The 4 Best Dogue de Bordeaux Breeders In The UK
Are you interested in welcoming a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy to your home, but aren’t sure where to find a list of reputable Dogue de Bordeaux Breeders? The noble Dogue de Bordeaux (A.K.A French Mastiff) is becoming a stern favourite of those in the Mastiff world. Its calm and loyal nature combined with its majestic appearance combine to make one awesome dog.
If you’re a first time Mastiff owner, then the Dogue de Bordeaux may just be right for you. But before you jump headfirst into buying a puppy, you should first do your research. This breed is loved by humans, cherished for its temperament, but … its size, power and epic drooling may be a dealbreaker. That all depends on what you want of course, you can read all things Dogue de Bordeaux right here.
These loveable giants are ancient and like many other Mastiff breeds, they have a background in fighting and guardianship, which is why they’re so powerful. Regrettably, the Dogue de Bordeaux was almost wiped from existence on numerous occasions.
The first occasion was in the French revolution, where many of the dogs were used to guard the wealthy estates and Chateaus of France’s elite. However, many farmers chose to adopt the dogs and raise them on farms and smallholdings where they would be used as livestock guardians and to help out with jobs around the farm.
The second occasion was during world war 2. The French Mastiff is fiercely loyal and protective and would often cause issues for Nazi soldiers. Hitler sadly called for the extinction of the French Mastiff, luckily he failed and the breed was slowly recovered, rising to popularity in the 80s after the hit film Turner & Hooch.
These days, the Dogue de Bordeaux is found in many homes across the USA, UK and beyond. Owners bond well with their docile, watchful guardian nature. And as far as larger breeds go, the DDB makes for an excellent family dog, so long as you can handle its strength and power.
So if you’re convinced this breed is right for you and you want to get your hands on your very own Hooch, then we have helped streamline the process by carefully researching the best Dogue De Bordeaux breeders across the UK. Each of the breeders come with a fantastic reputation, great ethics, and a track record for producing some of the best DDB’s across the country.
But first, what specifically should you be looking for in a Dogue de Bordeaux breeder?
What to look for in Dogue de Bordeaux Puppy Breeders
Assuming you’ve done all the necessary research around the breed, we recommend speaking to your preferred DDB breeders to organise a time and date to go and see their available puppies, whilst also meeting the parents.
Puppies are often the best indication of factors such as growth, genetics, appearance quirks, markings and of course temperament and personality traits. This gives you the perfect opportunity to quiz the breeders on the specific bloodline which can help you understand the risks of any family related health conditions that need to be raised in their medical records.
In your independent research, you would have likely seen that the Dogue de Bordeaux sadly has a rather short lifespan when compared to many other dogs. It’s true that larger dogs typically don’t live as long, but the Dogue is unfortunately genetically predispositioned to a number of conditions which raise its risk.
Responsible French Mastiff breeders should provide you with health screenings, such as CERF & OFA certificates. A Mastiff puppy should also be in the process of having treatment for deworming, and have its first vaccination. Beyond that, reputable breeders will have undergone microchipping and potentially registered on FCI.
With that said, education around diet, lifestyle, exercise, training and stress triggers is helping breeders and owners understand how to improve the health span and longevity of their beloved Dogues.
Finally, the better DDB breeders will get the ball rolling on training and socialisation. This is an absolute godsend for Mastiff type dogs. You’ll notice that although these gentle giants are patient and docile, they’re often quite stubborn. A good breeder will ensure they have daily interaction with people and other dogs and animals, which ensures better ownership outcomes as they mature. If you’re extra lucky then the breeder may have also started on other critical areas such as toilet training.
So… you’ve done your research, you’re aware of the ins and outs of French Mastiff ownership. You have no fear of the slobber, and you’re aware of the potential costs of owning a Dogue de Bordeaux? Then let’s move on to our recommended list of UK Dogue de Bordeaux breeders (side note, we will update this for USA breeders in the future too).
Regalrouge – Coleford, Forest of Dean
You may have come across Regalrouge in your research, they’re all over YouTube and Instagram.
Gemma and David Greenway are Kennel Club assured breeders of the Dogue de Bordeaux, whilst also running a grooming salon from their home. They’re exceptionally passionate about the future of the breed having fallen in love with the breed over many years.
