Dogue de Bordeaux Grooming & Bathing

Dogue de Bordeaux grooming can prove a challenge from time to time. Yep, the Dogue de Bordeaux can be one messy pup… 

The drooly and slobbery French Mastiff is a dog full of character and heritage. However, as a member of the working group, their urges and instincts are more on the side of protecting and guarding. Cleanliness has never really been top of their priority list, but that doesn’t stop us loving them any less. 

Their copper & fawn coat has a beautiful tone to it when clean, and to be fair, this short coat is easy to clean. However, the frustration for many owners is the amount of times this beautiful coat gets covered in gross slobber. 

That said, a dirty dog can sometimes be a sign of a healthy dog. Rolling in those muddy puddles, play fighting and drooling all over their opponent, and getting food all over their sloppy chops show all the hallmarks of an enjoyable life. I’m sure your vet would agree! 

Grooming, bathing and general care tips do however go beyond simply washing and cleaning their coat. In this article, we outlay the areas you should pay attention to. Yes washing and shampooing is obvious, but what about nail trimming, dental, eye health, etc.

Washing your Dogue de Bordeaux

The French Mastiff requires routine bathing and grooming depending on its lifestyle. Although generally fairly calm, the breed can also be fairly inquisitive when on their daily walks or in the yard. 

This curious nature may lead to things like; rolling in muddy puddles, brushing into bushes, rolling in fox crap, etc. And although your Dogue de Bordeaux may enjoy such things, there’s no doubt that this can be an annoyance. 

That said, the breed doesn’t appear to mind water all that much and once used to washing, the Dogue de Bordeaux can surprisingly be fairly easy to clean, of which a short coat really helps.  

Where you choose to wash your Dogue de Bordeaux really depends on your home set-up and what’s convenient for you and also comfortable for the dog. Many owners still choose a bath-tub, however lifting a Dogue de Bordeaux into the bath isn’t going to be easy as it grows into adulthood. 

A more convenient option is a shower or wet room, where no lifting is required and rinsing is more effective. Alternatively, if weather permits, washing your Dogue de Bordeaux outside can be very convenient as it’s less messy and less of a fuss. And if your French Mastiff is anything like mine, then it bloody loves a hose pipe, especially when trying to water the plants! 

Before you get your shower, bath or outside area ready, there are some other important areas to prepare. These are: 

• Checking the water temperature – Lukewarm is the best way to go and helps to get more dirt and debris from their coat.
• Have 2 or more doggy towels ready 
• Have your preferred shampoo, conditioner at the ready along with any other tools such as sponges or cloth. 

These seem like very obvious points, however you don’t want your dog to escape whilst you’re left trying to find and gather all the bathing essentials.

How to wash your Dogue de Bordeaux properly

Once you have everything prepped and ready to go, you can use the follow steps to bathe your Dogue de Bordeaux: 

1. Calm the dog down by caressing and speaking to them gently. This should allow you to coax them into the process, you can start by getting their head a little wet. 
2. Next you should start by washing its head, avoiding the eyes and nose. 
3. You can then start to proceed to a facial wash. The Dogue de Bordeaux picks up a lot of dirt, debris and slobber around its face (not surprisingly). Be sure to try and get into their facial folds and wrinkles, but do this fairly gently.
4. Put a little shampoo on and rub up to the neck. 
5. Rinse the head with a shower head (on low pressure)
6. Continue the process around the body, applying the shampoo on the underbelly and around its tail. 
7. As soon as it’s well rubbed, rinse it thoroughly. 
8. Conditioner is seen as an optional extra for this breed as their coat is shorter and easier to clean. If you choose to use conditioner, you should repeat the process above, however you want to leave the conditioner on the skin for around 2 minutes before rinsing off. 

Conditioner can be useful for cleaning tangles and knots from fur, and can help aid some skin conditions. However, it may also depend on how fussy your dog is with water and bath time in general. If those extra few minutes are going to cause a lot of stress, then this may not be worth it.

