FCI BREED STANDARD
DOGUE DE BORDEAX
General
Appearance :
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Typical concave lined brachycephalic
molossoid. The Dogue de Bordeaux is a very powerful dog, with a very
muscular body yet retaining a harmonious general outline. He is built rather
close to the ground, the distance sternum-ground being slightly less than
the depth of the chest.
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Stocky, athletic, imposing, he has a very
dissuasive aspect.
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Important
Proportions :
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The length of the body, measured from the
point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock, is superior to the height
at the withers, in the proportion of 11/10.
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The depth of the chest is more than half
the height at the withers.
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The maximum length of the muzzle is equal
to one third of the length of the head.
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The minimum length of the muzzle is equal
to one quarter of the length of the head.
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In the male, the perimeter of the skull
corresponds more or less to the height at the withers.
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Behaviour
/ Temperament :
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An ancient fighting dog, the Dogue de
Bordeaux is gifted for guarding, which he assumes with vigilance and great
courage but without aggressiveness. A good companion, very attached to his
master and very affectionate. Calm, balanced with a high stimulus threshold.
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The male normally has a dominant
character.
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Head
:
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Voluminous, angular, broad, rather short,
trapezoid when viewed from above and in front.
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Cranial
Region :
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- In the male : the perimeter of the skull
measured at the level of its greatest width corresponds roughly to the
height at the withers.
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- In bitches : it may be slightly less.
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Its volume and shape are the consequences
of the very important development of the temporals, supra-orbital arches,
zygomatic arches and the spacing of the branches of the lower jaw. The upper
region of the skull is slightly convex from one side to the other.
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Fronto-nasal depression or stop is very
pronounced, almost forming a right angle with the muzzle (95 to 100).
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The frontal groove is deep, diminishing
towards the posterior end of the head. The forehead dominates the face.
However it is still wider than high.
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The head is furrowed with symmetrical
wrinkles, each side of the median groove. These deep ropes of wrinkle are
mobile depending on whether the dog is attentive or not.
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Facial
Region
:
| Nose
: Broad,
well opened nostrils, well pigmented according to the mask. Upturned nose
(snubbed) permissible but not if it is set back towards the face. |
| Muzzle
:
Powerful, broad, thick, but not fleshy below the eyes, rather short, upper
profile very slightly concave, with moderately obvious folds. Its width
hardly decreasing towards the tip to the muzzle, when viewed from above it
has the general shape of a square. In relation to the upper region of the
skull, the line of the muzzle forms a very obtuse angle upwards. When the
head is held horizontally the tip of the muzzle, truncated, thick and broad
at the base, is in front of a vertical tangent to the anterior face of the
nose. 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,
from the nose to the occipital crest. The limits stated (maximum one third
and minimum one quarter of the total length of the head) are permissible but
not sought after, the ideal length of the muzzle being between these two
extremes. |
| Jaws
:
Very
powerful, broad. Undershot (the undershot condition being a characteristic
of the breed). |
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The back of the lower incisors is in front
of and not in contact with the front face of the upper incisors.
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The lower jaw curves upwards. The chin is
well marked and must neither overlap the upper lip exaggeratedly nor be
covered by it.
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| Teeth
:
Strong,
particularly the canines. Lower canines set wide apart and slightly curved.
Incisors well aligned especially in the lower jaw where they form an
apparently straight line. |
| Upper
lip :
Thick, moderately pendulous, retractile. When viewed in profile it shows a
rounded lower line. It covers the lower jaw on the sides. In front the edge
of the upper lip is in contact with the lower lip, then drops on either side
thus forming a reversed wide V. |
| Cheeks
:
Prominent,
due to the very strong development of the muscles. |
| Eyes
:
Oval,
set wide apart. The space between the two inner angles of the eyelids is
equal to about twice the length of the eye (eye opening). Frank expression.
The haw must not be visible. |
| Colour
:
hazel
to dark brown for a dog with a black mask, lighter colour tolerated but not
sought after in dogs with either a brown mask or without a mask. |
| Ears
:
Relatively
small, of a slightly darker colour than the coat. At its set on the front of
the base of the ear is slightly raised. They must fall back, but not hang
limply, the front edge being close to the cheek when the dog is attentive.
The tip of the ear is slightly rounded ; it must not reach beyond the eye.
Set rather high, at the level of the upper line of the skull, thus appearing
to accentuate its width even more. |
| Neck
:
Very
strong, muscular, almost cylindrical. The skin is supple, ample and loose.
The average circumference almost equals that of the head. It is separated
from the head by a slightly accentuated transversal furrow, slightly curved.
Its upper edge is slightly convex. The well defined dewlap starts at the
level of the throat forming folds down to the chest, without hanging
exaggeratedly. The neck, very broad at its base, merges smoothly with the
shoulders. |
Body
:
| Topline
: Solid
with a broad and muscular back, withers well marked, broad loin, rather
short and solid. |
| Croup
:
Moderately
sloping down to the root of the tail. |
| Chest
:
Powerful, long, deep, broad, let down lower than the elbows. Broad and
powerful breast whose lower line (inter-axillae) is convex towards the
bottom. Ribs well let down and well sprung but not barrel shaped. The
circumference of the chest must be between 0,25 to 0,30 m greater than the
height at the withers. |
| Underline
:
Curved,
from the deep brisket to the rather tucked up, firm abdomen, being neither
pendulous nor whippety. |
| Tail
:
Very
thick at the base. Its tip preferably reaching the hock and not below.
