Caring for Your Dogue de Bordeaux: Key Health Concerns and Solutions

Introduction

The Dogue de Bordeaux, also known as French Mastiff or Carriage Dog, is a massive breed of domesticated dog native to France. Recognized as one of the rarest and most expensive breeds worldwide, they have been bred for centuries primarily as companions and guardians. With their striking appearance, impressive size, and loving temperament, it's no surprise that many would-be owners are drawn to this majestic breed.

However, owning a Dogue de Bordeaux comes with significant responsibilities, particularly regarding their massive size, health concerns, and exercise needs. It is crucial for prospective pet parents to understand what this entails before deciding to bring one of these gentle giants into their lives.

General Care

One of the primary care considerations for a Dogue de Bordeaux revolves around the space and facilities they require. The significant space a breeding couple requires to move comfortably necessitates living in spacious homes that include both indoor areas and yards.

Their food and water bowls need to be sufficiently large, as do their beds or sleeping quarters. For example, an adult female's bed should measure at least 1 meter (40 inches) long by 70 cm (28 inches) wide. Moreover, since they are prone to overheating due to their size and thickness of coat, a cooler living environment is crucial.

Nutrition Requirements

In terms of nutrition, Dogues de Bordeaux need a balanced and nutrient-rich diet tailored to their massive size. This involves feeding high-quality dog foods that provide enough calories to support their weight management but also are not too rich so as not to exacerbate conditions such as hip dysplasia or allergies.

Puppies typically grow quickly in the first few months of age, peaking at around three-quarters of a year of life. They require two feedings per day during this period until they are fully grown, which happens gradually over the next 12-18 months. The feeding volume decreases as the puppies mature but still need regular monitoring to avoid growing too much or gaining excess weight.

Exercise and Activity Levels

To maintain good health and ensure a high-quality lifestyle for your Dogue de Bordeaux companion, it is essential to provide sufficient physical exercise tailored to their activity level.

Their size necessitates gentle yet purposeful exercise that does not put excessive stress on their joints. This can include walking or going for short jogs in the park, playing gentle games of fetch, and engaging them in light physical activities like Frisbee retrieval from time to time.

Dogue de Bordeaux Issues

Despite their loving temperament, Dogues de Bordeaux are known to face distinct health issues that could affect their longevity if left unattended or untreated. Due to breeding trends over the years, they have become victims of inherited conditions.

Hip Dysplasia Prevalence

Hip dysplasia is one of the primary challenges associated with Dogue de Bordeaux dogs due to their massive weight and rapid growth stage during puppyhood leading them prone to acquiring chronic health issues affecting joint function. Monitoring this condition through routine check-ups, regular exercise, a nutritious diet tailored specifically for breeding couples, can help mitigate its negative impacts on overall well-being.

Skin Disorders

They often inherit deep wrinkles or folds within the skin of their faces and neck. If left unattended over time, infection may be introduced from within these areas, causing damage to tissues along with various painful conditions associated directly as secondary complications stemming health problems related due direct exposure to moisture, dirt accumulation etc.. Regular grooming practices would serve as a vital line of defense in this department by keeping regions consistently tidy thus avoiding entry points where illness-causing microbes could penetrate.

Allergies

Another challenge dog owners are often faced with today regarding their pets is allergies. Symptoms experienced when encountering allergens include redness itching or inflamed skin due excessive scratching causing irritation, which might sometimes occur without any external stimulus but rather stemming internal chemical imbalances.

Regular brushing of your pet regularly would ensure easy cleaning as well help manage loose hair that may exacerbate reaction onset.

Feeding a Dogue de Bordeaux

Ensuring proper feeding plays an essential role in maintaining the overall health and well-being of your dog. The diet for each individual varies based on factors such age, breed type activity level among many others but primarily revolves around consumption rates nutritional requirements weight gain/maintenance objectives.

Growing Stages - Puppies (under 1 year)

Young puppies typically eat high-quality puppy food that contains a balanced ratio of protein and fat to support healthy growth. Their meals are spaced roughly two times a day until they reach three-quarters of their adult weight which is usually seen between six to nine months old thereafter feeding reduces as well.

