The Dogue de Bordeaux is an ancient French breed dating back to the mid 19^th Century.  This breed descended from a specific sub group of powerful dogs with large heads, commonly referred to as “molossoids”.   Most likely these large dogs were descendants of the Alans and were known for “holding a bite stronger than three sight hounds”.  Dogs in these times were bred for very specific purposes and the Dogue de Bordeaux was no exception.  Their duties included hunting large game, fighting, and guarding of livestock as well as protection of homes and their inhabitants.   The history involving the formation of these “molossoid” types is fascinating as they moved across Europe, accompanied the Romans and were also faithful guardians of the home and family, I think the most intriguing and under-recognized history is that of recent history (within the last one hundred years).

Documented in 1946 at the 66^th Paris show it has been written “only four dogues, young enough to be bred from, remain!”  These remaining dogues were a smaller version of the dogue we know today, as rationing had slimmed down a continent and subsequently their pets and the livestock with them.  It is also recorded these smaller dogues had a much longer life expectancy which should be no surprise.  There were some dogues found in other regions but they were in fact few and far between.  Studbooks and records were also a casualty of the war and an effort to restore the breed was undertaken. 

“In France two or at most three kennels share the honor of bringing about the rebirth of the breed and the pride of saving it from being wiped out.”

Clearly, we can see that the last one hundred years have been problematic to say the least.  Today we have science and technology that have allowed the best of the best to be cry logically preserved in the way of semen storage, or chilled extended semen to be shipped inter-state as well as internationally, thus ensuring the preservation of a very old and rare treasure that we love - known as the modern Dogue de Bordeaux.  Dogues are easily shipped from country to country across the Atlantic.  The breeders in the United States and elsewhere in the world have moved in leaps and bounds to produce the dogues we have presently.