Rassen > Bordeaux
Dog > Rassebeschreibung
General appearance
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a well-balanced, massive, powerfully-built
dog with a very muscular body and a short coat. The Dogue is somewhat
low in stature with a huge head, furrowed by wrinkles, topped with small,
pendant ears. The tail is thick at the base and tapering to the tip and
is set and carried low. The breed is presented in a completely natural
condition and should be evaluated equally for correct conformation, temperament,
gait, and structural soundness.
Disqualifications: Any identifiable, disabling defect.
Characteristics
Careful breeding has modified the formerly aggressive temperament
of this breed. Today, the Dogue de Bordeaux is a natural guardian, vigilant
and courageous without being aggressive. The Dogue de Bordeaux is very
affectionate, devoted to its master, and excellent with children.
Faults: Overly aggressive; timid.
Disqualifications: Viciousness, marked shyness or cowardliness.
Head
The massive head of the Dogue de Bordeaux is an essential breed
characteristic. In males, the circumference of the skull taken at the
widest point is roughly equal to the dog's height at the withers. In females,
the circumference may be slightly less. Viewed from the front, the head
forms a trapezoid. The longer topline of the skull and the shorter line
of the underjaw form the parallel sides of the trapezoid.
Faults: Short, round head; "Bulldog" head, i.e., flat skull
& muzzle shorter than one-quarter of the head length.
Disqualification: Long, narrow head with insufficiently pronounced
stop.
Skull
The skull is large, slightly domed, and broad between the ears.
Viewed from the top, the skull appears square. The volume and shape of
the skull result from the very important development of the temporal bones,
the supraorbital ridges, the zygomatic arches, and the spacing of the
mandibles. There is a deep median furrow that diminishes in depth from
the stop to the occiput. The stop is very deep and abrupt, almost at a
right angle with the muzzle. Despite the depth of the stop, the forehead
is wider than it is high.
Muzzle
The muzzle is broad, thick, and short with moderately obvious
folds. There is almost no taper to the muzzle. It is square when viewed
from above and the circumference of the muzzle is equal to two-thirds
the circumference of the skull. The top line of the muzzle rises slightly
from the stop to the nose, forming a very obtuse angle with the line of
the forehead. The maximum length of the muzzle is equal to one-third the
total length of the head; the minimum length of the muzzle is one-quarter
of the length of the head. The ideal is between these two extremes. When
the head is held horizontally, the end of the muzzle extends beyond a
vertical line drawn from the tip of the nose. The jaws are very broad
and powerful. Lips are thick and moderately pendulous. When the mouth
is closed, the upper lip hangs over side of the lower jaw. The chin is
well defined and must neither overlap the upper lip nor be covered by
it.
Disqualifications: Muzzle longer than one-third head length; muzzle
parallel to top line of the skull or downfaced.
Teeth
The Dogue de Bordeaux has a complete set of large, evenly spaced, white
teeth. The incisors are well-aligned, particularly the lower incisors
which form an apparently straight line. An undershot bite is characteristic
of the breed with the inside of the lower incisors extending in front
of the upper incisors at least .2 inch and no more than three-quarters
inch. Teeth are not visible when the mouth is closed.
Faults: Incisors always visible when mouth is closed.
Disqualifications: Wry mouth; mouth not undershot. Canines always visible
when mouth is closed. Tongue always protruding when mouth is closed.
Nose
Nose color is black on black-masked dogs; brown on brown-masked
dogs; or reddish pink on unmasked dogs. The nose is broad and well-pigmented
with well-opened nostrils. An upturned nose is permissible but the tip
of the nose must not be set back deeply between the eyes like an English
Bulldog.
Eyes
The eyes are large but not protruding, oval, and set well apart-at
least twice the length of the eye opening. Color ranges from hazel to
dark brown. Lighter eye colours are acceptable but not preferred in dogs
without a mask or dogs with red masks. Haw is not visible. Pigment of
eyerims matches nose pigment.
Faults: Protruding eyes.
Ears
The ears are pendant and relatively small. They are set high,
level with the upper line of the skull, accentuating the skull's width.
At the base, the ear is just slightly raised in front and then hangs along
the cheek. The tip is slightly rounded. When pulled toward the eye, the
ear should not extend past the inside corner of the eye. The coat on the
ears is slightly darker than the body coat.
