Dog De Bordeux

[StanSmith]

Hi one and all

Im seriously thinking about buying a Dog De Bordeux. There are a few for sale up and down the country and im in the process of making a few calls to decide which one to go and look at.

I am told, and also have read, that these giant dogs do not like the heat. Actualy I here its not too great for them at all. But i figure, the current owner/s has him here and he is unlikely to leave the country, so he may aswell get p1ssed off with the heat with me, over anyone else!

My question is though, does anyone know just how bad the heat affects them. My friend has one in the UK which is of course freezing cold in winter.... and even then, this 2 year old DDB didnt do very much. Im thinking - would the poor thing just sleep all day and night, breaking into a pile of sweat everytime he moves, in this heat?

Or will he be ok?

I have a very big, walled garden so there is plenty of room. He would be welcome inside the house to soak up a bit of air con now and then and i will build a bloody huge kennel with a couple of fans to keep him cool.

I need a pet first, and a guard dog second. Im not too bothered if he dosent 'patrol' the perimeter lol.... but i will need him to at least wander over to the gates and bark, should anyone turn up.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Thanks

SS

[bina]

dog de bordaues are the lates thing (flavor of the week dog) as far as big dogs go where i live which is a hot enough country in the summer, and in some areas, also the winter althugh maybe not as humid as thailand.

they flop around a lot in the heat but do ok; dont run then hard in the middle of the day... plenty of fresh water...

i love them... have had to deal with four so far at the vets for problems not related to the breed; just doggy problems... i was told by a breeder living near here that females can be very territorial althugh we had a female for a week in the clinic and we did lot sof painful things to her and she remained the same sweet dog, the males seem to be couch potatoes and non barkers for the most part (slow to rev up their bark)... but just the sigth of a large headed dog could be a good deterrant...

all the ones i've met (a male living here on the kibbutz, the dogs at the breeder's house a few mintues from here being used in a training program for problem youth in a dorm situation, and the ones at the vet's ) have been pleasant, amiable, easy to train, but they all suffer from maggots in their dewlaps/facial areas (says the vet and the breeder). that could be an israeli specific health problem due to the 'horse/cow' flies that like to eat fresh (not dead or rotten) meat, and then give live birth in damp or sore open wounds or places like a dog's wet floppy mouth. rural thailand may have the same. i dont know.

other then that, i like the breed but to large for my salon/living room... and i'm sick of slobber.

bina

israel

[Nienke]

Have come across a few DdB's in Chiang Mai. They all were coping with heat and humidity just like all others dogs were/are.

So far I know, like St. Bernards or other big molossers they don't move that much once grown up. I once heard that St. Bernards sleep or rest an average of 16 hours a day. When I look at the ones that come in boarding I think they come pretty close to that average.

As Bina's indicates, extra care should be given to the most cuty wrinkled head and also the eyes.

A few may have breathing problems due to their short muzzle, or like one I had recently at my boarding center which had a too small nose. I blame that on wrong breeding.

And like her, I've grown quite fond of this breed. If socialized and trained/educated well, they are very sweet and gentle dogs.

Nienke

[bergen]

We have two (and 6 others)...........and they're now 4 years + 2 months old.

They have no special problems, and do as most dogs do in warm weather ......they sleep in the shade.

At night they sleep indoors with fan, and the house is always open at daytime so the dogs can freely go in and out (one ceiling fan is always on).

They love water, and runs (walks) to the river as often as possible. They also love to drive in a car, and always look sad if we leave without them. On our farm we have a lot of space but the dogs never walk far from the house unless they follow me or my wife.

They are great companions (not interested in other people), good gard dogs (let's no one near the house) and goes well with other dogs (after the other dogs understands who's in charge)

I am interested in a new male puppy and if possible would like some info about breeders

[StanSmith]

Bina, Nienke - thanks. Yes the slobber does take some getting used to! A freind of mine in the UK has one and he's fantastic in every way, apart from the slobber, lol. On the sublect of the skin, yes its pretty important to check those areas daily... at leats, that was the case with my firends dog, in the summer. The folding skin around the kneck can be problematic if you neglect to check often in the hot areas. Im not sure if all DDB's are like this though.

To be honest - im not so sure about buying one now though. I have called three places to make general enquiries and all three places seemed to have older DDB's lumped in with other giant breeds; there was one kennel that had a DDB, a Great Dane a Napolion Mastif and a Fila all for sale..... just those 4 dogs and no others! Me personaly, i dont trust a 'breeder' that has several different breeds for sale in the same kennel, all of various ages. The DDB at one place was 11 months old for christ sake. One place didnt even know how old there DDB was. "4 or maybe 5 months" was the answer I was told.

