I have a different bordeaux to those mentioned above. Mine was put on a chain at 10 weeks of age, to guard a car breakers yard. And spent his first year, with a heroin addict car dealer. Never even seen another dog, increadibly intimidating, totally out of control. Aggressive to his own owner when i picked him up.
That was 1 yr ago now. He's just coming up 2 we think.
Mine had to be trained a LOT and FAST. We live in a nature reserve with cows, horses, roos, a lake filled with breeding water bird species such as pelicans, swans, geese etc. So yeah, like a said, a steep learning curve. My first post on here, was that he had to learn, not to want to kill animals, not to chase or scare the breeding water birds. Be nice to geese, horses, cows etc.
He clocked those lessons in first 3 months.
Now bomb proof around all wildlife on property.
He's loud and viscious sounding when door knocks. He's a gaurd dog alright. But happy to take my lead to stand down, then wants to be friends with everyone.
He lives with 2 working dogs, a rottie and a GSD. So he learnt to be as fast as them, as active as them, and copies them a lot. Toilet training has been hard, which i believe is rare. He will still pee on the deck occasionally, and if i lock him in house, will pee by back door if cant get out.
He has attached himself equally to me and my husband. But its my leg his big head is on mainly. He wont work for food, wont work for praise, wont work for lures. Id never trained a mastiff, only working sheep dogs. He was a massive challenge which i was up for, i thought. Ive re socialised dog/dog aggressive dogs before, but nothing, and i mean nothing, will change his mind, that my son in law, is dodgy, and needs to be gotten out of proximity to me. Does not like him one bit, and stubborn about it. Will lunge for him, if not managed during these visits. my son in law looks very similarto Brians' first owner; tall skinny, with hoody on young adult male image. He has issues i guess.
He's a big softy, and loves our busy extended family, as every human walks through the door carrying to hands to stroke him with. As mentioned by others, a slave to physical affection.
You can send him into a coma mid stride, by sliding your hand over his head, he'll freeze mid stride, till you've finished, then carry on about his business.
He's a crap hunter. Loves the chase, he hunts with my other 2, who work very closely as a team on rabbits. One will cover the escape, whilst the other chases. Brian buggers there system up everytime, with his jumping the dog that has its nose down a hole for a rumble on the deck.
He's as dumb as a post, in comparison to a rottie or a GSD, like learning difficulties special dumb as a post.
I adore working dogs; sheep herding, lure coursing, tracking, training in drive, schutzhund is where i like to play with my dogs. Brian the bordeaux? well, he comes for the trip, and the enterainment value. As he's so stupid. and a club favourite for the entertainment factor in these scenarios.
I have no idea what this breed is supposed to be good at. I cant find a job he's good at. We are about to embark on tracking, as that seems to be a skill he has, always got his nose on the ground sniffing. But loses concentration real fast, like some ADD dog?
So lots of love to give, endearing and get under your skin and into your heart fast. Because, they look human. The wrinkles, of which mine has many, are very simean in nature. Take a look at a ape face, and a bordeaux's face, and you'll see what i mean.
there is a very humanness to their face.
I personally believe they were given such an endearing face and a dog sense of humor, as they have many negative features like drooling. My dogs drewling is seriously disgusting. I hate it. Thick rope like gobs over everything that doesnt move in this house.
Every surface gets covered in it. I hate hate hate it.
But when i ask for botox from the vet, he laughs thinking im joking? im not.
and the drool and the size. I've read a bunch of stuff on various websites, but a lot of it is essentially the same thing paraphrased over and over and over again. Size, drool, short lives...
