Bordeaux Pitbull
Hybrid Breed Description
The Bordeaux Pitbull is a cross between the Dogue de Bordeaux and the Pit Bull. Because each hybrid inherits a unique combination of traits from both parents, we recommend thoroughly researching both breeds before choosing a Bordeaux Pitbull. Pay special attention to temperament, health issues, and care requirements, as your dog may express characteristics from either parent breed.
Dogue de Bordeaux
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a powerful French mastiff breed recognized for possessing the proportionally largest head in the canine world. Males typically stand twenty-three and a half to twenty-seven inches at the shoulder and weigh at least one hundred ten pounds, while females measure twenty-three to twenty-six inches in height and weigh at least ninety-nine pounds. This massive dog exhibits a thick-set, muscular body with substantial bone structure, appearing somewhat lower to the ground than other mastiff breeds. The breed's distinctive massive head features a broad, wrinkled skull that forms a trapezoid shape when viewed from above or front, with deep expressive furrows and prominent cheek muscles resulting from extremely strong muscle development. The Dogue's facial features include a pronounced undershot jaw, a short, broad muzzle that is powerful and thick, and a characteristic red or black mask that distinguishes the coat around the nose, including the lips and eye rims. Their expressive oval eyes are hazel to dark brown, set wide apart, and their medium-sized ears hang close to the head with triangular shape. The breed displays thick, loose-fitting skin that creates a noticeable dewlap extending from the throat down to the forechest, and their wrinkled face gives them a forbidding yet dignified expression. The tail begins thickly at the base and tapers to a point, typically carried low and not extending beyond the hocks. The breed's coat is short, smooth, and dense, typically appearing in solid fawn colors ranging from light coppery red to deep mahogany or isabella, with some dogs displaying white patches on the chest and paws. Their physical structure emphasizes power and imposing presence rather than height, with a well-balanced, muscular frame that reflects centuries of breeding for guarding and working purposes. The body shows a characteristic slight dip in the topline with a gentle rounded croup, straight and heavy-boned front legs with tight, cat-like feet, and powerful hindquarters suited for their historical roles as guardians and draft animals. Despite their formidable appearance and massive build, the breed's overall conformation maintains harmonious proportions designed for both strength and functional capability.
Key Characteristics
The Dogue de Bordeaux possesses a distinctive personality that combines calm, gentle demeanor with courageous protective instincts. Despite their imposing size and forbidding appearance, these dogs are known for being affectionate, loyal companions who form intense bonds with their families. They exhibit remarkable patience and tolerance, particularly with children, making them excellent family guardians when properly socialized. Their temperament is characterized by a laid-back, easygoing nature that prefers moderate activity and relaxation, content with daily walks rather than requiring intense exercise. The breed displays overwhelming loyalty and tends to follow family members from room to room, thriving on companionship and close physical contact with their loved ones. Dogues de Bordeaux demonstrate natural guardian instincts without unnecessary aggression, remaining watchful and wary of strangers while being welcoming to familiar faces. Their protective nature stems from deep devotion rather than hostility, and they use their impressive size and bark to deter perceived threats rather than resorting to aggression. The breed can be strong-minded and sometimes stubborn, requiring patient, consistent training with positive reinforcement methods rather than harsh discipline. Their sensitivity means they respond poorly to rough treatment but excel when treated with firmness combined with gentleness and respect. Males may display more dominant and territorial behaviors, necessitating early establishment of clear leadership. The breed's intelligence and eagerness to please makes them trainable, though their attention span can be limited and they may exhibit selective stubbornness. They dislike being left alone for extended periods and may develop separation anxiety or destructive behaviors if neglected, as their emotional attachment to family is profound. Dogues require early socialization and obedience training to manage their protective instincts appropriately and ensure they develop into well-mannered companions. While generally calm indoors, they maintain surprising activity levels for their size and need regular mental stimulation. Their regal bearing and confident demeanor combine with an endearing desire for affection, creating gentle giants who are devoted protectors yet loving companions, particularly suited for experienced owners who understand their need for structure, companionship, and appropriate outlets for their guardian heritage.