Neck
The neck is thick, muscular, and almost cylindrical with very
little taper from the shoulder to the head. The neck is slightly arched
at the crest and blends smoothly into well-laid-back shoulders. There
is a slight transverse furrow separating the neck from the head. The average
circumference of the neck is almost equal to the circumference of the
skull. The well-defined dewlap starts at the level of the throat and forms
folds down to the chest.
Faults: Excessive dewlap.
Forequarters
The shoulders are powerful and heavily muscled. The shoulder
blade is well laid back and forms, with the upper arm, an angle just slightly
greater than 90 degrees. The forelegs are heavily boned and very muscular.
The elbows are set on a plane parallel to the body, neither close to the
body nor turned out. Viewed from the front, the forelegs are perpendicular
to the ground or may, especially in a dog with a very broad chest, incline
slightly inward. The pasterns are short, powerful, and slightly sloping
when viewed in profile. Viewed from the front, the pasterns are either
straight or may turn slightly outward in compensation where the foreleg
inclines inward around a wide chest.
Faults: Toeing inward; extreme toeing outward; fiddle front.
Body
The chest is deep and broad. The ribs are well sprung from the
spine and then flatten to form a deep body extending below the elbows.
The topline inclines very slightly downward from well-developed withers
to a broad, muscular back. The short, broad loin blends into a moderately
sloping croup. The flank is somewhat tucked up and firm.
Faults: Barrel chest; roached back.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are powerful but slightly less broad than the
forequarters. The angulation of the hindquarters is in balance with the
angulation of the forequarters. The thighs are well-developed with thick,
easily discerned muscles. Stifles may turn slightly outward and hocks
may turn slightly inward. The lower thighs are muscular and short. Rear
pasterns are sinewy and well let down with the angle of the hock moderately
open. Viewed from behind, the rear pasterns are parallel.
Faults: Flat thighs; straight stifles; straight hock, sickle hock,
cow hock or barrel hock.
Feet
Feet are large, oval, strong, and tight, with hind feet slightly
longer than front feet. Pads are well developed, with strong nails, preferably
pigmented. Despite its weight, the Dogue de Bordeaux is well up on its
toes. Dewclaws are not removed.
Faults: Splay feet.
Tail
The tail is uncut, very thick at the base, and tapering to the
tip. The tail is set low at the base of the croup. When the dog is relaxed,
the tail is carried low, just reaching to the hock. When the dog is moving
or excited, the tail is carried level with the back or only slightly above
level, but never over the back or curled.
Disqualifications: Kink or screw tail. Atrophied tail.
Coat
The coat is short, fine and soft to the touch.
Colour
Solid colour in any shade of fawn, ranging from mahogany to isabella.
Colour on the ears is somewhat darker than the body coat. Limited white
patches are permissible on the chest and feet. Good pigmentation is preferred.
Dogs may or may not be masked as follows:
- Black mask. There may be slight black shading on the ears, neck, top
of the body, and on the skull, except that the mask may not extend past
the supraorbital ridges to the topskull. Black-masked dogs have black
nose pigment.
- Brown mask (formerly called "red mask" or "bistre").
Brown shading in the same places as for a black masked dog. Brown-masked
dogs have brown nose pigment.
- No mask (also formerly called "red mask" or "bistre").
The coat is fawn and the skin appears red. An dog without a mask has
a nose that is reddish or pink.
Faults: White on tip of tail or on the front part of the legs above
the pasterns.
Disqualifications: White on the head or body. Albinism.
Height and weight
Desirable height at maturity, measured at the withers, ranges from 60-68
cm for males and 58-66 cm for females. Dogs in good condition should weight
at least 50 kilograms and bitches at least 45. All other things being
equal, the larger dog should be given preference over the smaller.
Gait
The gait of the Dogue de Bordeaux is free, smooth, and powerful.
When viewed from the side, reach and drive indicate maximum use of the
dog's moderate angulation. As the gait quickens, the head tends to drop
and the feet tend to converge toward the center line of balance but do
not cross over. The Dogue de Bordeaux is capable of great speed over short
distances.
Faults: Stilted movement; serious rolling in the rear.
 Back to race description of the Bordeaux Dog
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