guarddogs. This breed is also very protective of their family. Dogue de Bordeaux’s were initially bred as war dogs, then used for hunting and guarding French estates. Though not used for that purpose now, it allows them to easily dominate a situation if provoked or in protection of their family. You may see them watching through the window ready to alert at a sign of danger. Much like other mastiff breeds, Dogue de Bordeaux’s tend to have a strong personality and are very stubborn. This mixed with their natural strength makes strict training crucial starting at a young age. This includes proper socialization so they do not end up with potential aggression towards other dogs or strangers. It is highly recommended that you do not let this dog become the leader of the family pack. It will be hard to manage such a dominant dog in this scenario. This also adds to the fact that you should be cautious in leaving this dog alone with younger children and the elderly. Even though a loving, protective and gentle breed when excited even a puppy can take an adult to the ground. These dogs do not understand their own strength and could cause harm in situations where it was not the intention. Contrary to their muscular build, Dogue de Bordeaux’s are a lazier breed. As puppies they tend to switch from being calm and cute to being very rambunctious but as they get older they grow out of it almost completely. They do enjoy playing, going for walks and lounging on the couch with their loved ones though they do tend to snore very loudly and drool excessively. They are happiest when around their family and will lay on your feet and lean on you as often as possible. Health While larger breeds of canines tend to have shorter life expectancy, the life expectancy of the Dogue is still shorter than even breeds of comparable or larger size. According to data collected by the Dogue De Bordeaux Society of America, the average lifespan of the breed is 5 to 6 years. A veterinary database in the UK showed similar figures. In the American survey, the oldest dog in the record was 12 years old. However, the acting dog who played Hooch in the 1989 film, Turner and Hooch, died at the age of 14. The Society is actively recording dogs that are