Dogue de Bordeaux

Temperament

The FCI standard calls the Dogue de Bordeaux a former fighting dog, gifted for guarding, a role it performs with vigilance and courage but without aggression. It is a calm, balanced dog with a high threshold of excitability, very attached to its owner and affectionate with its family. Males usually have a dominant streak, and things can be difficult with dogs of the same sex. With strangers the Dogue keeps a serious, confident air and will react if needed, often starting with a warning bark. It is usually gentle and patient with its own family's children, but its huge size calls for supervision. It isn't an excitable or very playful dog; it would rather rest close to its people. It needs a consistent, calm upbringing and early socialization.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Dogue de Bordeaux for?

The Dogue de Bordeaux suits an experienced owner with a house and yard who wants a calm, devoted dog and is prepared for high costs, drool in the house and a shorter life. It isn't a good choice for a first-time owner, for someone in a small upper-floor apartment without an elevator, or for anyone looking for a running partner.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Dogue de Bordeaux doesn't need intense training, but it does need daily walks at an easy pace, around 45–75 minutes in total. The AKC recommends limiting a young dog to low-impact exercise until at least 18 months: no running up stairs or jumping down from heights. Swimming is a great form of exercise. In hot weather, move activity to the cooler hours, because this short-muzzled breed overheats easily. The short coat sheds all year; a rubber brush is all you need. Clean and dry the facial folds at least once a week, often daily, and check the ears weekly. The Dogue drools heavily, so a towel next to the bowl is essential equipment. Split food into two meals, and let the dog rest after eating.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a short-lived breed with numerous health problems. Sources give different figures: the AKC says 5–8 years, Wisdom Panel 5–10, and a 2024 UK study calculated a median of 11.1 years, while finding a 40% higher risk of death than in mixed breeds. The AKC names bloat as a serious threat, along with heart disease, cancer, orthopedic problems and epilepsy. The breed is brachycephalic, and the Kennel Club places it in Breed Watch Category 3, the highest, meaning visible problems linked to conformation. Breeders should X-ray hips and elbows and test the parents' eyes and hearts.

• gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat)The AKC calls it a serious threat in this breed; it needs emergency treatment.
• heart diseaseListed by the AKC among the breed's main problems.
• cancerOne of the major causes of early death.
• hip and elbow dysplasiaThe Kennel Club counts hip and elbow X-rays as good breeding practice.
• problems linked to the short muzzle and skin foldsA brachycephalic breed; copes badly with heat, and the folds need regular cleaning.
• epilepsyRecorded in the breed according to the AKC.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to the FCI standard, the Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the oldest French breeds, probably descended from the Alaunt dogs that Count Gaston Phoebus wrote about in the 14th century, saying it "holds tighter than three sighthounds." In the mid-19th century, Dogues were known mainly in Aquitaine, where they were used for hunting big game, for fighting, for guarding homes and cattle, and in slaughterhouses. In 1863 they were shown at the first dog show in Paris under their current name. The breed suffered in both world wars and nearly died out; a revival came in the 1960s.

Fun facts

• The FCI standard says a male's height at the withers should roughly match the circumference of his skull.
• The first breed standard was published by Pierre Megnin in 1896.
• The standard allows a black mask, a brown mask or no mask; with a black mask the nose is black, with a brown mask it is brown.
• The breed's popularity in the US grew after the movie "Turner & Hooch" with Tom Hanks.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Guard dog breeds

Sources

1. 1FCI – wzorzec nr 116 Dogue de Bordeauxfci.be
2. 2AKC – Dogue de Bordeauxakc.org
3. 3The Kennel Club – Dogue de Bordeauxthekennelclub.org.uk
4. 4Wisdom Panel – Dogue de Bordeauxwisdompanel.com
5. 5McMillan i in. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds, Scientific Reportsnature.com
6. 6Rozporządzenie MSWiA z 28 kwietnia 2003 r. w sprawie wykazu ras psów uznawanych za agresywneisap.sejm.gov.pl

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.