Vicki
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Dogue de Bordeaux a loving, family breed that’s ‘easy to live with’
Dogue de Bordeaux a loving, family breed that’s ‘easy to live with’
Breeder Peter Muth is seen with his Dogue de Bordeaux dogs Denzil (largest), Libby, and pup Ramoana.
KITCHENER — If certain dogs resemble certain humans, then it seems the Dogue de Bordeaux is a Winston Churchill reincarnate, all floppy jowls and sad sack eyes. Particularly Denzil, a nearly perfect example of his breed whose barrel chest and intimidating appearance belies a lovey dovey heart.
“They’re a very loving, family dog,†enthused Peter Muth, Denzil’s owner and the Dogue enthusiast who runs ChateauRouge Kennel near Hamilton with his wife Tracey Muth ( www.chateaurougebordeaux.com/home).
Though the Dogue is an old breed, it has yet to become a fully recognized breed in the Canadian Kennel Club. Formerly, the Dogue was in the Rare Breed category and this past July it was elevated to the status of Listed Breed which means Dogues can compete in a more defined group rather than with several, unrelated breeds. It also means the breed is one step closer to becoming fully accredited.
Dogue de Bordeaux owners were thrilled by this promotion and at least a dozen of the mastiff-like canines will be showing at the annual Elora Gorge Kennel Club’s All Breed dog show Dec. 27, 28 and 29, at Bingemans Conference Centre where 400 dogs representing 90 breeds will compete, including Dogue de Bordeaux.
The Dogue first came into wide public view with the 1989 Tom Hanks movie, Turner & Hooch, in which a scruffy Dogue de Bordeaux went from junk yard dog to four legged hero. Who could forget the slow motion scene of a half crazed Hooch running with his loose lips flapping, foam spewing like ocean spray. According to Barb Myers, this scene was an exaggeration, enhanced with meringue but she admits the dogs do have drooling issues. It has not stopped the Kitchener woman from loving this dog.
Over the years, Myers has purchased several from the Muths, including her present dogs: one year old Ike and two and a half year old Libby. A self-admitted animal nut who also cares for rescued parrots, Myers became interested in Dogues and discovered “they’re very easy to live with.â€
“The dogs are just awesome,†she said, adding, “They fit my personality. If I have a day I can’t walk the dog, it’s not going to destroy my house.†Sleeping seems to be Dogue’s favourite pastime though they are athletic.
“They don’t look very agile but they are,†she said. “The first female we had could jump a six foot fence from a sitting position.†Myers said it’s important, when choosing a breed, to make sure the characteristic fit the owner’s lifestyle and that dog shows are a good place to talk to breeders.
“It’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into,†she said. “It’s your responsibility to do the work.†With an average pup costing $2,500, making sure a Dogue fits the family is also a sound financial decision.
The Dogue is one of the oldest breeds in France, first developed for hunting large, fierce game such as wild boar. The Dogues were then used to guard homes, cattle and even butcher’s yards, keeping thieves at bey without being aggressive. These canines didn’t need to be aggressive considering their imposing looks. One woof would scare the bejeebers out of any bad guy.
Muth’s big buddy Denzil, an Irish champion imported from Wales in 2009, is a case in point. Though Denzil has a head the size of a tractor wheel with feet to match, he enters the house, says hello and flops on the floor happy at his master’s feet. Muth noted the breed can be stubborn and requires a firm hand and lots of socialization.
Dogues first appeared on the dog show scene at France’s first dog show in 1863, but the breed nearly disappeared during the First and Second World wars. It began to make a comeback in the 1960s.
Today, in Canada there are around 500 purebred Dogues and 20 breeders, mostly in Ontario. Though their new status in the Canadian Kennel Club was welcome, the struggle is not over. For any breed to become fully accredited requires a series of applications, three generation pedigrees and a breed standard from the country of origin as well as voting by the membership and finally, an approval application to the Ministry of Agriculture. The process can take years.
At present there are 18 breeds in the Listed Breed category, including border collie and Tibetan Mastiff. Once accepted as a Listed Breed, there is a three year waiting period before they can apply to be a fully recognized breed.
Regardless of the category, every dog is judged according to their breed standard which is a set of guidelines which the breed should most closely resemble, including temperament, movement and body shape. The dog show judge is looking for deviations from the breed standard and will judge accordingly.
The Dogue’s breed standard includes colour which must be a shade of red though white chest patches are allowed. “Males are 23 to 25 inches at the withers, females 23 inches,†said Muth. “Most males are over 120 pounds. Females should be under 120 pounds.â€
Myers’s dog Libby weighs in at a hefty 45 kilograms so she’s not exactly a lap dog but the gentle female regularly shows her soft side as a therapy dog, visiting people with developmental delays. “She’s really good with them,†said Myers.
vhill@therecord.com
Elora Gorge Kennel Club
All Breed Dog Show, Bingemans Conference Centre
Dec. 27, 28, 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Admission: $4 adult, $2 children under 12, $3 seniors, family $10.
www.eloragorgekennelclub.com, click on spectator information
http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/644478--now-that-s-a-dog
Dogue de Bordeaux a loving, family breed that’s ‘easy to live with’
Breeder Peter Muth is seen with his Dogue de Bordeaux dogs Denzil (largest), Libby, and pup Ramoana.