Using the multiple towel system for washing your Dogue de Bordeaux

I have to admit, this seems like overkill for many, especially when explaining this to my parents! However, many Mastiff experts claim this can make the whole bathing process easier… 

The multiple towel system is basically the use of three towels when cleaning your Dogue de Bordeaux. (Depending on inside or outside washing). 

The first towel goes on the floor of the bath or shower base. This is for the dog to stand on and removes the slippery and unstable feeling under their feet that comes from the naked ceramic, especially when soaps and shampoos are added to the mix. Remember, we want to reduce anxiety as much as possible so that the whole bathing process is easier for both parties. 

The second towel is for when you have shampooed and rinsed your Dogue de Bordeaux. Simply place the towel over your dog’s back and try to get it to shake itself dry a couple of times. This should help capture all that excess water that comes flying off and onto the walls after every bath. 

Finally, the third towel is used as the finishing towel. Simply remove the other wet towel from its back and use this towel to firmly rub their coat until semi-dry.

How often should you bathe your Dogue de Bordeaux?

You should bathe and wash your Dogue de Bordeaux every 4-6 weeks, sometimes up to 8 weeks depending on their level of activity. Obviously, if there is a filthy accident that falls outside that time frame then you should clean them immediately. 

It’s worth noting that as responsible dog owners, you should be keeping an eye on how dirty your dog is getting within that 4-6 week period and adjust bath times accordingly. A build-up of dirt is one of the leading causes of skin conditions and infections which is not only uncomfortable for the dog but can also sky-rocket your vet bills in the future.

Daily Face Wrinkle Cleaning on the Dogue de Bordeaux

Although some find the drool and slobber fairly charming, if not quite amusing. Owners should pay special attention to what that means for cleaning. 

It’s recommended that owners clean between the wrinkles and facial folds of their French Mastiffs every day or so. This is because the build up of dirt, slobber and whatever else can lead to harmful bacteria forming, which can then lead to more serious skin conditions, sores and in some cases infections. 

Simply use a clean cloth to wipe their faces everyday (usually after eating, or playing). Be sure to get into the skin folds as gently as possible to remove any filth.

Cleaning the eyes of a Dogue de Bordeaux

Like many in the Mastiff and Hound families, loose eyes are a standard within the breed. They can sometimes be prone to a buildup of gunk and dirt. Similar to when cleaning the ears, you should use a sterile napkin or pad to gently wipe away any dirt and gunk from the eyes. This is something to remember when doing the daily face clean of your Dogue de Bordeaux.

Dogue de Bordeaux Coat Care

The French Mastiff has a wonderfully attractive coat, coming in a mixture of copper and fawn. When well groomed and kept clean, the coat is smooth and magnificent. 

The breed does however shed its coat year round, which can leave a surprising amount of hairs around the place. In order to limit this, owners can use the following tips to limit shedding. 

1. A shedding blade or rubber curry to keep the loose hair to a minimum. 
2. Increase bath frequency during heavier shedding periods, which can be good for getting rid of a lot of loose hairs in one go. 
3. Regular brushing to remove loose hairs 
4. Organic shampoos 
5. A diet rich in Omega’s that can give a healthier coat with more shine 
6. Watch out for anxiety or stress which can lead to extra shedding. The Dogue is a fairly sensitive breed.

How to clean Dogue de Bordeaux Ears

Dogue de Bordeaux ears are typically floppy and fold over the inner ear. However, you will be very surprised as to the amount of gunk that can collect within the inner ear. 

In order to clean the ears of a Dogue de Bordeaux, you can take the following steps: 

1. Get yourself a couple of small, clean cloth or pads. Generic makeup pads can work well. 
2. Dab your pads or cloth in your preferred ear cleaner. A good one will typically have some form of organic antiseptic/antibacterial like tea tree or witch hazel. 
3. Lift the dogs ear back on itself
4. Place your finger in the middle of the pad, then place your finger in the inner ear and do a gentle scooping motion until completely clear of any dirt or debris. 
5. Use a fresh pad to clean the dirt from the outer ear. 
6. Repeat steps 1-5 for the other ear. 