If i was going to buy one, it would need to come from either a breeder who offers only this one breed, or a regular fammily/person that is offering a puppy from an unwanted litter. Unless I can find a puppy from somewhere as described, i will revert to my plan B wich is to buy 2 American Staffys (i wanted to get one Staffy and one DDB originaly)

Bergen - fantastic looking dogs! They look very healthy and happy.... nice coats also. I dont mind so much the fact that they will sleep alot - it is after all pretty hot over here. If i had a DDB, Ill make sure it stays in shape by walking it daily (though gradualy as i know DDB's bones are fragile as pups) and feeding it a ballanced, raw meat based diet.

Did you bring your dogs over from Europe or did you buy them here? Do you know a breeder in Thailand?

[Okidoki]

Bina, Nienke - thanks. Yes the slobber does take some getting used to! A freind of mine in the UK has one and he's fantastic in every way, apart from the slobber, lol. On the sublect of the skin, yes its pretty important to check those areas daily... at leats, that was the case with my firends dog, in the summer. The folding skin around the kneck can be problematic if you neglect to check often in the hot areas. Im not sure if all DDB's are like this though.

To be honest - im not so sure about buying one now though. I have called three places to make general enquiries and all three places seemed to have older DDB's lumped in with other giant breeds; there was one kennel that had a DDB, a Great Dane a Napolion Mastif and a Fila all for sale..... just those 4 dogs and no others! Me personaly, i dont trust a 'breeder' that has several different breeds for sale in the same kennel, all of various ages. The DDB at one place was 11 months old for christ sake. One place didnt even know how old there DDB was. "4 or maybe 5 months" was the answer I was told.

If i was going to buy one, it would need to come from either a breeder who offers only this one breed, or a regular fammily/person that is offering a puppy from an unwanted litter. Unless I can find a puppy from somewhere as described, i will revert to my plan B wich is to buy 2 American Staffys (i wanted to get one Staffy and one DDB originaly)

Bergen - fantastic looking dogs! They look very healthy and happy.... nice coats also. I dont mind so much the fact that they will sleep alot - it is after all pretty hot over here. If i had a DDB, Ill make sure it stays in shape by walking it daily (though gradualy as i know DDB's bones are fragile as pups) and feeding it a ballanced, raw meat based diet.

Did you bring your dogs over from Europe or did you buy them here? Do you know a breeder in Thailand?

We have one as well but in our homecountry, which is a bit colder then here... It is a 4 year old male.

We have chosen not to bring him. Except from the specifik problems that are common with the breed, I do believe that mange might be a big problem as well as Thai dogs and "our" dogs will have a big problem if they meet in the streets or at the beach. Another problem I can see is that your DDB has a problem with f eks hips or elbows, I do not see that being fixed in Thailand.

But it is a fantastic breed!!!

[bergen]

We bought the dogs from a large farm with a kennel in Nakhon Nayok and the name was Suan Palm Farm Nok.

Don't know if it exists anymore - we tried to call them later but the numbers did'nt work.

A good advice is to buy some thai dogs magazines, look at the ads, and drive around and visit the sources (that's what we did). It might take a while before you find the right breeder, but it will give you some perspective (and choices).

And if you're not too hung up with DDBs, Bull Mastiffs and English Mastiffs are more available.

Good luck with your search and please let me know what you find.

[boerboel]

I breed a guard dog by the breed called Boerboel from south africa,they tolarte the heat very well,great temperment too and a great guard dog.

i am very familiar with the Dogue de Bordeux,they don't stand the heat well and the farm/kennel here in thailand are pretty bad from what i have seen.

if you were going to buy buy either in france or the Uk as for health reasons.

i too love the DDB,lovely looking dog.

please come to visit my kennels i am in Bangkok,sukumvite RD,all my dog are imported in from South africa.

regards

chain

Hi one and all

Im seriously thinking about buying a Dog De Bordeux. There are a few for sale up and down the country and im in the process of making a few calls to decide which one to go and look at.

I am told, and also have read, that these giant dogs do not like the heat. Actualy I here its not too great for them at all. But i figure, the current owner/s has him here and he is unlikely to leave the country, so he may aswell get p1ssed off with the heat with me, over anyone else!

My question is though, does anyone know just how bad the heat affects them. My friend has one in the UK which is of course fvery

eezing cold in winter.... and even then, this 2 year old DDB didnt do very much. Im thinking - would the poor thing just sleep all day and night, breaking into a pile of sweat everytime he moves, in this heat?

Or will he be ok?

I have a very big, walled garden so there is plenty of room. He would be welcome inside the house to soak up a bit of air con now and then and i will build a bloody huge kennel with a couple of fans to keep him cool.

I need a pet first, and a guard dog second. Im not too bothered if he dosent 'patrol' the perimeter lol.... but i will need him to at least wander over to the gates and bark, should anyone turn up.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Thanks

SS

[Muppetbkk]

A Bullmastiff would also be an excellent choice for a guard dog/pet...