A male’s head circumference should roughly equal height at the withers. Few sentences describe the Dogue de Bordeaux more clearly than this FCI requirement: a mighty, wrinkled head on a body weighing at least 50 kilograms. Understand what that head and weight mean for health before choosing the breed.
| FCI | Group 2 (Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid and Swiss Mountain Dogs), Section 2.1 Molossoid, Mastiff type, Standard No. 116, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France |
| Size (height at the withers) | males 60 to 68 cm, females 58 to 66 cm, with tolerance of 1 cm below and 2 cm above |
| Weight | males at least 50 kg, females at least 45 kg |
| Life expectancy | median 11.1 years (McMillan et al. 2024); median age at death 7.7 years in UK practice records (O’Neill et al. 2026) |
| Coat | fine, short and soft |
| Colours in the standard | solid shades of fawn, from mahogany to isabella, with a black or brown mask, or no mask; a few white marks on chest and feet permitted |
From boar catcher to farm guardian
The standard counts this among France’s oldest dogs. In the 14th century, Gaston Phébus praised the boar-catching dog believed to be its ancestor. In Aquitaine, it hunted wild boar and guarded homes and livestock. Almost extinct after the Second World War, the breed was revived from the 1960s. It is closely related to the Boxer (Engdahl et al. 2026).
Calm, affectionate and slow to react
The standard describes a courageous guardian without aggression and a very affectionate companion with a high reaction threshold; males are considered dominant. At 50 kilograms, training matters from the start. Some German federal states list the breed with special requirements. Check with the state or municipality before buying.
What the short head does to breathing
The standard requires a brachycephalic molosser whose muzzle measures only a quarter to a third of head length. A Cambridge study assessed 51 Dogues de Bordeaux breathing under exertion (Tomlinson et al. 2026): at least half showed signs of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), and severely narrowed nostrils also occurred. Excess weight increased the risk.
Hips, elbows and heart
Of 334 Dogues de Bordeaux X-rayed in Sweden, 75.4 percent had grade C to E hip dysplasia, the highest figure among 72 breeds; 40 percent had elbow dysplasia (Engdahl et al. 2026). In Denmark, 17 percent of 53 dogs met the criterion for aortic stenosis (Höllmer et al. 2008). An owner survey covering 278 dogs found chronic skin problems in 22.7 percent (McAulay et al. 2018).
How long they live
The large UK analysis gives 11.1 years, compared with 12.0 for crossbreeds (McMillan et al. 2024). Veterinary records of 229 deceased Dogues de Bordeaux showed a median age of only 7.7 years (O’Neill et al. 2026).
Daily life with a heavy dog
The short coat needs little care, but head folds need regular checks. Calm walks in cool hours suit the breed better than ball games, and a lean body eases strain on joints and breathing. Before buying, insist on hip, elbow, heart and breathing results for both parents.
Who could consider this breed?
Experienced people with ground-level homes who demand health evidence and budget for high veterinary costs.
Who should look elsewhere?
First-time owners, athletes and anyone hoping for many years together.
The breed quiz helps establish whether such a heavy dog suits you; our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) explores it further. If you chiefly want a calm guardian, compare large breeds with normal-length muzzles, such as the Hovawart or Giant Schnauzer. All breeds appear in the Dog Breed Encyclopedia. Shelters also rehome Dogues de Bordeaux. For the start, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack.
Further reading
- Boxer: forever young, with a high cancer risk
- French Bulldog: the everyday cost of struggling to breathe
- Is my dog overweight? Assessing body condition and ideal weight
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 116 Dogue de Bordeaux (fci.be, German version dated 01.10.2015); Tomlinson F et al., BOAS across fourteen brachycephalic dog breeds, PLOS ONE 2026; Engdahl K et al., Hip and elbow dysplasia in young adult dogs in Sweden, Veterinary Record 2026; Höllmer M et al., Aortic stenosis in the Dogue de Bordeaux, J Small Anim Pract 2008; McAulay G et al., Online health survey of Dogue de Bordeaux owners, Vet J 2018; O'Neill DG et al., Giant dog breeds under primary veterinary care in the UK, Companion Anim Health Genet 2026; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds, Scientific Reports 2024.
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