Dogue de Bordeaux

Training: When training your Dogue de Bordeaux, you need to both attend obedience class and socialize your pup at every single opportunity. This breed is quite sensitive, and although discipline should be firm, it should never become harsh. These pups need plenty of attention, especially when they are younger, and if you are looking for an easy dog to train, a Dogue de Bordeaux is not it.

Barking: Understanding your dog: The deep, powerful bark of the Dogue de Bordeaux is not heard often, says Ottawa Humane Society spokesperson Keri Nelson. Generally, a Dogue de Bordeaux does not bark unless startled or alarmed, and if well socialized and trained, they will not be a bother to you or your home. However, if your Dogue de Bordeaux is spooked, Nelson says that they won't hesitate to vocalize their concerns.

Temperament & Behavior: The Dogue de Bordeaux is truly an affectionate dog, and although they can be a little tough to train, a well-trained Dogue de Bordeaux will never want to leave your side, says Canadian breeder Pauline De Silve. The Dogue de Bordeaux is known for their old man-esque traits—you can often find them moving a little slowly and naturally loving a good nap in a comfy chair. They might weigh around 150 pounds, but they love to climb up onto the couch to cuddle on a rainy Saturday night.

Behavior with kids: The Dogue de Bordeaux is an affectionate breed, but needs to be socialized early and trained well, especially if you have children around. Once they are trained, they are great dogs with kids. Always use caution, however, because poorly trained and socialized individual dogs can be lethal.

Protection: A Dogue de Bordeaux might be a bit relaxed in the home, but when needed, they can move like a lion. The Dogue de Bordeaux is fiercely protective when needed, and their bark will make sure that you are awake if they are startled by an intruder.

Life Span: On average, the DDB lives to be about five to eight years old.

Inherited health issues: Certain health conditions can be inherited or occur at increased frequency in the Dogue de Bordeaux. Many of the more common health conditions are associated with heart disease, and genetic testing is often performed by responsible breeders in an attempt to decrease the frequency of these conditions within the breed. These conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following: Aortic stenosis, Ectropion, Tricuspid valve dysplasia and Canine multifocal retinopathy

Preventive care: As a large breed, the Dogue de Bordeaux are prone to developing a variety of problems, which can include heart disease, orthopedic conditions, and eye conditions. While none of these conditions can be definitively prevented, it is important to take your Dogue de Bordeaux to a veterinarian once or twice a year for examinations. Veterinarians have been extensively trained to detect subtle changes before they become more significant, including the development of new heart murmurs, joint changes, or changes within the eye.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is crucial to minimizing the placement of excessive stress on the Dogue de Bordeaux's joints. Omega 3 fish oil supplements have some anti-inflammatory effects that can be beneficial if minor joint problems are present.

Nutrition: If the Dogue de Bordeaux is overfed or under exercised, they can readily become overweight, which will place additional unnecessary strain on their joints. Feed your Dogue de Bordeaux portion-controlled meals of a high quality, balanced diet. Avoid offering table foods or too many treats, as these can quickly pack on the pounds. Growing Dogue de Bordeaux puppies benefit from eating a large breed puppy food until they are 18-24 months old, since it takes them longer to reach their full adult size relative to small or medium sized dogs.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Dogue de Bordeaux is 4-7 cups

Energy Level: Enjoys some moderate exercise every now and then

Exercise: One of the major things you need to remember about exercising your Dogue de Bordeaux is that you need to be extremely careful not to overexert your pup. These dogs are big, and when it comes to exercise, Nelson suggests taking them on long walks, or even better, swimming. Dogue de Bordeaux love the water, and swimming is easy on their joints. You will need to ensure that your pup limits their stair climbing and jumping, as continual high-risk activity will hurt their joints.

Climate: Bred to work in the French countryside, Dogue de Bordeaux are at their best in a cool climate with plenty of access to the great outdoors.

Living space: The Dogue de Bordeaux can be suited to either city or country living. These dogs need to be limited to low-impact exercises while growing up, so some green space is a necessity and they truly love to be in and around water.