Dogue de Bordeaux
The great head and greater heart of France's ancient guardian.
Vital stats
| Size | Giant · 58–68 cm |
| Weight | 45–65 kg |
| Life expectancy | 5–8 years |
| Energy | Moderate — 30–60 min/day |
| Shedding | Moderate |
| Coat | Short and fine · fawn to mahogany |
| Group | Working · FCI №116 / AKC |
| Origin | Bordeaux, France |
| FCI group | 2 — Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid and Swiss Mountain Dogs · FCI 116 |
Breed traits
Friendliness
Care
Mind
The Dogue de Bordeaux by the numbers
The Dogue de Bordeaux facts owners search for most — price, lifespan, weight, shedding and colours, in one place.
Widely bred, so you can usually find a litter from a registered breeder without a long wait. Ongoing costs run high — more food, bigger doses at the vet, and pricier insurance.
We don't quote a single figure: the real price swings with breeder, region, bloodline and health testing — and a rescue costs a fraction of a breeder's litter. Adopting is almost always the cheapest route.
Temperament
An ancient French guardian of châteaux, butchers' stalls and cattle, the Dogue de Bordeaux long ago traded ferocity for gravitas. Today it is calm, watchful and deeply attached — a dog that guards by presence, moves only when it matters, and quietly follows its favourite person from room to room.
Habits & quirks
The head tilt
That vast furrowed face does world-class puzzled expressions.
Economy of motion
Why cross the room when a deep sigh will do?
The snore section
Sleep is loud, operatic and completely unashamed.
Leaning tower
Fifty-odd kilograms of affection will rest gently against your knees.
Health
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a giant with one of the shortest lifespans of any breed, and heart disease is its chief enemy — the first reason to buy from a breeder who screens the parents and to keep your dog lean. Its size brings the usual giant-breed concerns too: the deep chest makes bloat an emergency worth knowing the signs of, and the heavy frame calls for slow, careful growth and attention to the joints. On top of that, the short muzzle and huge mass make heat genuinely dangerous, so keep a Dogue cool, shaded and watered when it's warm.
Nutrition
| Heat | A short muzzle and huge mass make hot days dangerous — shade, water, and walks at dawn. |
| Health | Heart disease is the breed's chief enemy; choose screened parents and keep the weight down. |
| Exercise | Moderate, steady walks — and spare the joints during a giant breed's long puppyhood. |
| Drool | Prodigious. Keep towels by the door, the sofa, and probably the ceiling. |
Feed a Dogue de Bordeaux to grow slowly as a puppy and stay lean as an adult — extra weight is the last thing a giant frame and a working heart need. Use a large-breed diet, never push a puppy to bulk up fast, and split adult meals into two or more with calm rest around them, because a deep-chested giant is prone to bloat. Weigh the food, count the treats in the daily total, and keep those ribs easy to feel.
Puppy guide
A Dogue de Bordeaux puppy has a long, slow growth ahead of it, and it's fragile while the frame is forming. Go easy on the joints through that stretch — limit hard running, jumping and stairs, and keep walks moderate — and grow it slowly on a large-breed food. Teach calm manners early, because an affectionate puppy that leans and jumps is charming when small and a hazard once it's fifty-odd kilos. Gentle, steady handling suits this soft-hearted giant.
Training
The Dogue de Bordeaux is calm, devoted and sensitive, and it does best with quiet, consistent, reward-based training rather than any heavy hand. Start early, while the dog is still a size you can guide, and teach the everyday manners a giant guardian needs — greeting people without leaning, walking calmly on the lead. This is a watchful breed that guards by presence, so socialise it well and keep training gentle; a well-raised Dogue is steady and biddable, an untrained one simply too large and too strong to argue with.
Life expectancy
Dogues de Bordeaux live 5–8 years. Sadly the Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the shortest-lived breeds of all, so every year is worth protecting. Buy from parents screened for heart disease, feed for slow growth and a lean adult weight, keep your dog cool in the heat, and learn the signs of bloat — the giant-breed emergencies you catch early are the ones your dog comes through. Good breeding and a lean weight are the two things most within your control.
Similar breeds
Breeds with a similar build and background — worth a look if this one isn't quite the fit.
Breeds that look like this
Common questions
How long do Dogues de Bordeaux live?
Sadly it is one of the shortest-lived breeds, typically around 5–8 years. Heart screening, lean weight and careful breeding give the best odds.
Do Dogues de Bordeaux drool a lot?
Yes — among the drooliest of all breeds, especially around food, heat and excitement. If drool bothers you, this is not your dog.
Are Dogues de Bordeaux good with children?
Typically yes — they're calm, patient and devoted family guardians. Supervise around toddlers purely for size: an affectionate lean can flatten a small child.
Does the Dogue de Bordeaux shed a lot?
Moderately. The Dogue de Bordeaux sheds a fair amount, steadily through the year with heavier seasonal patches. A weekly brush keeps most of the loose hair off your floors and clothes.
Is the Dogue de Bordeaux hypoallergenic?
Not really. No dog is truly hypoallergenic, and the Dogue de Bordeaux's shedding coat releases plenty of the dander that sets off allergies. If someone at home is allergic, this isn't the easiest breed to live with — spend time around one first.
Is the Dogue de Bordeaux easy to train?
Reasonably. The Dogue de Bordeaux is trainable with consistency and rewards, though it isn't the quickest study. Keep sessions short and positive, and be patient with the basics like recall.