Muscle Mastiff

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a giant breed of the group molosser, which is known for the dogs’ strong and solid bodies. The molosser group includes Mastiff breeds, Saint Bernards and Pugs and it is thought that all of these dogs have descended from the Molossus. The Molossus is an ancient breed that can still be seen in mountainous areas of Albania. From the Molossus, the ancestry of the Dogue de Bordeaux becomes murky. Some believe that the dogs descended from a Spanish dog that was known as the Alano, which is now extinct. Others believe the Dogue de Bordeaux is a descendent of the Tibetan Mastiff while others feel that the dogs were previously known as the Dogues de Bordeaux of Aquitaine, an ancient French breed. Sources are not clear as to whether the Dogue de Bordeaux contributed to the lines of the Bulldog and Bullmastiff or if it is actually the other way around, with the Bulldog and Bullmastiff contributing to the Dogue de Bordeaux. In the 1800’s dogs of the breed worked in France where they were trained to bait bulls and jaguars, herd cattle and provide security for property. The breed did not become known in the United States until 1982 as a result of an article in “Dog World” and only gained recognition by the American Kennel Club in 2008. The Mastiff is another giant breed descended from the Molosser family. It is thought that the dogs were brought to the British Isles on Phoenician trading vessels between 2000 and 1500 BC. The modern-day Mastiff is a descendent of these dogs who were isolated on an island and bred to protect those who lived there. In 55 BC during the Roman invasion, the Mastiff was working as war dogs to resist the Romans. Julius Caesar was impressed with the size and courage of the Mastiff and brought a pack of the dogs to Rome to battle lions and gladiators. Over 100’s of years, the Mastiff continued to provide protection and was also used by humans for bull and bear baiting, along with pit fighting. Selective breed occurred in more recent years to reduce some of the more aggressive qualities of the Mastiff. The breed developed into a large, docile dog and became recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885.