Webster's World Encyclopedia 2002
Encyclopedia
dogue de bordeaux
Histor:
dugue de bordeaux traces its ancestry back 5000 years to the now extinct Tidetan Mastiff and the
Molossus of Epirus. the earliest dogue de bordeaux were as fierce as their"dogs of war" foredears, and were prized by the French Revolution the breed almost vanished, except form the Bordeaux region. form selective breeding with the British Bulldog, the present-day specimen had evolved by the early 1900s.the
dreedis now popular outside of France and is popular for its gentleness and devotion as a family pet.
Physical characteristies:
a powerfully built and muscular dog. Height:23.5-26.75 in (60-68cm) for the dog and23-26 in(58-66cm)for the
bitch. Weight: 110lb (50kg) for the dog and 99ib (45kg) 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 dite. the eyes are set wide and
are oval in shape, hazel or deep brown. the ears are set high and are small and fall cloes 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 foreguarters have good bone structure and are well-muscled.
the hindguarters are well-developed with thick thighs.
the coat of the dogue de bordeaux is short with soft, fin hair. thecoat color is solid-colored fawn or
tawny. the masx 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 know who
its owner is, this dog well be very loyal and protective. as it is such a large dog, the practical owner will teach
it to be very obedient form the time it is young. it is very awkward to have an unrulyn dog of this size,
whereas it is a joy to watch a well-trained one happily obeying its owner. |