They hold exceptionally high standards, only breeding from health tested parents that meet their breed standard. Any puppy will leave wanting for nothing.
They’re also experienced in show dogs. Their Rouge is the first Dogue de Bordeaux ever to gain a Junior Warrant title and she is now Crufts qualified for life.
Regalrouge contact details:
Location: Coleford, Forest of Dean
Website: https://www.regalrouge.com/
Contact: regalrouge@gmail.com
2) Donna Jays Bordeauxs – Staffordshire
Donna Jay is a certified 5 star licensed breeder of the Dogue de Bordeaux, based in the rural countryside of Staffordshire. Donna has over 11 years experience with DDB’s and is exceptionally passionate and devoted to the future of the breed, tending to them 365 days a year.
Donna places a lot of emphasis on continuously improving the bloodlines in her litters, ensuring that each generation is as healthy as possible and like all of us enthusiasts is saddened by the short lifespan that some endure.
She also ensures that all pups have a healthy degree of socialisation from an early age, being a believer in socialisation playing a crucial factor in their long term wellbeing, especially given their enormous size.
You can find a whole host of information, including fact sheets, testimonials, events, etc over at her website.
Donna Jays Bordeauxs contact details:
Location: Staffordshire Country side
Website: http://www.donnajaysbordeauxs.co.uk/
Contact: donnajaysbordeauxs@hotmail.co.uk
Social: Instagram
3) Loggerheads Show Kennels – Langdon Hills, Essex
Established in 1990, Loggerheads is based in rural Essex. The owners are experienced show judges, who travel all around Europe judging and showing.
They have been a top breeder for the past 3 years, and have a world champion Dogue de Bordeaux. The owners Debbie and Mark show strong commitment to conform to the breed standard, healthy and happy Douges.
They work with a great team of experts that cater for every need which ensure your new family member has all the checks it needs such as:
- 5 generations of breed certificates
- K.C Checks
- Injections
- Blood Tests
They also offer services such as boarding, pre-mate testing, microchipping and artificial insemination.
You can find out more about Loggerheads by visiting their website (detail below). Be sure to check out their current litters to see the range of exceptionally cute DDB’s.
Location: Langdon Hills, Essex
Website: https://loggerheadsshowkennels.co.uk/
Contact: info@loggerheadsshowkennels.co.uk
Social: Facebook
4) Strawberieve Dogue de Bordeaux Breeders – Birmingham
New to the DDB breeding world but worth an honourable mention. Strawberieve are a new, small, family run Dogue de Bordeaux breeder based in the West Midlands. They’re a large family, enthusiastic about the breed and many other animals it seems, including a pet axolotl.
They place emphasis on a smaller breeding scale, producing healthy, happy, laid-back family dogs. This is because they want their puppies to go to homes where they can seemingly slot into the family unit, not cause any ownership stress and therefore not find themselves given away to shelters.
Location: Birmingham
Website: https://www.strawberieve.co.uk/
Contact: hi@strawberieve.co.uk
5) Champdogs – List (Finding Breeders Near You)
I know we said the “4 best”, but just in case these aren’t for you and you’re looking to find a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy that is a little closer to you, then why not check out the full list of breeders found on champdogs.co.uk. You can filter by location, health tested, show or working.
Simply visit the website here: https://www.champdogs.co.uk/breeds/dogue-de-bordeaux/breeders
Dogue de Bordeaux Breeders FAQ
Q: How much should a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy cost?
A: The price of a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy can vary depending on the bloodline, location and breeders reputation. On average, you can expect a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy to cost £900 – £3,000.
Q: Is the Dogue de Bordeaux a good family dog?
A: The Dogue de Bordeaux can make an excellent family dog. However, owners should ensure they have enough space for them, can commit to their lifestyle and undergo consistent training and socialisation from an early age. Many owners love the gentle giant nature of the French Mastiff, making it a wonderful dog around the house.
Q: Can you adopt a Dogue de Bordeaux from a rescue?
A: Yes, of course. Sadly, some Dogue de Bordeaux’s may find themselves rehomed in rescue shelters due to not being compatible with their owner. This is why educating yourself around the breed before committing to ownership is so very important.