The Dogue de Bordeaux faces significant health challenges that contribute to their relatively short lifespan of typically five to eight years, though some individuals may reach eleven years with excellent care. Cardiac disease represents the leading cause of mortality in the breed, with dilated cardiomyopathy and subaortic stenosis being particularly prevalent. Dilated cardiomyopathy involves enlargement of the heart's ventricular chambers, while subaortic stenosis creates dangerous narrowing of heart valves. Both conditions are believed to have strong genetic components and require echocardiographic screening for definitive diagnosis. Early detection through regular veterinary examination is crucial, as heart murmurs may indicate underlying cardiovascular problems. Orthopedic issues plague the breed due to their massive size and weight. Hip dysplasia affects twenty-five to forty-seven percent of Dogues depending on geographic population, involving malformation of the hip joint that leads to arthritis and mobility impairment. Elbow dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans, and anterior cruciate ligament ruptures occur frequently, causing lameness and pain. Rapid growth during puppyhood coupled with improper nutrition can exacerbate developmental orthopedic problems, making controlled growth rates and avoiding excessive exercise during the first eighteen months essential. Gastric dilatation-volvulus, commonly known as bloat, poses life-threatening emergency risks as the stomach fills with gas and potentially twists, cutting off blood flow to vital organs. The breed's brachycephalic facial structure creates breathing difficulties and heat intolerance, particularly problematic during anesthesia and in warm weather. Their facial skin folds require meticulous daily care to prevent moisture retention and bacterial or yeast infections. Eye conditions including entropion, ectropion, cataracts, and distichiasis cause irritation and potential vision loss. Cancer, particularly lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and mast cell tumors, represents another major cause of mortality. Additional concerns include ichthyosis, a severe hereditary skin condition creating fish-scale-like flaking, glomerulonephropathy causing kidney failure, and hypothyroidism affecting metabolic function. Reputable breeders conduct extensive health testing including hip and elbow scoring, cardiac evaluations, and eye examinations to minimize hereditary disease risks in breeding programs. Regular veterinary care, appropriate nutrition, weight management, and vigilant monitoring for symptoms enable Dogues to achieve optimal health within the constraints of their genetic predispositions.
Pit Bull
Pit Bull is an umbrella term encompassing several breeds including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, though the American Pit Bull Terrier is often considered the definitive representative. These medium-sized dogs display a compact, muscular, and athletic build characterized by remarkable strength and agility. Males typically stand eighteen to twenty-one inches tall at the shoulder and weigh thirty-five to seventy pounds, while females measure seventeen to twenty inches in height with weights ranging from thirty to sixty pounds. The breed appears slightly longer than tall with a low center of gravity, creating a powerful yet balanced athletic appearance. The head is broad, wedge-shaped, and blocky with a wide, deep, strong muzzle that is considerably longer than the pushed-in snout of bulldogs. Their small to medium-sized eyes are round to almond-shaped, set wide apart, and their ears sit high on the skull, either naturally rose-shaped or semi-erect. The neck and shoulder areas display especially well-developed musculature, contributing to their impressive upper body strength. Their chest is deep and moderately wide, and the breed possesses a whip-like tail of medium length that tapers to a point. Pit Bulls exhibit tight, smooth skin without the excessive wrinkles seen in some bulldog breeds. The coat is short, dense, sleek, and glossy, lying close to the body and coming in virtually every color and pattern except merle, including solid colors of black, white, brown, tan, blue, and red, as well as brindle patterns and various color combinations. White, black and tan, or liver-colored coats exceeding eighty percent of the body are less preferred in breed standards. Their muscular physique appears well-defined without appearing overly bulky or muscle-bound, maintaining functionality and agility essential for their terrier heritage. The overall impression is one of power, confidence, and athleticism in a compact, medium-sized package, with every part of their structure contributing to their capability for strength, endurance, and quick, agile movement. Their physical characteristics reflect their breeding history combining bulldog strength with terrier agility and tenacity.
