The French mastiff, most famously known for its role in the 1989 film ‘Turner and Hooch’, first rose to popularity in France before becoming one of the most loved breeds in the UK. It is understandable how they became so popular, as although they tend to be very laid back, they are a loyal breed and remain a good watchdog. Their overall intimidating looks, and gigantic size, can often hide their gentle and loving nature, which shines through if they are in the right hands and environment. Due to their large size, early training and socialisation should be first on the agenda once you bring them home. You may need to be persistent at first as they can be stubborn, but with the correct training they can be a very well-mannered dog.
Life Span: 5 – 8 Years
Breed Group: Working
Weight:
Male: 55-68kg Female: 45-60kg
Height:
Male: 60-67cm Female: 57-65cm
Colours: Fawn, Mahogany, Red
If you can tolerate their drooling, slobbering and snoring this gentle giant can be a loving addition to your household, but they will react accordingly if they fear their family or home needs protecting.
Exercise
Even though they are calm and relaxed at home, probably sleeping most of the time, they still require daily exercise to ensure they don’t get overweight. They need around an hour’s walk a day, but they don’t tolerate the heat well, so it is important that in the summer months you walk them early morning or later at night once the sun isn’t fully out. As they are such a large breed you should not let them off their lead or run excessively until they are around fifteen months old and have done most of their crucial growing.
Grooming
They are much loved for their cute folds of skin on their huge faces however, you must keep in between these folds clean as they can collect dirt and moisture which can result in infection if not cleared. Although they don’t shed much, you should brush them once a week and bath them once a month. Drooling is common but not a health issue, just invest in plenty tissues!
Feeding
Many Dogue de Bordeaux’s have food allergies - especially to grains, wheat and oats, so it is best to avoid any grain-based foods and stick with a
grain free diet. They are a fast-growing breed during their first year, so
Puppy food is recommended until at least twelve months old, unless the growth is excessive and changing to adult may be needed at around eight months old. We would recommend starting them out on the
Puppy Salmon and Potato out of the Sensitive puppy range. Once they are able to go onto the
Adult food, then take a look at our
Sensitive range - which is a popular choice for those with this breed. You should be able to swap the flavours around to introduce variety in their diet fairly easily, as long as you remain within this range and your dog has no known issues with a particular protein source. Overall, with the right training and socialising this lovable, friendly giant can be a great addition to your home.
