Dogue de Bordeaux

 The Dogue de Bordeaux is a rare French Mastiff breed which has survived near extinction to enjoy new popularity as a gentle family pet.

 History:

The Dogue de Bordeaux traces its ancestry back 5000 years to the now extinct Tibetan Mastiff and the Molossus of Epirus. The earliest Dogue de Bordeaux were as fierce as their "dogs of war" forebears, and were prized by the French aristocracy for hunting bears and pigs and to protect their castles and estates. During and after the French Revolution the breed almost vanished, except from the Bordeaux region. From selective breeding with the British Bulldog, the present-day specimen had evolved by the early 1900s. The breed is now popular outside of France and is popular for its gentleness and devotion as a family pet.

 Physical characteristics:

A powerfully built and muscular dog. Height: 23.5 - 26.75 in (60 - 68 cm) for the dog and 23 - 26 in ( 58 - 66 cm) for the bitch. Weight: 110 lb (50 kg) for the dog and 99 lb (45 kg) for the bitch.

 The head is huge and broad, with wrinkles on each side of the median groove. The stop is well-defined and the muzzle is short, broad and powerful, with a broad nose, black or brown (depending on the mask color), and with wide nostrils. The jaws are broad and powerful with an undershot bite. The eyes are set wide and are oval in shape, hazel or deep brown. The ears are set high and are small and fall close to the cheeks. The neck is muscular, with loose skin and a prominent dewlap. The body has a powerful chest and broad, muscular shoulders and back. The loins are short, but broad and sturdy. The tapered tail is turned up when the dog is moving, and otherwise drooping. The forequarters have good bone structure and are well-muscled. The hindquarters are well-developed with thick thighs.

 The coat of the Dogue de Bordeaux is short with soft, fine hair. The coat color is solid-colored fawn or tawny. The mask is black or red. 

Behavior:

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a magnificent animal suitable for the enthusiast who is prepared to invest a lot of time and attention. This dog has the ability and the character to be an excellent guard dog. Once it knows who its owner is, this dog will be very loyal and protective. As it is such a large dog, the practical owner will teach it to be very obedient from the time it is young. It is very awkward to have an unruly dog of this size, whereas it is a joy to watch a well-trained one happily obeying its owner.

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