KITCHENER — If certain dogs resemble certain humans, then it seems the Dogue de Bordeaux is a Winston Churchill reincarnate, all floppy jowls and sad sack eyes. Particularly Denzil, a nearly perfect example of his breed whose barrel chest and intimidating appearance belies a lovey dovey heart.
“They’re a very loving, family dog,†enthused Peter Muth, Denzil’s owner and the Dogue enthusiast who runs ChateauRouge Kennel near Hamilton with his wife Tracey Muth ( www.chateaurougebordeaux.com/home).
Though the Dogue is an old breed, it has yet to become a fully recognized breed in the Canadian Kennel Club. Formerly, the Dogue was in the Rare Breed category and this past July it was elevated to the status of Listed Breed which means Dogues can compete in a more defined group rather than with several, unrelated breeds. It also means the breed is one step closer to becoming fully accredited.
Dogue de Bordeaux owners were thrilled by this promotion and at least a dozen of the mastiff-like canines will be showing at the annual Elora Gorge Kennel Club’s All Breed dog show Dec. 27, 28 and 29, at Bingemans Conference Centre where 400 dogs representing 90 breeds will compete, including Dogue de Bordeaux.
The Dogue first came into wide public view with the 1989 Tom Hanks movie, Turner & Hooch, in which a scruffy Dogue de Bordeaux went from junk yard dog to four legged hero. Who could forget the slow motion scene of a half crazed Hooch running with his loose lips flapping, foam spewing like ocean spray. According to Barb Myers, this scene was an exaggeration, enhanced with meringue but she admits the dogs do have drooling issues. It has not stopped the Kitchener woman from loving this dog.
Over the years, Myers has purchased several from the Muths, including her present dogs: one year old Ike and two and a half year old Libby. A self-admitted animal nut who also cares for rescued parrots, Myers became interested in Dogues and discovered “they’re very easy to live with.â€
“The dogs are just awesome,†she said, adding, “They fit my personality. If I have a day I can’t walk the dog, it’s not going to destroy my house.†Sleeping seems to be Dogue’s favourite pastime though they are athletic.
“They don’t look very agile but they are,†she said. “The first female we had could jump a six foot fence from a sitting position.†Myers said it’s important, when choosing a breed, to make sure the characteristic fit the owner’s lifestyle and that dog shows are a good place to talk to breeders.
“It’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into,†she said. “It’s your responsibility to do the work.†With an average pup costing $2,500, making sure a Dogue fits the family is also a sound financial decision.
The Dogue is one of the oldest breeds in France, first developed for hunting large, fierce game such as wild boar. The Dogues were then used to guard homes, cattle and even butcher’s yards, keeping thieves at bey without being aggressive. These canines didn’t need to be aggressive considering their imposing looks. One woof would scare the bejeebers out of any bad guy.
Muth’s big buddy Denzil, an Irish champion imported from Wales in 2009, is a case in point. Though Denzil has a head the size of a tractor wheel with feet to match, he enters the house, says hello and flops on the floor happy at his master’s feet. Muth noted the breed can be stubborn and requires a firm hand and lots of socialization.
Dogues first appeared on the dog show scene at France’s first dog show in 1863, but the breed nearly disappeared during the First and Second World wars. It began to make a comeback in the 1960s.
Today, in Canada there are around 500 purebred Dogues and 20 breeders, mostly in Ontario. Though their new status in the Canadian Kennel Club was welcome, the struggle is not over. For any breed to become fully accredited requires a series of applications, three generation pedigrees and a breed standard from the country of origin as well as voting by the membership and finally, an approval application to the Ministry of Agriculture. The process can take years.
At present there are 18 breeds in the Listed Breed category, including border collie and Tibetan Mastiff. Once accepted as a Listed Breed, there is a three year waiting period before they can apply to be a fully recognized breed.
Regardless of the category, every dog is judged according to their breed standard which is a set of guidelines which the breed should most closely resemble, including temperament, movement and body shape. The dog show judge is looking for deviations from the breed standard and will judge accordingly.
The Dogue’s breed standard includes colour which must be a shade of red though white chest patches are allowed. “Males are 23 to 25 inches at the withers, females 23 inches,†said Muth. “Most males are over 120 pounds. Females should be under 120 pounds.â€
Myers’s dog Libby weighs in at a hefty 45 kilograms so she’s not exactly a lap dog but the gentle female regularly shows her soft side as a therapy dog, visiting people with developmental delays. “She’s really good with them,†said Myers.
vhill@therecord.com
Elora Gorge Kennel Club
All Breed Dog Show, Bingemans Conference Centre
Dec. 27, 28, 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Admission: $4 adult, $2 children under 12, $3 seniors, family $10.
www.eloragorgekennelclub.com, click on spectator information
http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/644478--now-that-s-a-dog
