The Dogue's history is believed to predate the Bullmastiff and the Bulldog. It is said that the Dogue can be found in the background of the Bullmastiff, and other claim the the Dogue and the Bullmastiff breeds were both being accomplished at the same time. Some believe that the Bulldog is the building block of the Dogue, and again, another group believes that the Bulldog was used in the breeding programs further down the line. Another theory, is that it originates from the Tibetan Mastiff.
Dr. Raymond Triquet is quoted as saying: "It is often said that the common stem of all European Dogues was a big dog coming from the confines of India and China, more than 3000 years ago, and by stages would have gone from Thibet to Mesopotamia, there, where begins the history of men, then to Epire, small kingdom of ancient Molosse; then to Rome and from there to Gaule. He would have made this long journey by the side of conquerors, warriors, and merchants. It is possible that this prestigious connections part true, but let us not forget the fact, maybe preponderant, that archeologists have found in the land that would become France, bones of dogs dating from prehistory, bones that were those of a Dogue."
There are notions that the Dogue has ties to the Alano, an extinct dog of Spain, similar in many ways to the Bordeaux. It is said that this dog was brought to Europe by the Alans, an Oriental tribe. It is also said the Bordeaux is related to the Greco-Roman mollosids used for war, as there was a breed similar to the Dogue de Bordeaux in Rome at the time of Julius Caesar's reign. This would make the Dogue a cousin to the Neapolitan Mastiff. Yet another theory suggests that the Dogue is a descendent of a breed which existed in France a long time ago.
In France, the Dogues were bred depending on the region and jobs they were required to do. The general appearance was inconsistent, the Dogue had various colors and varieties of coat, they had scissors bites in some regions, undershot in others, but they all had a general type similar to today's Dogues.
We do know the Dogue de Bordeaux was used as a guardian, a hunter, and a fighter. They were trained to bait bulls, bears, and jaguars; hunt boars; heard cattle; and protect the homes, butchershops and vineyards of their masters. The Dogue de Bordeaux were prized as protectors and were often found in the home of the noble and wealthy of France.
During the French Revolution, many of the Dogues are thought to have perished with their wealthy masters during the uprising of the classes, but the Dogues of the common man must have thrived. These Dogues became the champions of the arena, and were powerful dogs bred to do their jobs and do them well.
It was in 1863 when the first reference of the Dogue can be found, at the first canine exhibition at the Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris, France. It was more of an inventory of breeds than a conformation event. The winner was a bitch named Magentas, and the Dogue de Bordeaux was given the name of the capital of their region of origin.
There is not other known reference to the Dogue until the year 1883. There was such diversity in the breed at this time, and much controversy over this. They had big heads and small heads, some were exceptionally large in body, while others very small. Some breeders preferred the scissors bite, others the undershot. The mask color was the subject of many debates and discussions. There were three styles of Dogue at this time, the Toulouse, the Paris, and the Bordeaux. Our modern Dogue is a mixture of these different types, but is primarily Bordeaux.
The Toulouse was a Dogue that had almost every color in its coat, a fawnish tiger (a light brindle perhaps), with a longer body and smaller bones. Dogues in Paris had a scissors bite, while others had a undershot of almost one inch. Finally the breeders came together and decided upon the undershot, which is today's standard.
In 1895 a few breeders tried to establish the Dogue in England, and also that year, John Proctor or Antwerp, who had judged the Dogue de Bordeaux, published an account of his experiences with the "fighting dogs of the South of France" in the magazine, The Stock Keeper.
In 1896, Pierre Mengin put together a synthesis of the best Dogue de Bordeaux shown and know from 1863-1895. He published Le Dogue de Bordeaux, that featured a description and characteristics true to the Dogue. This effort, put forward by Mr. Brooke, Mr. Mengin, Dr. Wiart, and a group of authorities in France, was the first standard of the Dogue de Bordeaux.
In 1897, Henry de Bylants work, The Breeds of Dogs, introduced the breed standard to the world of dog breeders. J. Kunstler, Professor of Comparative Anatomy of the Science Facility of Bordeaux, studied the Dogues in 1907 and in 1910 published A Critique Etude du Dogue de Bordeaux (A Critical Study of the Dogue de Bordeaux).
During the 1960's, Dr. Raymond Triquet headed the rebuilding of the breed, and in 1970, Dr. Triquet wrote the new standard for the Dogue de Bordeaux. The standard has once again been updated, this time by Dr. Triquet and Mr. Tim Taylor.
The Dogue can also be credited to taking part in the breeding programs of two other mastiffs, the Argentine Dogo and the Tosa.
Dr. Martinez, who bred "The Fighting Dogs of Cordoba" or the Argentine Dogo, used a menagerie of breeds to produce the Dogo, and the Bordeaux was used to increase the size of the head and accentuate the overall courage, strength and jaw strength.
During the 1930's, the Bordeaux were imported to Japan to cross with the Tosa (Fighting Dog of Japan). This increased the head size and the overall body size of the Tosa.
It was a Dr. Philip Todd who is credited with bringing the Dogue to the United States in the 1960's, although evidence of Dogues in the 1920's has been found.
Dr. Todd moved to Holland with his Dogues, and there were no other records of any in the country until 1969 when Steve and Wendy Norris, with the help of Dr. Todd, began to import Dogue de Bordeaux into the United States.
It was in the 1980's when the United States saw a small Dogue boom occur. In 1986 Touchstone released Turner and Hooch, showing a big messy slobbering Dogue, which was believed to be a Bullmastiff or mutt. In reality, it was the Dogue de Bordeaux.
The Dogue was brought in to the country mainly by dog brokers, and many people received below par stock. But thorough the years, the Americans have improved this stock, with selective and careful breeding, to have some of the finest Dogues in the world.
Today there are breeders of Dogue de Bordeaux that stretch form New Jersey to California, Texas to North Dakota. One must be careful when purchasing a Dogue de Bordeaux, although they are considered a rare breed in the US, they carry a hefty price tag and are a favorite breed among the puppy millers.
The Dogue is not yet a recognized AKC breed, and they may be in the far, or near feature. They are recognized world wide by the FCI, and are a UKC recognized breed. There are a myriad of rare breed shows for the Dogue, that they are eligible to compete in.