Carried low, it is neither broken nor kinked but supple. Hanging when the
dog is in repose, generally rising by 90 to 120 from that position when the
dog is in action, without curving over the back or being curled. |
Limbs
:
| Forequarters
:
Strong
bone structure, legs very muscular. |
| Shoulders
:
Powerful,
prominent muscles. Slant of shoulder-blade medium (about 45 to the
horizontal), angle of the scapular-humeral articulation a little more than
90. |
| Arms
:
Very
muscular. |
| Elbows
:
In the
axis of the body, neither too close to the thoracic wall nor turned out. |
| Forearms
:
Viewed
from the front, straight or inclining slightly inwards thus getting closer
to the median plane, especially in dogs with a very broad chest. Viewed in
profile, vertical. |
|
Metacarpal
region :
Powerful. Viewed in profile, slightly sloping. Viewed from the front
sometimes slightly outwards thus compensating for the slight inclination of
the forearm inwards. |
| Feet
:
Strong.
Toes tight, nails curved and strong, pads well developed and supple : the
dogue is well up on his toes despite his weight. |
| Hindquarters
: Robust
legs with strong bone structure ; well angulated. When viewed from behind
the hindquarters are parallel and vertical thus giving an impression of
power even though the hindquarters are not quite as broad as the
forequarters. |
| Thigh
: Very
developed and thick with visible muscles. |
| Stifle
: In a
parallel plane to the median plane or slightly out. |
| Second
Thigh :
Relatively
short, muscled, descending low. |
| Hock
:
Short,
sinewy, angle of the hock joint moderately open. |
| Metatarsus
:
Robust,
no dewclaws. |
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Hind feet
:
Slightly longer than the front feet, toes tight. |
Movement
:
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Quite supple for a molossoid. When walking
the movement is free, supple, close to the ground. Good drive from the
hindquarters, good extension of the forelegs, especially when trotting,
which is the preferred gait. When the trot quickens, the head tends to drop,
the topline inclines towards the front, and the front feet get closer to the
median plane while striding out with a long reaching movement of the front
legs. Short gallop with vertical movement rather important. Capable of great
speed over short distances by bolting along close to the ground.
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| Skin
:
Thick
and sufficiently loose fitting. |
Coat
:
| Hair
:
Fine,
short and soft to the touch. |
| Colour
:
Self-coloured,
in all shades of fawn, from mahogany to isabella. A good pigmentation is
desirable. Limited white patches are permissible on the chest and the
extremities of the limbs. |
Mask
:
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1.
Black mask : the mask is often only slightly spread out and must not
invade the cranial region. There may be slight black shading on the skull,
ears, neck and top of body. The nose is then black.
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2.
Brown mask (used to be called red or bistre) : the nose is then brown
; the eye rims are also brown.
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3.
No mask : the coat is fawn : the skin appears red (also formerly
called " red mask "). The nose is then reddish or pink.
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Size
:
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- Height should more or less correspond to
the perimeter of the skull.
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- Dogs : 60-68 cm at the withers
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- Bitches : 58-66 cm at the withers.
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- 1 cm under
and 2 cm over will be tolerated.
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Weight
:
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Dogs :
at
least 50 kg |
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Bitches :
at
least 45 kg. |
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Bitches
:
Identical characteristics but less prominent. |
Faults
:
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Any departure from the foregoing points
should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should
be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
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Serious
faults :
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Hyper aggressive, timid.
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Head short and round with protruding eyes.
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Hyper typical bulldoggy : flat skull, muzzle measuring less than a quarter of
the total length of the head.
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Important lateral deviation of the lower jaw.
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Incisors constantly visible when the mouth is closed.
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Arched back.
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Fused but not deviated vertebrae of the tail.
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Forefeet turning inwards (even slightly).
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Forefeet turning outwards too much.
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Flat thighs.
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Angle of hock too open (straight angulation).
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Angle of the hock too closed, dog standing under himself behind.
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Cow hocks or barrel hocks.
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Stilted movement or serious rolling of rear.
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Excessive shortness of breath, rasping.
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White on tip of tail or on the front part of the forelegs, above the carpus
and the tarsus.
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Disqualifying
faults :
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- 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).
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- Muzzle parallel to the top line of the
skull or down faced, Roman nose.
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- Twisted jaw.
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- Mouth not undershot.
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- Canines constantly visible when the
mouth is closed.
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- Tongue constantly hanging out when the
mouth is closed.
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- Tail knotted and
laterally deviated or
twisted (screw tail, kink tail).
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- Atrophied tail.
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- Fiddle front with splay feet.
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- Angle of the hock open towards the rear
(tarsal deviated towards the front).
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- White on the head or body, any other
colour of the coat than fawn.
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- Identifiable disabling defect.
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Note
:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into
the scrotum.