Overview
The Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the oldest French breeds, kept historically to guard property, drive cattle and work for butchers. Today it is a calm, deeply attached companion. Most are gentle with the household and reserved, rather than hostile, with strangers.
On a lead the first thing you notice is the mass. Even a well-mannered Dogue can shift you off balance with a single lunge. The second thing is the face: the broad, short muzzle means it runs hot and gets out of breath quickly.
Exercise and walking needs
Adults do well on two unhurried walks adding up to around an hour. A steady amble with time to sniff, then home to flop on the floor, is the shape of a good day.
Keep puppies and adolescents on short, soft-ground outings. The breed carries a lot of weight on young joints, so no long hikes or jumping until the owner confirms the dog is mature.
On the walk
- Heat: Treat anything above mild as a risk. Loud panting, a dog that slows or lies down, and thick drool are all signs to find shade and head back.
- Strength: Use a wide, well-fitted harness or the collar and lead the owner has trained on. One sudden pull from a Dogue is a real injury risk for you.
- Other dogs: Many are fine with dogs they know and indifferent to the rest, but some same-sex intolerance is common in the breed. Introduce one at a time.
- Pace: Slow. Pair with other steady dogs or walk solo. A Dogue trailing behind a group of spaniels is a dog being pushed too hard.
Tips for professional walkers
- Walk in the cool of the day from late spring through to early autumn, and skip walks on genuinely hot afternoons.
- Stick to flat routes with soft ground. Pavement pounding is hard on heavy joints.
- Take a few minutes at pick-up to let the dog accept you. They bond slowly and appreciate a calm start.
What to ask the owner
- Is the dog comfortable with strangers at the door, and how do they want the first handover done?
- Any breathing or heart issues, and has the vet set a ceiling on exercise or temperature?
- Which lead and harness are they used to, and does the dog have a habit of lunging at anything in particular?