French Mastiff

The Hidden Temperament Behind French Mastiffs

A Great Family Pet

French MastiffFrench Mastiffs, also known as Dogue de Bordeaux and Bordeaux mastiffs, are among the very ancient French dog breeds. Similar to all mastiffs, this one also exudes an imposing presence with its strong and powerful appearance.

Their bodies are very muscular, so it isn’t surprising where their power comes from. In the past, they were known to be employed to use their sheer power by pulling carts or by hauling heavy objects. They were also used to guard flocks and protect castles of the elite.

However, due to breeders’ efforts over the years, French mastiffs are now also known to possess a harmonious temperament – making them great family pets.


Unique Appearance

French MastiffThe head of the Bordeaux mastiff is its unique characteristic. This breed arguably has the largest head among all other dog breeds.

In fact, if you measure the circumference of its head, measured at the widest point of the skull, it should be around the same measurement as the dog’s height at the shoulders. Top quality, show dog French mastiffs have a head circumference of around 30 inches.

When you look at its head from the front or the top, it should form a trapezoid shape with the top-line of the skull. The jaw is undershot and is powerful. It also has loose skin around the neck, which forms a noticeable dewlap. Finally, its ears are small.

Then and Now

I’m gonna get that water…grrrr!

French mastiffs were formerly assigned as hunters, herding dogs, and guardians. They were even trained to bait larger animals such as bulls, jaguars, and bears. Also, these dogs were formerly tasked to hunt boars, and herd cattle. Because of these, the breed was formerly much more ferocious than they are today.

Because the times have changed, breeders have successfully softened the temperament of the Dogue de Bordeaux. They now possess calm temperament, as they have shown gentleness towards children and their master’s family.

Properly trained and socialized, these dogs have been found to be extremely loyal, patient, and totally devoted. They are naturally gifted to guard, as they have retained the qualities of their more aggressive ancestors. A fair warning though, they can get confrontational with strangers.

Some Issues

French MastiffFirst, they can do well indoors and don’t need a large space to move in. They will need a lot of exercise to compensate though. You will need to take your pets on long walks daily, otherwise, they may develop behavior issues.

Like most mastiffs, the Dogue de Bordeaux is also not a dog that can be handled by just about anyone. As such, dogs of this breed need an experienced master who will be able to handle and train them properly.

In training, the trick is to achieve the status of pack leader. Dogs have a natural instinct to establish an order in their pack, and it is very important for the mastiff breeds especially.

For someone to be able to properly communicate with the French mastiffs, the dogs must first understand and accept their master’s superiority. Otherwise, the relationship will be a failure. As its master, you must then display your authority over the dog. Always be confident in your commands, and be consistent with the rules that you impose on it.

Finally, watch out because the breed can be prone to hip dysplasia. Other known sicknesses include heart problems, hyperkeratosis, and epilepsy.

Some Tips When Buying Your Puppy

French Mastiff Puppy

All right you’re in the market and you got your heart set on an adorable French mastiff puppy. Good for you! Hey, but don’t look now but you may be in for a heck of a ride and if your not careful you could end up with a sick puppy with a load of problems and huge vet bills throughout its life. OK, maybe I may like to sensationalize the risks out there, but they do exist and you should be aware of them.

So how do you find a French Mastiff that is of the highest quality and within budget? Well, herein you’ll find what to avoid and what to pursue when hunting for the perfect French mastiff with good temperament, good energy, and lifelong health.

Good breeders know all about the breed of the dogs that they are taking care of. This means that they’ve taken into account the health issues that that specific breed possesses. Knowing this, naturally, they have also taken measures to reduce the chance that your puppy has inherited these health problems through proper breeding methods.

Those who only claim to be expert breeders don’t bother with this. The puppies that they sell were only produced through convenience breeding. Convenience breeding, as opposed to selected breeding, means that the parents of the pup that will be given to you weren’t selected based on any criteria. Chances are, neither of the parents are champions, or worse, neither of them have been tested for any health issues. You will be kept in the dark on the chances that your French mastiff might be afflicted with, say, heart problems a few years from when you get it.

Three Places to Be Cautious of When Looking for a French Mastiff Puppy

Pet shops

With pet shops you never know what you’re getting, the pedigree (the records held on the genetic background of the dog) the breeder etc are usually unknown. You’ll pay a high price but you run the risk of your puppy being completely unclassified. The pet shop will also not take back the dog later in life, the pet shop has limited knowledge and staff, and it completely undermines the quality breeding standards held by reputable breeders.

Backyard breeders (posing as professionals)

OK, you might just bump into a few of this people. Some may even run puppy mills, puppy farms etc. They’re basically in it for the money and less so for the passion of the breed. A reputable breeder aims always at higher standards of the breed; backyard breeders look at it as a way to make a nice profit back on the dog they bought a year ago.

