The Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the most Ancient French breeds, probably a descendant of the Alans , & in particular the Alan Vautre . Of which Gaston Phebus ( or Febus), Count of Foix said in the fourteenth century, in his Livre De Chasse that “ He holds his bite stronger than three sight -hounds ” . The word “ Dogue ” first appeared at the end of the fourteenth century. In the middle of the nineteenth century these ancient Dogues were hardly renowned outside the region of Aquitaine. They were used for hunting large animals such as boar , for fighting , for the guarding of houses & cattle & the service of Butchers. In 1863 The first French dog show took place in Paris in the Jardin d’Acclimatation. The Dogues de Bordeaux were entered under their present name. There have been different types: The Toulouse type, The Paris type & The Bordeaux type, which is the origin of todays “Dogue”. The breed , which suffered greatly during the two world wars, to the point of being threatened with extinction after the second world war, got of to a fresh start in the 60‘s. •1st standard ( Caractere des vrais dogues ) In Pierre MEGNIN , Le Dogue de Bordeaux , 1896. •2nd standard in J.KUNSTLER , Etude critique du Dogue de Bordeaux , 1910. •3rd standard by Raymond TRIQUET, with the collaboration of Vet , Dr. Maurice LUQUET , 1971. •4th standard reformulated according to Jerusalem model (F.C.I.) by Raymond TRIQUET, with collaboration of Philippe SEROUIL , President of the French Dogue de Bordeaux Club & its committee, 1993.
An ancient fighting dog, the Dogue de Bordeaux is gifted for guarding, which he assumes with vigilance & courage, but without aggressiveness. A good companion, Very attached to his master & very affectionate. Calm & balanced with a high stimulus threshold. The male is normally of dominant character.
