Dogue de Bordeaux
Working Group
Breed Standard
Approved
by DDBSA Membership & AKC October 2007
General
Appearance
The Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the most ancient French breeds. He is a typical
brachycephalic molossoid type. He is a very powerful dog, with a very muscular
body yet retaining a harmonious general outline. Built rather close to the
ground, the distance from the deepest point of the chest to the ground is
slightly less than the depth of the chest. A massive head with proper
proportions and features is an important characteristic of the breed. His
serious expression, stocky and athletic build, and self assurance make him very
imposing. Bitches have identical characteristics, but less prominent.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The length of the body, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of
the buttock, is greater than the height at the withers, in the proportion of
11/10. The depth of the chest is more than half the height at the withers. Size: Dogs: 23.5-27
inches at the withers - Bitches: 23-26 inches at the withers. Weight:
Dogs: at least 110 lbs. - Bitches: at least 99 lbs.
Head
The head is large, angular, broad, and rather short. It is trapezium shaped
when viewed from above and in front. Eyes: Oval and set wide
apart. The space between the eyes is equal to about twice the length of the eye
(eye opening). Frank expression. The haw should not be visible. Color: hazel to
dark brown for a dog with a black mask, lighter color tolerated but not sought
after in dogs with either a brown mask or without a mask. Fault: Protruding eyes. Ears: The ear is small in
proportion to the skull and of a slightly darker color than the coat. The front
of the ears base is slightly raised. They should fall back, but not hang
limply. The front edge of the ear is close to the cheek when the dog is
attentive. The tip is slightly rounded, and should not reach beyond the eye.
Set rather high, at the level of the upper line of the skull, thus emphasizing
the skull width even more. Skull: Back Skull in the
male: The perimeter of the skull measured at the point of its greatest width
corresponds roughly to the height at the withers. In bitches: it may be
slightly less. Its volume and shape are the result of the spacing of the lower
jaw bones, and the very well developed temporal area, upper-orbital area, and
zygomatic arches. The cheeks are prominent due to the very strong development
of the muscles. The skull is slightly rounded from one side to the other. The
frontal groove is deep. The forehead, characterized by well developed eyebrows,
dominates the face. However the skull is still wider than high. The head is
furrowed with symmetrical wrinkles on each side of the median groove. These
deep ropes of wrinkle are mobile depending on whether the dog is attentive or
not. Stop: The stop is very pronounced, almost
forming a right angle with the muzzle (95 to 100 degrees). Fault: Extreme characteristics such as a very short muzzle, flat skull and a swollen fold behind the nose. Muzzle: Powerful, broad,
thick, and rather short. Should not be fleshy below the eyes. When viewed in
profile, the foreface is very slightly concave with moderately obvious folds.
Its width decreases only slightly from the root of the muzzle to the tip. When
viewed from above it has the general shape of a square. When viewed from the
side, the top lines of the skull and muzzle form an angle that converges at, or
near the end of the muzzle. When the head is held horizontally, the end of the
muzzle, which is truncated, thick and broad at the base, is in front of a
vertical tangent to the front of the nose (the nose is slightly set back from
the front of the muzzle). Its perimeter is almost two thirds of that of the
head. Its length varies between one third and one quarter of the total length
of the head, measured from the nose to the occipital crest. The ideal length of
the muzzle is between these two extremes. Nose: Broad, with well
opened nostrils. Self colored according to the color of the mask. Slightly
upturned permissible. Upper lip: Thick, moderately
pendulous yet retractile. When viewed in profile it shows a rounded lower line
and covers the lower jaw on the sides. When viewed from the front, the edge of
the upper lip is in contact with the lower lip, and drops on either side thus
forming an inverse, wide V. Jaws: Very powerful, and
broad. Undershot so that there is no contact between the upper and lower
incisors. The lower jaw curves upwards. The chin is very pronounced and should
neither overlap the upper lip exaggeratedly nor be covered by it. Disqualification: Mouth not undershot; wry jaw.
Bite: Undershot. Fault: Incisors constantly
visible when the mouth is closed. Severe Fault: Canines constantly visible when the
mouth is closed. Teeth: Strong, particularly
the canines. Lower, canines set wide apart and slightly curved. Incisors well
aligned especially in the lower jaw where they form a straight line.
Severe Fault: Long, narrow head with
insufficiently pronounced stop, with a muzzle measuring more than a third of
the total length of the head (lack of type in head).
Neck, Topline And Body
Neck: Very strong and muscular, almost cylindrical.