Classified listings

You may see some French mastiffs being advertised in the local paper or craigslist. Again this could be anybody and is most likely a backyard breeder; although some reputable breeders will use the classifieds to advertise. Be wary of free offers, the dog may be sick, ill-tempered, untrained, and maybe even be abused.

Three Excellent Places to Start off Your Search

Let me start off by saying that you’re going to find the best French mastiff puppies with the most reputable French mastiff breeders. And you know what? Many breeders don’t even advertise so you got to get a referral usually through word of mouth; here’s how…

Dog Shows

Given that the parents of healthy French mastiff puppies are probably both champions, one good place to start looking for a good breeder is in dog shows. In dog shows, you will be able to see the best representatives of the different breeds. Hey if you got a dog show coming to town; especially if it’s a show all about mastiffs then get it in gear and head down the show. To find a dog show in your area, you can check your daily newspapers for notices or invitations. You can also check out the websites of kennel clubs for a list of dog shows in areas near you.

When you see a French mastiff on display – don’t be shy – go up to the owner and start up a conversation. Complement the owners on their show dog and ask if they could recommend a breeder. You might just find out that your speaking to the breeder, at which point you can further the conversation to probe a little on how reputable, trustworthy and serious this breeder is about the French mastiff.

Now, you might not be able to talk to the owners of the dogs participating in the contests, but it will be your best opportunity to ask how you can contact them at a later date to arrange for a possible meeting. And, even if you don’t find a French mastiff from among the competitors, chances are at least one from among the dog owners there can lead you in the right direction.

The Park could be a long shot if you live in a rural area or a city with a small population. But if you go to a park in the late spring and summer months, during the weekend, in an off-leash area, you see all types of dogs and you may luck out; finding a French mastiff in the bunch. Again, go approach the owner and ask for a recommendation for a breeder.

Veterinarians

You certainly have vets in the vicinity. You can easily poke through a phone book and call a few. Ask if they could recommend any French mastiff breeders in the area and you might just luck out.

With any luck you’ll build up a nice reference list of 5-10 breeder recommendations (with name and phone number) now you can call around and set up some viewings.

Breed Clubs

By the way, breed clubs can also point you in the right direction. If there are no dog shows being held in the near present, or if there simply aren’t any near your area, then you can go directly to a breed club and ask about their breeder referral program.

The good thing about breed clubs is that most of them follow a Code of Ethics. Here, details on the health and temperament issues on the French Mastiff that they consider important will be discussed so it is recommended that you read through it.

With all the resources mentioned here, you should be able to find some reputable French mastiff breeders out there. And when you find one, be sure to learn everything that you can about the puppy you’re getting so you can be a good master to it and raise it properly. You never know, you might get a potential champion and it would be good to properly train and groom it as soon as you can!

Sharing Is Caring 🙂

About the Author Joycey

All my life I've been in love with one big dopey Mastiff family member after another. No other breed has given so much pleasure, so it's a joy for my team and I to research everything there is to know about them in this blog. We hope you enjoy the reading as much as we enjoy the writing :)

Related Posts

15 May, 2019

How Do Mastiffs & Other Dogs Sniff Out Human Illness & What Is The Potential?
07 Feb, 2019

What Countries Are Mastiffs Banned & Does The Breed Of Mastiff Matter?
20 Dec, 2019

Why You Must Research Breeds Before you Get a Dog
18 Jul, 2019

Top 10 Family Guardian Dogs- Is Your Mastiff One?
18 Jun, 2019

How Expensive Are Typical Mastiff-Type Breeds? Here Are 6
10 Jun, 2019

Top 10 Strongest Breeds:- How Does Your Mastiff Compare?
30 May, 2019

6 Of The Most Popular Mastiff Mix Breeds?
29 Jan, 2019

7 Mastiff Breeds: How To Choose The Right One For You

Leave a Comment:

17 comments
Rizzee Cerdeñola says January 10, 2019

This breed of dog is one of the best dogs in the world. I understand that some dogs are hard to train because of their animal instinct which is to fight for survival. With proper training and care, it would be tame like a sheep.

Reply
Henry says January 10, 2019

Thanks for all these tips,With all the resources mentioned here, I should be able to find some reputable French mastiff breeders out there and I’m sure to learn everything tha l can about the puppy so as to raise it properly.

Reply
Alma says January 10, 2019

I agree with you that French Mastiffs have a strong and powerful look. I have no idea about thee dogs, but as I read this post I adore them being so loyal, patient, and devoted. Anyway, I have a heart for any type of dogs.

Reply
benny says January 10, 2019

This is a very informative piece. Definitely with this well detailed description one will be able to breed french mastiff better. Good one.

Reply
thewanderrunner says January 10, 2019

I didnt know that French Mastiffs are one of the ancient dogs. Glad I’ve learned a lot information about this dog.

