GENERAL APPEARANCE
Typical concave lined brachycephalic mollossoid (short-headed Mastiff type). 
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a very powerful dog, with a very muscular body yet retaining a harmonious general outline. He is built rather close to the ground, the distance sternum to ground being slightly less than the depth of the chest. Stocky, athletic, imposing, he has a very dissuasive aspect. 
The length of the body, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock, is greater than the height at the withers, in the proportion of 11:10. 
The depth of the chest is more than half the height at the withers. 
The length of the muzzle varies between one third and one quarter the length of the head, with the ideal being between these two.
The head of the Dogue De Bordeaux is described as voluminous, angular, broad and rather short. 
In the male, the circumference of the skull measured at the level of its greatest width corresponds roughly to the height at the withers.  In bitches, it may be slightly less. 
CHARACTERISTICS & CARE
The undershot bite is a characteristic of the breed. 
Bitches have identical characteristics as males but less pronounced.
Temperament: An ancient fighting dog, the Dogue de Bordeaux is gifted for guarding, which he assumes with vigilance and great courage, but without aggressiveness. A good companion, very attached to his master and very affectionate. Calm, balanced with a high stimulus threshold. The male normally has a dominant character.
Height: Should more or less correspond to the perimeter of the skull. 
Dogs: 60-68 cm at the withers. 
Bitches: 58-66 cm at the withers.
Self-coloured, in all shades of fawn, from mahogany to lightish fawn with  or without a black or brown mask A good pigmentation is desirable. Limited white patches are permissible on the chest and the extremities of the limbs.
HISTORY
1863 saw the first canine exhibition held in Paris and the breed was given the name of the capital of their region of origin. To this day the breed is still called the Dogue de Bordeaux. A distinctly recognisable type of the Bordeaux Dog did not exist before about 1920 but after that you could see uniformity. The Dogue de Bordeaux shares the same common links as all modern molossers.
The breed was devastated during World War II with as few as three breeding pairs remaining.  The breed was re-established during the 1960’s with Dr Raymond Triquet heading the rebuilding.  The breed was recognised in Australia in 1995 with 15 imported Dogues initially re-registered.