Appearance and Temperament

The Dogue is classified as Molossoidae Brachycephalus. The FCI standard is quoted as saying "It is a powerful dog with a muscular body, while retaining a harmonious outline. They are built close to the ground...They are stocky, athletic, imposing and has a very dissuasive aspect."
Breeders recognize the red, black, and no mask varieties, but unfortunately, in the United States as well as abroad, the consensus is the red mask, which Deiter Fleig notes is the result of a mutation.
We must always remember the Dogue's original purpose was to fight and protect. The Dogue is aggressive by nature, although breeders have tried to "breed it out" through the years.
The Dogue is sweet and even tempered, it protects what is theirs, including their owners. The Dogue is devoted to its family and friends, and it is very important to socialize the Dogue in its early stages of life.
Remember that even though the body is large, the mind is till young. It is common for a 7 month old puppy to knock over the largest man while playing, or attacking.
They are stubborn, and arrogant, yet once they learn a command or task, they rarely forget it. They possess a dominate nature, "To ignore this aspect of this breeds temperament would be to produce atypical and so inferior Bordeaux Dogue." (Carl Semenic).
They have a keen sense of smell and hearing and are intelligent and balanced. They are also a product of their environment.

Health Concerns

The Dogue lives on an average of 8-10 years. Hip dysplasia is the most common problem of the breed. There are a small number of breeders who OFA certify and Penn HIP Certify their Dogues, but unfortunately there are breeders who still refuse to do this. Thus, continuing to breed unsound, inferior Dogues with bad hips. The battle to eliminate the problem is constantly in jeopardy.
In France at one time, the Dogue de Bordeaux was tested for hip dysplasia in the following manner:
"At two years of age, any Dogue that displays the physical and temperamental characteristics required for possible use in a breeding program is made to jump a fence that stands three feet high. Any Dogue that cannot easily clear the fence is excluded from any breeding plans." (Carl Semenic)
Heart murmurs and skin disease are other problems with the Dogue. Heart murmurs can be attributed to the small gene pools that composes our Dogues today. Demodex mange. in a skin problem rarely discussed among breeders. This is a mite that naturally lives on all dogs, when the immune system is low, the mites feed faster than the body can reproduce cells, and they take over. Often this is mistaken for staff infection unless skin scrapings are done.
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a fast growing dog, puppies can gain 2-4 pounds a week at average and may experience Eosinphilic Panosteitis, (Pano) or growing pains, or wandering lameness. Pano is an acute lameness unrelated to trauma, it shifts from one location to another and is accompanied by a fever.
Dogue de Bordeaux are also prone to bloat, twisting of the stomach, which could lead to death. Excessive exercise and excitement after eating and drinking can cause bloat.
The Dogue needs a lot of exercise to develop its muscle structure. Young pups get allot of their exercise from play, but as the Dogue gets older, it is very important that they receive the proper amount of exercise.

