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HomeOur BlogDogue de Bordeaux: origin, characteristics, feeding and much more
Dogue de Bordeaux: origin, characteristics, feeding and much more
When it comes to pets we have always known that dogs are man's best friend, but among so many breeds, looking for one that connects romantically with you and your family is the most important thing. A dog that proves to be the ideal guardian and that is at the same time gentle and docile. That's how he is Dogue de Bordeaux. In this guide that we have prepared for you, we will tell you everything you need to know and in our opinion it should also be yours since this breed of dog is the one that has all the characteristics you were looking for: a faithful pet, guardian par excellence, not at all aggressive and a lover of children. Keep reading and you will know why this friendly animal with a huge appearance contains a whole world of tenderness within that immense shell.
The Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the oldest dog breeds that can be known. Its exact origin is not known, but according to data recorded in paintings and documents from the past we know that the Dogue de Bordeaux has its origins in a very distant time that dates back to the Iron Age (1200 BC). It was introduced into Europe with the invasion of the Celtic peoples to the old continent where this animal was the perfect guardian of the conquered treasures, as well as being used for hunting animals of great strength and size.
The most current origin of the Dogue de Bordeaux is located in the surroundings of the 14th century in France From there the current breed (Dogue de Bordeaux) derives. During that time it was the animal that was most used for fights against bears, bulls, lions and even other breeds of ferocious dogs. Likewise, it was used as a guardian and custodian of fortresses and castles. With the disappearance of wars and the advancement of humanity, the Dogue de Bordeaux stopped being a highly aggressive battle dog and became a a working dog used in the care of flocks. But centuries later it was thought that the Dogue de Bordeaux had become extinct until in the 19th century it reappeared and was presented to the public during the first dog show held in Paris in 1863. It is there that it appears with the name we know today.
Physical characteristics of the Dogue de Bordeaux dog
The Dogue de Bordeaux It is a breed of dog that belongs to the mastiff family. It corresponds to the group of dogs defined as molossers, this means that The Dogue de Bordeaux is a dog of great strength and muscles.. The head of the Dogue de Bordeaux is large, making it known as brachycephalic, that is, its head is enormous but flattened and with a shortened snout. His face has many wrinkles. Their eyes are wide apart, oval in shape and usually vary in color between green, caramel or dark brown. Their ears are short and droopy in appearance. An adult male Dogue de Bordeaux can measure up to 70 cm tall and can weigh more than 50 kilos.
The females are also large in size, measuring about 65 cm tall in their adult state and reaching a weight of 45 kilos or more. Their fur is mahogany or yellow, short, very soft, shiny and silky in appearance so it does not require much brushing. He has a very prominent jaw and a large double chin. The limbs are muscular and the tail is wide at the base. Some Dogues de Bordeaux have white fur on the ends of their paws and on their chest. Their lifespan is 10 years, although it is known that under good care they can live up to 12 years. A very particular characteristic of the Dogue de Bordeaux is that it is a dog that drools a lot, but this should not be a limitation to having it as a pet since it is a dog with more virtues than defects and extremely adorable. In its origins it did not have the same appearance that it has today, particularly it did not have all those wrinkles and folds on its face.
Character and personality of the Dogue de Bordeaux dog
Despite being a gigantic dog that might scare us at first impression, the Dogue de Bordeaux is actually the opposite. The Dogue de Bordeaux is an excessively calm animal, playful and very intelligent. He really likes comfort. It is not a dog that barks frequently since its personality is very balanced, so something very serious has to happen for it to react in an alarming way. The Dogue de Bordeaux is a dog that likes walks outdoors. If you decide to incorporate him as part of the family, you must have a large space where he can walk, run and jump when you play with him, so houses with a garden or large interior spaces would be the ideal place to have him. He likes to be treated with affection and shows reciprocity and obedience when you have trained him this way. Due to his great intelligence, The Dogue de Bordeaux is an animal that learns quickly any task you assign. It is not a dog that is aggressive if you mistreat it... on the contrary, it is very sensitive and can show sadness in these cases.
He loves to play, be hugged and pampered. He really likes small children and has enormous patience, as he can endure all the pranks that the little ones in the house can do to him. He is loyal to his master and if he is in serious trouble there you will see another side of the Dogue de Bordeaux defending his owners like a true bodyguard.
