a purchase together with a specialist. The nursery must have a proven reputation and a sufficient number of successful "graduates". When inventing a nickname for a dog, it is better to give preference to proudly sounding names that embody all the positive qualities of this breed. The price of a puppy can vary from 500 to 1200 dollars. The determining factors are gender (females are always more expensive than males), pedigree, compliance with the standard and other indicators.

An adult dog perfectly perceives both natural nutrition and prepared food. In the first case, the diet is composed of lean meat, sometimes sinewy, meat offal, cereals and vegetables, fresh and boiled. From meat, beef, chicken and turkey are suitable, in addition, do not exclude tendons and cartilage from the diet. A couple of times a week, a mastiff should be fed sea fish, but be sure to cook and stoned. The addition of skim milk or cottage cheese, as well as raw eggs, is welcome.

The list of vegetables for the mastiff is quite extensive. It includes products such as cabbage, beets, cabbage and pumpkin.It is better not to give the potato to the dog, since this root crop is poorly absorbed by the body. The portion should satisfy the dog’s food needs, but not be excessive so as not to provoke the development of diseases. It will be convenient to cook porridge for the pet and add meat to them with raw finely chopped vegetables.

Dry feed is only possible with the purchase of high-quality goods sold in a specialized store. Products should be designed specifically for large breeds and be saturated with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. The amount of feed offered per day is determined by the size of the animal, its activity, age, state of health and functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. When the Bordeaux mastiff is overweight, it is necessary to reduce the amount of servings and increase the amount of physical activity.

Surprisingly, Bordeaux mastiffs eat quite a bit - they just have enough portions weighing 200 grams. Overfeeding in this case is critically dangerous, since excess weight harms the internal organs. Having decided on the type of feed, it is necessary to adhere to it further, in no case not mixing dry food with natural products.

Adult dogs are usually fed twice a day, and babies will need 3 to 4 meals a day. Thinking over the diet, you should adhere to the formula: 30 grams of protein per kilogram of animal weight. At the same time, about 30% of the dishes should consist of cereals, fruits and vegetables. The list of products prohibited for this breed includes sweets, flour, river fish, mushrooms, tubular bones and dishes with an abundance of salt and spices. In general, adhere to a fairly uniform and even boring diet, the main characteristics of which are lightness and usefulness.

Dogue de Bordeaux is usually kept in a house or apartment. If the owners still plan to settle the dog on the street, then the kennel must be heated throughout the year. However, it is better to visit the street for walks, training and jogging. The floor in the place where the dog will sleep at home should be moderately warm, as the cold adversely affects the dog’s rather weak joints. Locking the dog in the aviary is not allowed.

After eating, it is better for the mastiff to clean the folds on the face. This is easy to do with an ordinary rag or a damp cloth. It is periodically important to inspect the condition of the eyes and eyelids, as well as to make them clean with a cotton pad soaked in a mixture of tea leaves and heated drinking water. Do not forget about teeth - for hygiene, special chewing sticks are perfectsold in specialized stores. In addition, teeth can be brushed using special brushes and pastes. The claws are trimmed once a month or once every two weeks using a guillotine claw, and the sharp edge is processed with a file. After a walk, experts advise washing the paws and even smearing with vegetable oil.

It is customary to clean the ears up to 3 times a week with a cotton swab soaked in lotion, but it is still better to check them every day. If the owner detects redness, inflammation, or an excessive amount of sulfur, you should immediately consult a doctor.It is recommended from time to time to assess the condition of the pads of animals prone to cracking. Often there is no sense in bathing the dog, as dry cleaning is enough. A pair of complete water procedures is the norm approved by experts. The frequency of bathing is also determined by the level of contamination of the dog. Use should be a special veterinary shampoo and warm water, since hot can dry the skin.