HISTORY

The Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the oldest French breeds. Its actual origins are obscure but it is probably descended from one of the strains of Mastiff-type dogs that accompanied Macedonian and Roman armies through Asia, Europe, and Britain. A 14th century writer describing the Alaunt Veutreres, a probable ancestor of the Dogue de Bordeaux, wrote that this dog "holds his bite stronger than three sight hounds." By the middle of the 19th century, the Dogue de Bordeaux was little known outside of Aquitaine where it was used to hunt large animals, such as boar; to fight; to guard homes and cattle; and in the service of butchers. The Dogue de Bordeaux was entered under its present name in the first dog show held in France in 1863. The breed narrowly missed extinction during the two world wars but enjoyed a resurgence in the 1960's. Sometime in the early 1980's, the first Dogue de Bordeaux was imported to the United States. The breed is used today almost exclusively as a family companion and house guardian.

The United Kennel Club recognized the Dogue de Bordeaux on January 1, 1995.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a well-balanced, massive, powerfully-built dog with a very muscular body and a short coat. The Dogue is somewhat low in stature with a huge head, furrowed by wrinkles, topped with small, pendant ears. The tail is thick at the base and tapering to the tip and is set and carried low. The breed is presented in a completely natural condition and should be evaluated equally for correct conformation, temperament, gait, and structural soundness.

Disqualifications: Any identifiable, disabling defect.

CHARACTERISTICS

Careful breeding has modified the formerly aggressive temperament of this breed. Today, the Dogue de Bordeaux is a natural guardian, vigilant and courageous without being aggressive. The Dogue de Bordeaux is very affectionate, devoted to its master, and excellent with children.

Faults: Overly aggressive; timid.

Disqualifications: Viciousness, marked shyness or cowardliness.

HEAD

The massive head of the Dogue de Bordeaux is an essential breed characteristic. In males, the circumference of the skull taken at the widest point is roughly equal to the dog's height at the withers. In females, the circumference may be slightly less. Viewed from the front, the head forms a trapezoid. The longer topline of the skull and the shorter line of the underjaw form the parallel sides of the trapezoid.

Faults: Short, round head; "Bulldog" head, i.e., flat skull & muzzle shorter than one-quarter of the head length.

Disqualification: Long, narrow head with insufficiently pronounced stop.

SKULL --» The skull is large, slightly domed, and broad between the ears. Viewed from the top, the skull appears square. The volume and shape of the skull result from the very important development of the temporal bones, the supraorbital ridges, the zygomatic arches, and the spacing of the mandibles. There is a deep median furrow that diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. The stop is very deep and abrupt, almost at a right angle with the muzzle. Despite the depth of the stop, the forehead is wider than it is high.

MUZZLE --» The muzzle is broad, thick, and short with moderately obvious folds. There is almost no taper to the muzzle. It is square when viewed from above and the circumference of the muzzle is equal to two-thirds the circumference of the skull. The top line of the muzzle rises slightly from the stop to the nose, forming a very obtuse angle with the line of the forehead. The maximum length of the muzzle is equal to one-third the total length of the head; the minimum length of the muzzle is one-quarter of the length of the head. The ideal is between these two extremes. When the head is held horizontally, the end of the muzzle extends beyond a vertical line drawn from the tip of the nose. The jaws are very broad and powerful. Lips are thick and moderately pendulous. When the mouth is closed, the upper lip hangs over side of the lower jaw. The chin is well defined and must neither overlap the upper lip nor be covered by it.

Disqualifications: Muzzle longer than one-third head length; muzzle parallel to top line of the skull or downfaced.

TEETH --» The Dogue de Bordeaux has a complete set of large, evenly spaced, white teeth. The incisors are well-aligned, particularly the lower incisors which form an apparently straight line. An undershot bite is characteristic of the breed with the inside of the lower incisors extending in front of the upper incisors at least .2 inch and no more than three-quarters inch. Teeth are not visible when the mouth is closed.

Faults: Incisors always visible when mouth is closed.

Disqualifications: Wry mouth; mouth not undershot. Canines always visible when mouth is closed. Tongue always protruding when mouth is closed.

NOSE --» Nose color is black on black-masked dogs; brown on brown-masked dogs; or reddish pink on unmasked dogs. The nose is broad and well-pigmented with well-opened nostrils. An upturned nose is permissible but the tip of the nose must not be set back deeply between the eyes like an English Bulldog.

EYES --» The eyes are large but not protruding, oval, and set well apart-at least twice the length of the eye opening. Color ranges from hazel to dark brown. Lighter eye colors are acceptable but not preferred in dogs without a mask or dogs with red masks. Haw is not visible. Pigment of eyerims matches nose pigment.

Faults: Protruding eyes.