Key Characteristics
Pit Bulls possess a friendly, outgoing, and energetic temperament that contradicts widespread misconceptions about the breed. These dogs are characterized by their eagerness to please, enthusiastic nature, and strong desire for human companionship, often described as "Velcro dogs" due to their tendency to stay close to their favorite people. When properly socialized and trained, Pit Bulls display affectionate, loyal, and gentle personalities, particularly with family members including children, earning them historical nicknames like "nanny dogs" for their patient interactions with youngsters. Their playful, mischievous, and sometimes clownish nature keeps them perpetually ready for games and activities, expressing joy through characteristic wide grins and enthusiastic tail wagging. The breed demonstrates remarkable intelligence and trainability, responding well to positive reinforcement methods and commands with an eagerness that can lead to over-exhaustion if not monitored. However, they can also exhibit stubbornness and strong-willed behavior, requiring consistent, firm training from an early age combined with patience and understanding. Pit Bulls possess high energy levels demanding substantial daily exercise of approximately one hour, including walks, play sessions, and mental stimulation through puzzle toys and training. Without adequate physical activity and mental engagement, they may develop anxiety-related or destructive behaviors. Their terrier heritage contributes to a strong prey drive and natural tendency to chase, requiring careful supervision around small animals and secure fencing. While generally friendly toward people, including strangers, Pit Bulls can display dog-aggressive tendencies despite their sociable nature with humans. Early and extensive socialization with other dogs is crucial, and interactions with other canines should always be supervised. Their confidence and fearlessness, originally bred for tenacity in challenging situations, requires experienced handling to channel appropriately. Pit Bulls form incredibly strong bonds with their families and may experience separation anxiety when left alone for extended periods. They thrive on being included in family activities and require owners who can dedicate time to their training, socialization, exercise, and companionship needs. With proper care, training, and socialization from responsible owners, Pit Bulls develop into devoted, affectionate, loyal companions whose true temperament reflects gentleness and love rather than the aggression often unfairly attributed to them through negative stereotyping and media portrayals.
Pit Bulls are generally healthy dogs with an average lifespan of ten to fourteen years, though they are predisposed to several breed-specific health conditions requiring vigilant monitoring and preventive care. Hip dysplasia represents one of the most common orthopedic concerns, involving improper development of the hip joint that can lead to arthritis, pain, and mobility limitations as dogs age. This hereditary condition benefits from screening through radiographic evaluation, and responsible breeders should provide health clearances for breeding stock. Elbow dysplasia, another inherited orthopedic issue, causes similar problems affecting the forelimb joints and may require surgical intervention for severe cases. Skin conditions appear frequently in Pit Bulls, including allergies to environmental factors, food ingredients, or contact irritants that manifest as itching, inflammation, hot spots, and chronic ear infections. Demodectic mange, caused by mites, can affect dogs with compromised immune systems. Their short coats provide minimal protection, making them sensitive to extreme temperatures and prone to sunburn. Cardiac issues may develop, though less commonly than in some breeds, and obesity poses significant health risks due to their tendency toward food motivation and potential for overeating. Maintaining appropriate weight through portion control and regular exercise is critical for joint health and overall wellbeing. Eye conditions including cataracts, which cloud the lens and cause vision loss potentially progressing to blindness, affect Pit Bulls and typically require surgical intervention by veterinary ophthalmologists for treatment. Progressive retinal atrophy may also occur, causing gradual vision deterioration. Hypothyroidism, resulting from thyroid gland dysfunction, leads to symptoms including weight gain, lethargy, skin problems, and hair loss, requiring lifelong hormone replacement medication. Cerebellar ataxia, a neurological condition affecting coordination and balance, appears in some bloodlines and typically manifests in young dogs. Pit Bulls may experience luxating patellas where the kneecap dislocates from its normal position, causing lameness and discomfort. Dental disease requires attention through regular tooth brushing and professional cleanings. The breed can be prone to various forms of cancer including mast cell tumors, lymphoma, and others, though not at rates higher than many other breeds. Their athletic nature and high pain tolerance mean injuries may go unnoticed, requiring attentive owners who monitor for signs of discomfort. Regular veterinary examinations, genetic health testing where available, appropriate vaccination and parasite prevention, balanced nutrition, weight management, adequate exercise, and early intervention when health concerns arise all contribute to maximizing the health and longevity of Pit Bulls. Reputable breeders conduct health screenings and provide documentation of genetic testing to reduce the incidence of hereditary conditions in their breeding programs.
Important to Remember
Each hybrid dog is unique and may inherit any combination of traits from either parent breed. The information above represents the characteristics of the purebred parent breeds. Your Bordeaux Pitbull may favor one parent over the other or display a blend of both. We strongly encourage you to read the complete breed profiles for both the Dogue de Bordeaux and Pit Bull to fully understand the range of possible temperaments, health concerns, and care requirements.