Adult Stages (over 1 year)

After achieving optimal body condition for an individual breeding couple's size, adult Dogue de Bordeaux need regular monitoring with the food quantity reduced significantly. High-quality, premium dog foods containing nutrients that support overall health without overfeeding should be their primary focus.

Dogue de Bordeaux Behavior and Training Tips

Training your Dogue de Bordeaux effectively requires patience, consistency, socialization from an early age, as these canine companions learn behaviors based primarily on the examples they observe around them. Training should therefore reflect positive reinforcement rather than force, punishment or coercion which often results negatively impacting relationships between humans & animals under such approaches within any relationship.

Establishing Routine

Given their large size requires regular exercise but also some quiet time for dogs in this family - having clearly structured time slots reserved for relaxation with plenty of sleeping opportunities available can contribute significantly reducing the impact these breeds have on their living spaces once fully grown.

Train commands like sit, lie down quietly wait etc., which should start early & be ongoing as a continuous process. This training period also focuses on familiarizing them well ahead into family schedules giving your household overall smooth and harmonious flow.

Dogue de Bordeaux Grooming Guide

It's essential to understand the importance of regular grooming for your Dogue de Bordeaux, given their unique skin characteristics which are prone to accumulation dirt & stains due wrinkles present in facial regions. Daily grooming practices could involve lightly brushing coat surface preventing matting or tangling fur hairs reducing need frequent trimming hence preserving neat appearance without adding additional burden through complicated beauty regimens.

Deep Wound Cleaning

Gently care for their delicate skin on regular clean-ups cleaning areas around face ears & neck as deep creases may sometimes harbor infection causing damage within facial tissues should they develop unnoticed over time preventing them by attending diligently any early alerts that show signs these types conditions occurring early warnings signal possible complications otherwise.

Nail Trimming

Irrelevant of age nail trimming sessions conducted every fortnight help prevent nails becoming overly long possibly causing distress while engaging with outdoor activities especially climbing steep inclines thus keeping up appearances through neat regular nail polishing is highly recommendable too.

Considerations for Pet Parents

Pet owners considering getting a Dogue de Bordeaux should keep the following points in mind:

• Space requirement: They need plenty of room within and outside to ensure freedom and space when wanting to move about.

• Social interaction.: Given huge dimensions associated with their family unit - regular walks short runs during leisurely times or socializing through group activities prove vital for bonding strengthening relationships among members belonging under common roof which leads towards well-rounded individual development.

• Food amount: Their substantial size dictates consistent quality check-ups ensuring proper feeding does not contribute to rapid weight gain but instead maintain optimal balance required due health concerns.

Dogue de Bordeaux FAQs

Q: How tall are adult Dogues de Bordeaux? A - Males typically reach an average height of 60 cm (24 inches) when fully grown, while their females stand at slightly smaller heights measuring up around 58-59.5 cm or (23-23.2 inches)

Q: What type of food should I feed my puppy when it comes to eating quality? A: Their main diet primarily remains composed high-quality, nutrition-rich puppy foods until reaching approximately threequarters a year old upon completion of their growing stages then reducing feeding requirements gradually from there onwards.

Q: Would taking them out often negatively impact behavior overall? A - Despite being large gentle souls they need regular opportunities for exercise, play, socialization with people dogs, so scheduling these moments into daily routines doesn't lead to worsening behavior.

Conclusion

Ultimately, owning a Dogue de Bordeaux is not only about welcoming one magnificent, loving companion but also entails serious commitment towards offering the best health care physical nourishment positive reinforcement within every interaction which ultimately leads strengthening harmony throughout entire household dynamic contributing building strong bonds shared amongst each member.

In case you still want to bring this stunning giant into your life, be assured they will love the care they receive - so embrace the journey ahead and remember taking extra steps towards optimal well-being translates directly impacting quality time shared with your furry friends.

This article has discussed many important aspects of Dogue de Bordeaux ownership.