By the way, do not forget that the Great Dane of Bordeaux does not tolerate high temperatures, so you should go for a walk in the summer with a bottle of water. French mastiffs do not particularly welcome too active pastime, so physical activity should be moderate. In principle, a bouncy walk twice a day is enough to prevent obesity. It is imperative that the pet be displayed in the muzzle. During outdoor activities, it is important to avoid jumping from a height, as the animal easily injures joints and ligaments.

We should also talk about the health of a pet. Great Dane dogs are prone to certain diseases. The peculiarity of the skull leads to respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath. It is important for the dog not to overheat and not to be actively spending time in the hot season. In addition, there is an allergy, dysplasia of the hip or elbow joints, and in adulthood, and the appearance of tumors, up to cancer. Females quite often have difficulties during childbirth. However, most problems are still the result of improper care or lack of timely vaccination.

Education and training of Bordeaux dog puppies starts from the second or third month of life. The first step is the process of socialization. The dog must get used to the leash, muzzle and collar. It is important to bring it to the crowded and busy streets, to interact with people and animals. In addition, it is important for the dog to instill confidence in the outside world. The owner is recommended from time to time to take the pet in his arms, wiggle, stroke and create positive emotions.

Direct training of teams is gradual. The first lessons should be simple and short-term, then their duration and complexity should be increased. Training should alternate with active games and must be rewarded with goodies when the task is completed successfully. When working with a puppy, it’s important to be calm, patient and ready to waitwhile the pet is considering what the owner wants from him. Ideally, the training program should be thought out together with a specialist who can also help build long-term and mutually beneficial relationships between humans and animals.

The negative features of the French mastiff include excessive obsession, so you should try to eradicate it. In addition, a good decision would be to wean the animal from jumping on a person, putting his paws on his chest, since having reached a weight of tens of kilograms, this will create significant inconvenience. Forcing a dog to do something is considered a failure. It will be much more effective to try to interest or motivate her. During training, a person should not raise his voice, use rudeness or a harsh tone. The animal, feeling negative, begins to feel bad, its motivation catastrophically falls. If the pet indulges, then in a calm tone it is necessary to reprimand him, and then offer to repeat the command.

The key to breeding puppies of the Bordeaux dog is the presence of a good pedigree female. She must be healthy, large and thoroughbred. Other important indicators are the presence of outstanding ancestors and proper origin. The breeder must "memorize" the standard and be able to apply it. In addition to the appearance and health of the dog, its character is also important. Do not rely, for example, on a very attractive, but stupid or cowardly dog.

In general, the main condition for successful breeding of representatives of this breed is a preliminary study of a large amount of information, the ability to seek out data, check reliable sources and be critical of them. Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that a person possessing not only enough knowledge, but also experience should be engaged in breeding large and sometimes aggressive animals. Relatively recently, a tragedy occurred in the Moscow Region when it was the Bordeaux dogs who attacked and bit their mistress to death. Despite the fact that the woman was a professional, often attending international exhibitions and receiving awards, a terrible incident still occurred.

Regarding Bordeaux dogs, their owners most often speak positively; negative comments are quite difficult to detect. One of the reviews suggests that cooperation with a reliable breeder made it possible to choose a loyal and smart dog who likes to communicate with the owners and play, but at the same time he performs very well at various exhibitions. The three-year-old mastiff even makes friends with the cat and sleeps with it. Friendship with other pets, by the way, is often mentioned. Another housewife says that a girl who has barely reached the age of one year, not only loves her, but is always ready to protect her from troubles. Among the positive qualities of the breed, calmness, intelligence and devotion are distinguished.

Caring for a French mastiff is quite simple. He eats not as much as it might seem, calmly walks and does not throw himself at birds or bicycles, does not bark for no reason and is perfectly placed even in an ordinary apartment of a small area. The main disadvantage, according to the owners, are drooling abundantly left by a pet. Some, however, complain about the high cost of the puppies themselves, the high cost of food for them and molting. Daily walks do not present special difficulties for owners, since mastiffs do not need excessive physical activity. Some owners even call them the most lazy dogs, capable of sleeping 24 hours a day.

See how to properly train a Bordeaux dog in the next video.