The skin is supple, ample and loose. The average circumference almost equals
that of the head. There is a noticeable, slightly convex, furrow at the
junction of the head and neck. The well-defined dewlap starts at the level of
the throat forming folds down to the chest, without hanging exaggeratedly. The
neck is very broad at its base, merging smoothly with the shoulders. Topline: Solid with a broad and
muscular back, withers well marked, broad loin, rather short and solid. Chest: Powerful, long, deep,
broad, and let down lower than the elbows. The forechest is broad and powerful
with a lower line that is convex towards the bottom. The ribcage is deep and
well sprung, but not barrel shaped. The circumference of the chest should be
between 10 and 12 inches greater than the height at the withers. Underline: Curved, from the deep
brisket to the firm abdomen. Slight to moderate tuck-up. Should be neither
pendulous nor extreme. Croup: Moderately sloping
down to the root of the tail. Tail: Very thick at the
base. The tip preferably reaches the hock but not below. Carried low, it is
neither broken nor kinked but supple. Hanging when the dog is in repose;
generally carried level with the back or slightly above the level of the back
when the dog is in action, without curving over the back or being curled. Fault: Fused vertebrae but
not kinked. Disqualification: An atrophied tail; a
tail that is knotted and laterally deviated or twisted.
Forequarters
Strong bone structure, legs very muscular. Shoulders: Powerful, prominent
muscles. Slant of shoulder-blade is medium (about 45 degrees to the
horizontal), with the angle of the scapular-humeral articulation being a little
more than 90 degrees. Arms: Very muscular. Elbows: In line with the body.
Should be neither too close to the chest nor turned out. Forearms: When viewed from the
front, straight or inclining slightly inwards, especially in dogs with a very
broad chest. When viewed in profile, vertical. Pasterns: Powerful. Slightly
sloping when viewed in profile. When viewed from the front, may bend slightly
outwards, thus compensating for the slight inclination of the forearm inwards. Feet: Strong. Toes should be
tight, nails curved and strong, and pads well developed and supple; the dogue
is well up on his toes despite his weight.
Hindquarters
Powerful legs with strong bone structure; well angulated. When viewed from
behind, the hindquarters are parallel and vertical thus giving an impression of
power. The hindquarters are not quite as broad as the forequarters. Thigh: Well developed and
thick with visible muscles. Stifle: In a parallel plane to
the median plane or slightly out. Second Thigh: Relatively short, well
muscled. Hock Joint: Short and sinewy, with
the angle of the hock joint moderately open. Hock: Strong, no dewclaws. Hind
feet:
Slightly longer than the front feet, toes should be tight.
Coat
Fine, short and soft to the touch. Skin: Thick and sufficiently
loose fitting.
Color
Coat: Self-colored, in all shades of fawn, from a
dark red fawn to a light fawn. A rich coat color is considered desirable.
Limited white patches are permissible on the chest and the extremities of the
limbs. Fault: White on the tip of the tail, or on the front
part of the forelegs above the carpus and the tarsus. Disqualification: White on the head or
body; any coat color other than shades of fawn.
Black Mask: The mask is often only slightly spread out
and should not invade the cranial region. There may be slight black shading on
the skull, ears, neck and back. Pigmentation of the nose will be black.
Brown Mask: Pigmentation of the nose and eye rims will
also be brown.
No Mask: The coat is fawn: the skin appears red (also
formerly called “red mask”). The nose is then reddish or pink.
Gait
The gait is quite supple for a molossoid. In open walking the movement is free,
supple, close to the ground. Good drive from the hindquarters, good extension
of the forelegs, especially at the trot, which is the preferred gait. As the
trot quickens, the head tends to drop, the top-line inclines towards the front,
and the front feet get closer to the median plane while striding out with a long
reaching movement. Vertical movement while in a short gallop is rather
important. He is capable of great speed over short distances by bolting along
close to the ground.
Temperament
Dogue de Bordeaux is gifted for guarding, which he assumes with vigilance and
great courage but without aggressiveness. He is a very good companion, being
attached to and affectionate toward his master. He is calm and balanced with a
high stimulus threshold. The male normally has a dominant character.
The foregoing is a description of the
ideal Dogue de Bordeaux. Any deviation should be penalized in direct proportion
to the extent of that deviation. Extreme deviation in any part should be
penalized to the extent that the dog is effectively eliminated from
competition.
Disqualifying Faults
- Mouth not undershot; wry jaw.
- An atrophied tail; a tail that is knotted
and laterally deviated or twisted.
- White on the head or body; any coat color
other than shades of fawn.
