Grooming
A Dogue de Bordeaux’s wrinkly face is among their cutest traits. Those wonderfully mushy faces, though, do require daily cleaning to keep their wrinkles clean and dry.
Dogue de Bordeaux shed minimally year-round, but a weekly brushing with rubber curry or shedding blade is typically enough to keep loose hair from creating an unwanted layer over your furniture. A bath once a month is all they need to stay fresh. Trim your Dogue de Bordeaux’s nails every two to four weeks or before they start to click on the floor when they walk. Check their ears regularly for debris, redness or swelling; if you notice any of the above, contact your vet, who may recommend at-home ear cleaning.
Brush your dog’s teeth daily. Starting when your Dogue de Bordeaux is a puppy will get them used to it faster. An annual professional teeth cleaning by your vet (not groomer) will keep their teeth and gums in tip-top condition. Dental disease can lead to a host of other health issues, including organ damage, so proper dental care is a must.
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Training
Dogues de Bordeaux are loyal companions who were used as guard dogs on French estates in the during the late 18th century. As a result, they can be wary of strangers, making early socialization and training essential to ensure your Dogue de Bordeaux puppy grows up friendly and confident.
Though they are a large, intelligent and powerful breed, and their bite force (ie, how hard they can bite) is one of the strongest among dogs, these pups have a sensitive soul that doesn’t respond well to harsh or forceful words when training. This French Mastiff breed requires the relationship-building and trust that develops with positive reinforcement training methods, which involves using treats, praise and playtime with special toys to reward them for a good job. They can be strong-willed, and pet parents must be willing to commit to consistent training starting in puppyhood to teach their dog basic skills and manners.
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Diet
The Dogue de Bordeaux typically does well on a high-quality commercial dog food. Be sure to factor in your dog’s age and choose a formula that fits their stage in life (puppy, adult, senior). When in doubt, consult with your veterinarian, as they are in the best position to help you pick the best food for your dog based on their individual needs.
It’s important to note that this dog is not a high-energy pup. As such, it may be all too easy for them to pack on the pounds, and you’ll want make sure you don’t overfeed them. Your veterinarian can help you nail down a feeding chart to guide you on how much and how often to feed your dog based on their specific diet. But it’s not just mealtime you need to consider—remember that treats are calories, too! You’ll be giving your pup lots of treats as rewards (and just because you love them). So, be sure you stick with smaller-sized dog training treats and only occasional snack times to avoid extra weight gain. Avoid table scraps, especially cooked bones and high-fat foods.
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Exercise
If you’d prefer to read about running rather than actually run, then you have found your perfect match with the Dogue de Bordeaux. As a large breed, it’s easy to stress the Dogue de Bordeaux’s bones, joints and ligaments, so intense exercise, like running up and down stairs or jumping off anything taller than their shoulder, should be limited until they are at least 18 months old.
They still have typical puppy behaviors, though, so mental stimulation is important. Pet parents may want to try an interactive dog bowl for meals and/or puzzle toys or games for enrichment.
As they get older, walking these pups 30 to 45 minutes once a day is sufficient exercise. As full-grown adults, the breed can handle more activity, but will never be runners (neither will you, and you’re OK with that). Many Dogues de Bordeaux love swimming, and hopping in the water with them is the perfect no-impact activity and a great way to keep them cool on hotter days.
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Environment
While the Dogue de Bordeaux doesn’t need a ton of exercise, they are big dogs who need their space, so apartment living isn’t ideal for this breed. Because of their size and the pressure that puts on their bones and joints, a Dogue de Bordeaux’s ideal home is a one-story house with few steps. If you live in a spacious condo on an upper level, make sure you have an elevator available.
The Dogue de Bordeaux can be good with families with older children, other pets, and cats if socialized properly and/or if they grow up together. They are incredibly loyal and want to be with their people at all times, but pet parents need to properly socialize their Dogue de Bordeaux with strangers so they don’t become overwhelmed by company.
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