Dogue de Bordeaux puppies
Dogue de Bordeaux puppies are fascinating and irresistible little dogs to have. They grow quickly and that is why their tendons undergo a process of muscle tension due to their rapid growth. It is known that a female can have up to 18 puppies in a single litter. Acquiring one of breed (with pedigree) can cost between 500 and 1000 dollars depending on whether or not it has a pedigree and if it is from pure breed. Like any puppy, he is very restless and playful. It is recommended that you start their training from an early age since this way you will avoid bad habits and customs in their adult stage.
Regarding your diet, it is very important that you drink milk during the first 5 weeks. You can soak solid food in water to make it softer and more palatable. There are those who give pet food moistened bread, but you should only moisten the food with what is going to be eaten at the time, otherwise it becomes contaminated and can cause your puppy to suffer from stomach and intestinal problems at an early age.
Food and health of the Dogue de Bordeaux dog
Food
This breed of dog is expensive. An adult specimen requires an average of 700 to 900 grams of food per day for feeding. The food complex that you provide to your pet It must meet all the standards of excellent quality, rich in proteins and minerals, which is what your body needs most for optimal development and growth. You must be careful not to overfeed this specimen since becoming overweight will be fatal for its tendons and muscles. That is why it is very important that you carry out a rigorous veterinary check-up and consult every 6 months with the specialist doctor who is the right person to indicate the daily portions of food that your dog needs.
Health
A poor diet can cause the appearance of many diseases. One of the diseases that poor nutrition could cause (due to insufficiency) is cardiomyopathy, that is, the absence of taurine or carnitine in the blood can cause damage to the heart muscle. As it is a short-haired specimen, this is beneficial for its hygiene since it is not a dog that requires brushing or loses hair constantly and bathing is only necessary on occasions when the smell indicates that it requires it. What you should know is that it is a dog from a temperate climate and having it live in regions with high temperatures can cause it to suffer from allergies due to the wrinkles in its skin. A cool climate would be appropriate to avoid the appearance of these discomforts. Because it is a very sweet animal (and this is its weak point) it is advisable to give it adequate oral hygiene that eliminates food remains between its teeth and prevents the appearance of tartar. Avoid giving them sweets since it is proven that they can cause cavities to appear and this would be very painful and uncomfortable for them, plus we would not be giving them adequate nutrition.
One of the aspects that you should not overlook is vaccination. You must be attentive to all the vaccines you need to prevent the appearance of diseases and thus strengthen your immune system.
Dogue de Bordeaux dog care
Even though The Dogue de Bordeaux is a strong and healthy dog It is important that you give it special care to avoid the appearance of diseases. Above we told you that a poor diet can cause weakness in the heart muscle, but also the appearance of parasites on the surface of the skin is very common in this breed, so it is highly recommended to place its antiparasite pipette during certain time intervals.
Other problems that can cause poor diet and lack of exercise are the appearance of bone problems during growth that lead to hip dysplasia. Cases of digestive problems have also been seen in these breeds, as well as cardiac, skin, and tendon and ligament problems.
Education and training of the Dogue de Bordeaux
The education and training of this animal must begin strictly from when it is a puppy. At 6 weeks after birth you should start with daily 30-minute training. What we tell you is very important that you comply with it because if you don't do it after you are an adult it will be more difficult for you to acquire norms. The ideal is to start with obedience training: call him and have him come to you, sit, stand, bend down and bring you something. It is very important that you do not use punishment, on the contrary, you should reward their achievements with positive phrases and displays of affection and affection (it also doesn't hurt to give them a cookie as a reward).
You must train him so that he knows that he also has a place to relieve himself, eat and sleep (otherwise your dog will own the couch and you will end up sleeping outside). Remember that due to its large size it requires daily physical training to burn all that energy so walks that are neither too long nor too short would be appropriate. Remember to set the pace when you go out with him. During training you must be firm and show him that you are his owner and the one who imposes the rules. If, on the other hand, you notice that the animal is not responding the way you want, don't worry... don't despair. You can use confinement not as a punishment but as a sign that if they don't do things right they will be isolated, which is something they don't like since this breed of dog loves to be in company. If everything is done correctly the result will be that we will have a faithful, calm, obedient and very very happy pet.
In conclusion, we can tell you that, if you already have a Dogue de Bordeaux as a pet, congratulations! You have made a great choice. This dog breed is one of the best in the world for its many qualities: it can be the guardian you were looking for, it is the faithful companion on rainy afternoons at home by your side and the playful friend of the little ones in the house without being distrustful.
