Molosser Large size 45-65 kg

Dogue de Bordeaux

A massive, affectionate French mastiff and devoted family guardian - but heavy health burdens, serious drool, and one of the shortest lifespans in dogdom come with the package.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Large
Size
45-65 kg, 58-69 cm
Low
Activity
Low daily energy for its size
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Copes with normal days
Moderate
Trainability
Willing but stubborn
Low
Coat care
Short coat, wrinkle care needed
Good
Fit with kids
Gentle and loyal with family
Poor
Other pets
Can be dog-selective
Heavy
Health burden
Hips, elbows, heart, bloat

The Dogue de Bordeaux typically weighs 45-65 kg, stands 58-69 cm, and lives 8-10 years.

Consider this breed if…

you have large-breed experience and can handle a strong-willed 60 kg dog,
you want a calm, deeply loyal guardian rather than a jogging partner,
your budget genuinely covers giant-breed food, meds, and surgery prices,
you can accept loving a dog you will likely lose before it turns 10.

Do not consider this breed if…

drool on walls, clothes, and ceilings would drive you crazy - it is constant,
this would be your first dog or you cannot physically manage it,
you live somewhere hot - the short muzzle handles heat poorly,
you have dog-park ambitions; many Dogues are selective with strange dogs.

A typical day with a Dogue de Bordeaux

  1. 7:00 · Morning
    30-40 min unhurried walk, early in warm weather
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Long nap; rest an hour before and after meals (bloat)
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Short garden round; wrinkle and face wipe-down
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    10-15 min of calm training; consistency over drilling
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Second easy walk, then leans its bulk against you
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Snores impressively somewhere near the family

Temperament and training

Loyalty to family Very high
Calmness High
Guarding tendency High
Stubbornness High
Energy Low
Tolerance of strange dogs Low
Common owner mistakes
Over-exercising the puppy - growing giant joints need strict limits · Skipping socialization because the adult seems naturally calm · Ignoring heat risk; a short-muzzled 60 kg dog overheats fast

Family and environment

Kids Good
Famously gentle with its own kids; sheer bulk needs supervision around toddlers.
Dogs Poor
Often selective, especially same-sex; early socialization helps but has limits.
Cats Conditional
Usually fine with the family cat it grew up with.
Apartment Not suited
Size, stairs, drool, and heat sensitivity all argue against it.
House with a yard Suitable
Ground floor, shade, and a solid fence are the setup.
City Conditional
Manages with an experienced handler; crowded dog encounters are work.
Countryside Ideal
Space, calm, and a territory to watch - its natural role.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Heavy

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Hip dysplasia Common in giant breeds
Elbow dysplasia Screen breeding stock
Bloat (GDV) Deep-chested risk
Dilated cardiomyopathy Large-breed heart risk

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Even bigger, similarly calm guardian
Mastiff
A calm, enormous homebody guardian: modest exercise needs, immodest food bills, and one of the shortest lifespans in dogdom.
View profile →
Close in size and guardian temperament
Bullmastiff
A calm, devoted guardian that is gentle with its family - but the size, drool and short lifespan with heavy joint and heart risks are real commitments.
View profile →
More athletic, sharper working mastiff
Cane Corso
A serious guardian mastiff for experienced owners with space and structure - not a first dog, not an apartment dog.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Dogue de Bordeaux cost?
Roughly $1,500-$2,500 from a health-testing US breeder, more for top lines. The purchase is the cheap part: a 45-65 kg dog eats accordingly, every medication and anesthesia is dosed by weight, and the breed's joint, heart, and bloat risks mean a single emergency can hit $5,000-$10,000+. Insure early or keep a serious reserve - with this breed it is a matter of when, not if.
How long do Dogues de Bordeaux live?
Plan for roughly 8-10 years, and be aware some studies put the breed's median lower still - it is consistently among the shortest-lived of all breeds. Heart disease and cancer are the common endings. Choosing a breeder who tests hearts and hips is the single best thing you can do for longevity.
Do Dogues de Bordeaux drool a lot?
Yes, seriously and constantly - after drinking, in heat, at the sight of food, and for no reason at all. Owners keep drool towels stationed around the house and wipe down walls. The wrinkles and jowls also need regular cleaning to prevent skin infections. If this paragraph made you wince, pick another breed.
Is a Dogue de Bordeaux good with kids?
With its own family, it is one of the gentler giants - patient, affectionate, and naturally protective of children it lives with. The caveats are physics and instinct: a leaning or turning 60 kg dog can flatten a toddler by accident, and its guarding streak means visiting kids' rowdy play should always be supervised.