Reply
Tom Esthber says January 10, 2019

Mastiffs are so cute! I don’t think I can train one properly, but I love seeing them around my neighbourhood!

Reply
Maury Cheskes says January 10, 2019

I like the French mastiffs muscular capabilities and sense of loyalty. I can totally see how establishing superiority early on is integral. I also agree, that you’d probably find the most elite of any breed from a dog show. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading more.

Reply
Scott Summers says January 11, 2019

Unfortunately, pet shops here does not have this? Can they keep up with the climate here? They look like a bulldog though.

Reply
Anonymous says January 11, 2019

Thank you for the informative tips! They can definitely be a good family pet for you considering they are the cutest. Your blogs definitely helped me improve my understanding with dogs. Keep up the good work and amazing content you have here.

Reply
AJ says January 12, 2019

I’ve never really put much thought about the health risks any breed might have, but that’s just me. I do take great care of them and give them good food, proper exercise, and regular trips to the vet if there are any slight problems.

But it’s really great to know what you’re getting into, especially of you fancy a specific breed like the French Mastiff. Each breed has their own unique needs and come with their own health issues, so it’s really good to understand about each and every one of them.

Reply
Are Designer Canine Breeds Actually Hypoallergenic? - Meet & Greet Economy Transformers says July 10, 2019

[…] Initially, the hybrid canine or designer canine was created to eradicate well being issues in sure breeds. These well being issues have been created by breeding “too shut”, over breeding, and breeding canines with recognized well being points. The breeders of those hybrid canines quickly found that many of those canines didn’t shed outwardly. Quickly, phrase acquired out, and people have been snapping up these newly created breeds, and paying a premium worth. Because it stands now, most of the designer breeds fetch huge cash, within the a number of hundred greenback vary or extra, usually occasions near what the unique breeds will convey. the hidden temperament behind french mastiffs […]

Reply
Is Your Canine a Member of One of many Sensible Canine Breeds? - ANIMAL FOOD BANK says July 10, 2019

[…] In keeping with neuro-psychologist Stanley Coren, PhD, of the College of British Columbia, the smarter canines did not want a command repeated greater than 5 instances for it to soak up it is which means and obey. In actual fact, these canines obeyed the command 95% of the time or extra. how does the french mastiff behave […]

Reply
Proudly owning the Smartest Canine Breed Can Be a Blessing or a Curse - Alfonso Azpiri - Comic Artist says July 10, 2019

[…] The neatest canine breed has been debated for hundreds of years, and there are numerous totally different opinions of which it’s. Canines have turn into an enormous a part of everybody’s life, and there are numerous households that personal canine. It doesn’t matter what breed you select you will have it to be good, and be capable to choose up on issues simply with coaching. article about the french mastif […]

Reply
Prime 20 Canine Breeds to Personal As a Pet - Marissa Alexa McCool says July 10, 2019

[…] On this article, a number of qualities have been considered to find out the highest 20 canine breeds for pet possession. Qualities resembling temperament, intelligence and exercise ranges have been evaluated to find out which canine breeds are the perfect for households. check this source […]

Reply
Selecting Canine Breeds, Puppies and Rescues - Tips on how to Select a Canine That is Proper for You - Wizz Blog ! says July 10, 2019

[…] Now you’ve got received your analysis helmut on I can take you thru my crash course on “Tips on how to selected your new best-friend.” go to this blog […]

Reply
The Advantages of Canine Breed DNA Testing - Campaigns and Awareness-raising Strategies in Traffic Safety says July 10, 2019

[…] Residence canine breed DNA testing isn’t just for causes of curiosity or for enjoyable. Although it’s enjoyable and thrilling to search out out concerning the genetic make-up of your canine, vital info can come from the take a look at as nicely. Since people and canine first started residing collectively hundreds of years in the past, we have been utilizing selective breeding to make canine in quite a lot of sizes, kinds, and behaviors. Analysis scientists have found in recent times that particular genes within the DNA of canine management life span, many behaviors, and bodily traits in your canine. Many of those genes are breed-specific. find article here […]

Reply
Most Fashionable Canine Breeds Figuring out Components - Nike Air Pas Cher, Nike Air Pas Cher says July 10, 2019

[…] A listing concerning the preferred canine breeds might result in hardcore discussions over which canines do and don’t belong. Allow an inventory that features the breed of canine which bit you once you had been a toddler and you might be very indignant, or worse, permit the guidelines to snub your current favourite and that does it. With a purpose to find yourself being truthful, an individual should consider the useful resource of the guidelines, and precisely what the necessities had been for it. For instance, the AKC kennel affiliation shows its high 100 canine breed itemizing structured on the amount of every breed that’s registered with them. They don’t declare a single breed larger than others for the advantage of this guidelines; they merely checklist how most of the breeds are accounted for. look at the article […]

Reply
Add Your Reply

buy amoxil buy amoxil 500 mg online