The Dogue de Bordeaux may be a giant dog, but they are sensitive souls with a sweet disposition. They are loyal and devoted to their families and are loving and affectionate with them. Plus, they get along fantastically with children.

They tend to have a high prey drive. Also, their protective instinct, guardian background, and territorial tendencies mean they are naturally suspicious of strange dogs and people they don’t know. As such, socialization and training early and often are important. A well-socialized and well-trained French Mastiff may still be wary of strangers, but will warm up once they’ve been introduced.

On the other hand, poorly socialized or trained dogs can react to new situations and people with aggression. This is true for any dog breed and particularly so for dogs with protective and territorial instincts.

Despite their size, the Dogue de Bordeaux is a moderately adaptable dog breed. They do well in both large homes and in apartments. As long as they get enough attention, mental stimulation, and exercise, they can adapt to most homes.

They do well in most climates, but are very sensitive to heat and are sensitive to extreme cold. Because they are devoted to their families, they do not like to spend long periods of time alone. Also, due to their protective and territorial instinct, they should only be let off-leash in securely fenced areas.

This is a relatively healthy large dog breed. As with any breed, there are some potential health issues to be aware of. For the Dogue de Bordeaux, potential health concerns include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, heart disease, epilepsy, and cancer.

Reputable breeders will screen their stock to avoid passing on issues like this to puppies. So, make sure you talk to the breeder about the genetic and health history of both parents. You can also ask to see any relevant health clearances or test results.

As a large dog breed, the Dogue de Bordeaux is at a higher risk for bloat. Because bloat in dogs can become life-threatening if gastric torsion occurs, it’s important to know how to reduce the risk and what the symptoms are so you know when to get help.

The Dogue de Bordeaux is generally not a good fit for a novice or first-time dog owner. They thrive on consistent rules and routines. As a sensitive breed, they do not do well with harsh corrections and they need to trust their owner as a strong leader.

Training and discipline should be consistent and firm without being harsh. Puppy training classes are also recommended. These can help establish a training routine and also provide some opportunities to socialize a puppy.

The French Mastiff has a short coat that will shed moderately year-round. Brushing them a few times a week and bathing monthly is usually enough to keep their coat looking great. You can also wipe them down with a damp cloth or towel in between baths to help them look and smell great without irritating their skin from too much bathing.

These dogs will also drool a lot. Having a drool cloth on hand to wipe their mouth periodically can be a big help. The Dogue de Bordeaux is also known for their wrinkly face, which will also need to be cleaned. Regularly checking and wiping between wrinkles can help keep these skin folds clean and irritation-free.

In addition to coat and wrinkle care, you will also need to care for your Dogue de Bordeaux’s nails, ears, and teeth. Monthly nail trimming is usually sufficient to keep nails from growing too long. But, you may need to cut your dog’s nails more often if they just grow quickly or are not wearing down as much naturally.

It’s also important to check ears weekly and to carefully clean your dog’s ears as needed to help prevent ear infections. When looking at your dog’s ears, you are checking to make sure they are dry, clean, clear of debris or pests, and are not red or irritated. If you see redness, irritation, excess buildup, pests, smelly discharge, or anything else that is concerning, it’s time to go to the vet.

Practicing good dental care for dogs is essential to preventing painful dental diseases like gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss later in life. Brushing your French Mastiff’s teeth or using an enzyme toothpaste every day is ideal. Additionally, you can use vet-approved dental hygiene chews or treats or even a specially-formulated “dental care diet” to help supplement your efforts.

Because this puppy will grow into a big dog, it’s important to get them used to having these grooming tasks done early on. Getting them used to it and keeping it a rewarding experience will make basic care and maintenance much easier as your dog grows.

The Dogue de Bordeaux has moderate exercise requirements. Daily walks plus some playtime or other activity are usually enough for this dog. Because they are a large dog breed, it’s important not to overexercise them to avoid potential damage to developing joints and bones.

Exercise should be kept low-impact and they should not be permitted to run up or down stairs. They should also avoid jumping off of things. A good rule of thumb is to keep them from jumping off of things higher than their backs.

Although puppies finish growing at different rates, large dog breeds like the French Mastiff do not finish growing until 18-24 months of age. Your vet can help you determine when your dog has finished growing and can move on to more strenuous exercise.

Swimming is a great low-impact exercise for Dogue de Bordeaux of any age. Once their bones have finished developing, they can take on more intense exercise. They can even train for dog sports or jobs like cart pulling, obedience, tracking, and more!

A fully-grown Dogue de Bordeaux usually stands 23-27 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 99-150 pounds or more.

A French Mastiff generally lives 5-8 years.

Although this dog breed is most commonly known as a Dogue de Bordeaux or French Mastiff, they are also sometimes called a Bordeaux Mastiff or Bordeauxdog.

There also used to be two varieties of this dog breed – the Dogue, which is the larger version we know today, and the Doguin, which was considerably smaller. The Doguin faded out of existence long ago and exists now only as a mention in the Dogue de Bordeaux’s breed history.