EARS --» The ears are pendant and relatively small. They are set high, level with the upper line of the skull, accentuating the skull's width. At the base, the ear is just slightly raised in front and then hangs along the cheek. The tip is slightly rounded. When pulled toward the eye, the ear should not extend past the inside corner of the eye. The coat on the ears is slightly darker than the body coat.

NECK

The neck is thick, muscular, and almost cylindrical with very little taper from the shoulder to the head. The neck is slightly arched at the crest and blends smoothly into well-laid-back shoulders. There is a slight transverse furrow separating the neck from the head. The average circumference of the neck is almost equal to the circumference of the skull. The well-defined dewlap starts at the level of the throat and forms folds down to the chest.

Faults: Excessive dewlap.

FOREQUARTERS

The shoulders are powerful and heavily muscled. The shoulder blade is well laid back and forms, with the upper arm, an angle just slightly greater than 90 degrees. The forelegs are heavily boned and very muscular. The elbows are set on a plane parallel to the body, neither close to the body nor turned out. Viewed from the front, the forelegs are perpendicular to the ground or may, especially in a dog with a very broad chest, incline slightly inward. The pasterns are short, powerful, and slightly sloping when viewed in profile. Viewed from the front, the pasterns are either straight or may turn slightly outward in compensation where the foreleg inclines inward around a wide chest.

Faults: Toeing inward; extreme toeing outward; fiddle front.

BODY

The chest is deep and broad. The ribs are well sprung from the spine and then flatten to form a deep body extending below the elbows. The topline inclines very slightly downward from well-developed withers to a broad, muscular back. The short, broad loin blends into a moderately sloping croup. The flank is somewhat tucked up and firm.

Faults: Barrel chest; roached back.

HINDQUARTERS

The hindquarters are powerful but slightly less broad than the forequarters. The angulation of the hindquarters is in balance with the angulation of the forequarters. The thighs are well-developed with thick, easily discerned muscles. Stifles may turn slightly outward and hocks may turn slightly inward. The lower thighs are muscular and short. Rear pasterns are sinewy and well let down with the angle of the hock moderately open. Viewed from behind, the rear pasterns are parallel.

Faults: Flat thighs; straight stifles; straight hock, sickle hock, cow hock or barrel hock.

FEET

Feet are large, oval, strong, and tight, with hind feet slightly longer than front feet. Pads are well developed, with strong nails, preferably pigmented. Despite its weight, the Dogue de Bordeaux is well up on its toes. Dewclaws are not removed.

Faults: Splay feet.

TAIL

The tail is uncut, very thick at the base, and tapering to the tip. The tail is set low at the base of the croup. When the dog is relaxed, the tail is carried low, just reaching to the hock. When the dog is moving or excited, the tail is carried level with the back or only slightly above level, but never over the back or curled.

Disqualifications: Kink or screw tail. Atrophied tail.

COAT

The coat is short, fine and soft to the touch.

COLOR

Solid color in any shade of fawn, ranging from mahogany to isabella. Color on the ears is somewhat darker than the body coat. Limited white patches are permissible on the chest and feet. Good pigmentation is preferred. Dogs may or may not be masked as follows:

Black mask. There may be slight black shading on the ears, neck, top of the body, and on the skull, except that the mask may not extend past the supraorbital ridges to the topskull. Black-masked dogs have black nose pigment.

Brown mask (formerly called "red mask" or "bistre"). Brown shading in the same places as for a black masked dog. Brown-masked dogs have brown nose pigment.

No mask (also formerly called "red mask" or "bistre"). The coat is fawn and the skin appears red. An dog without a mask has a nose that is reddish or pink.

Faults: White on tip of tail or on the front part of the legs above the pasterns.

Disqualifications: White on the head or body. Albinism.

HEIGHT & WEIGHT

Desirable height at maturity, measured at the withers, ranges from 23½ to 26½ inches for males and 22½ to 25½ inches for females. Dogs in good condition should weight at least 110 pounds and bitches at least 99. All other things being equal, the larger dog should be given preference over the smaller.

GAIT

The gait of the Dogue de Bordeaux is free, smooth, and powerful. When viewed from the side, reach and drive indicate maximum use of the dog's moderate angulation. As the gait quickens, the head tends to drop and the feet tend to converge toward the center line of balance but do not cross over. The Dogue de Bordeaux is capable of great speed over short distances.

Faults: Stilted movement; serious rolling in the rear.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness, marked shyness or cowardliness. Long, narrow head with insufficiently pronounced stop. Muzzle longer than one-third head length. Muzzle parallel to top line of the skull or downfaced. Wry mouth. Mouth not undershot. Canines always visible when mouth is closed. Tongue always protruding when mouth is closed. Kink or screw tail. Atrophied tail. White on the head or body. Any coat color other than fawn. Albinism. Any identifiable disabling defect.