Dogue de Bordeaux: Daily Care, Training and Health Risks

By Dr Duncan Houston

The Dogue de Bordeaux, sometimes called the French Mastiff, is a powerful dog with a short coat, broad head and close attachment to its household. Living with one means planning for its strength and health needs as carefully as its food, exercise and training.

Quick Answer

Dogue de Bordeaux dogs need calm, reward-based training, daily activity suited to their fitness and close attention to weight, breathing and skin folds. Joint and heart screening are important when choosing a puppy. Unproductive retching, collapse or difficult breathing requires emergency care.

Temperament and a suitable home

Many Dogues are affectionate with familiar people and watchful around strangers. These tendencies do not guarantee a calm adult or safe behaviour with children. Meet adult dogs, ask about the individual dog's history and make sure every caregiver can manage its strength safely.

Teach loose-lead walking, waiting at doors, settling and cooperative handling while the dog is young. Use rewards and predictable routines, not physical confrontations or attempts to establish dominance. Gradual socialisation should build comfort around everyday people and situations without forcing contact.

Supervise children, provide a quiet resting area and separate dogs during meals if needed. Practise time alone gradually. A large garden is useful only if the dog also receives walks, interaction and training; being left outside to guard is not a substitute for family life.

Exercise, growth and feeding

Offer comfortable walks, sniffing and short training or search games. Build activity gradually and avoid demanding running, repeated jumping or heavy pulling in a growing puppy. A dog that slows down, pants excessively or refuses activity needs assessment rather than being pushed to meet a fixed exercise target.

Short-faced dogs may have obstructed airways, and excess weight can make breathing harder. Plan outings in cool conditions, provide water and never leave the dog in a hot vehicle. Persistent snoring, noisy breathing while awake or poor heat tolerance deserves a veterinary examination; BOAS can require treatment, not simply reduced exercise.

Feed a complete diet appropriate for life stage. Puppies need a food suitable for growth of large dogs, with measured portions and growth monitoring. Avoid extra calcium or routine joint supplements unless your vet identifies a reason. Keep adults lean and divide the daily allowance into sensible meals.

Wrinkles, drool and everyday care

Brush the short coat regularly and bathe when needed. Gently clean soiled facial folds using a vet-advised method and dry them carefully. Redness, odour, discharge or persistent rubbing may indicate infection or another skin problem. More cleaning is not always the answer, and harsh disinfectants can worsen irritation.

Wipe away drool, check ears and nails, and brush teeth with dog toothpaste. Introduce these tasks in brief, rewarded sessions. Painful handling or a new unwillingness to be touched should prompt an examination.

Health screening and changes worth investigating

The published breed screening recommendations include hips, elbows, shoulders and a cardiac examination. Ask to see both parents' results and discuss the type and timing of heart assessment. Screening cannot rule out every future problem.

Veterinary studies of Dogues referred for heart investigation describe several cardiac disorders, including structural disease and abnormal rhythms. These referral findings do not establish the risk for every pet. Nevertheless, fainting, unexplained tiredness, a new cough or increased breathing at rest needs prompt assessment. A vet may recommend ultrasound or heart-rhythm testing.

Persistent lameness can reflect joint development problems, injury or arthritis. Keep a record of when it happens and arrange an examination instead of assuming stiffness is inevitable in a heavy breed. Maintain routine vaccination, parasite prevention and weight checks.

Recognise bloat and other emergencies

Gastric dilatation-volvulus, or GDV, occurs when the stomach distends and twists. Repeated attempts to vomit without producing much, restlessness, drooling, a swollen abdomen or weakness are emergency signs. Go immediately; do not wait for every sign to appear or attempt home treatment.

Cornell's GDV guidance explains preventive gastropexy, a procedure to reduce the risk of twisting. Discuss it with your vet. Smaller meals and changes around exercise do not guarantee prevention, and gastropexy does not prevent all stomach distension.

Laboured breathing, blue or pale gums, collapse or suspected heatstroke also requires emergency care. Call ahead and keep transport calm and cool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a low-maintenance breed?

The coat is relatively simple, but training, drool, skin folds, food costs and medical needs require time and planning.

Are Dogues automatically gentle with children?

No. Even a friendly dog can injure a child accidentally because of its size. Supervision and respectful handling remain essential.

Do all Dogues need joint supplements?

No. Nutrition, body condition and a diagnosis-based treatment plan matter more than automatically adding supplements.

Can snoring be ignored?

Persistent noisy breathing or disturbed sleep should be discussed with your vet, especially when accompanied by poor exercise tolerance.

A thoughtful routine helps this strong companion stay manageable and comfortable, with new symptoms addressed before they become a crisis.

If you need help understanding a care concern or preparing questions about screening, ASK A VET™ can help you plan the next step for your Dogue de Bordeaux.