If you need a video walkthrough, this video is a great place to start and goes way beyond into general grooming  a Dogue de Bordeaux for Crufts. 

Cleaning Dogue de Bordeaux Teeth

Prying into the powerful jowls of a Dogue de Bordeaux might be a terrifying thought for many. But once your friend is well trained and behaved, you may be surprised at how docile they are and how easy this process becomes. 

No dog likely enjoys having their teeth cleaned, however dental health is a crucial part of doggy health and wellbeing. Thankfully, there is more than one way to help clean those large chompers. 

For optimal dental health of your Dogue de Bordeaux, we recommend the following tips: 

1. Brushing their teeth – Yes, obviously this is the first step. Brushing teeth will remove plaque and tartar buildup and keep their oral health in good shape. Brushing just once a week can provide massive benefits. The more you do it, the less resistance your dog will likely have to it. Especially if they’re rewarded for it after. Brushing can be a challenge at first. But stay patient. 
2. Dental stain removers – Similar to a brush, many stores now sell dental stain removers for dogs. These are great if you’re entering show dogs or are more on the perfectionist side of things. 
3. Utilise dental chews – Doggy dental chews are a great, low resistance tool when it comes to cleaning your Dogue de Bordeauxs teeth. They’re tasty, stimulating, and made specifically to target plaque and tartar buildup. Many also include ingredients that help combat buildup in the first place. We recommend choosing chews that don’t include gluten or rely on grain. 
4. Chew toys – Similar to dental chews, many chew toys perfectly mimic biting and knorring on a bone. This action helps to scrape plaque and tartar build up off their teeth as well as providing mental stimulation. These toys are also great to use as your Dogue de Bordeaux teeth and gums are going through the development cycle. 
5. Clean diet – A good clean diet removes harmful ingredients from food that may cause issues with dental health such as sugars, preservatives, gluten or overly excessive grains. 

Trimming Dogue de Bordeaux Nails

Nail clipping is usually a fairly difficult process for many dog owners and is something that many will leave to a professional groomer or hope that the Dogue is getting sufficient exercise outside that the claws are naturally worn down. Long, unsightly nails can be uncomfortable for the dog and lead to issues further down the line.

Alas, there will likely come a point where you do have to clip your French Mastiff’s nails. If you’re lucky, this may well be a habit that you’ve instilled in your Dogue from a pup. 

Below is the ideal process for cutting the nails of your Dogue de Bordeaux:

1. Clean the paws.
2. Bring a source of light with you.
3. Grab your dog nail trimmer and some treats.
4. Calm by stroking and speaking gently.
5. Take one paw and place it under the light.
6. Find the point where the vein of the nail lies.
7. Cut the front part of the nail just before the vein is seen.
8. Give your companion a treat after each nail you trim.

Alternatively, there is a less invasive way to trim nails, and this involves the use of a Dremel. Using a Dremel, you can grind the very end “white tip” of the nail down. This is a messy process, so you should also use a mask. The Dremel also gives off a fair bit of noise, which may unsettle your dog at first. Therefore, you should condition them to be able to tolerate the sound.

Final thoughts on Dogue de Bordeaux Grooming and Cleaning

In summary, despite the larger size of the breed, the Dogue de Bordeaux can be fairly easy to clean and groom if it’s well trained and socialised. Their docile and trusting nature means that they aren’t too fussed about a bit of water or clothes cleaning their jowls and ears. 

However, their large size can make lifting and manoeuvring the dog a bit of a challenge. If you have the ability to comfortably and hygienically wash your Dogue de Bordeaux outside, then this can prove to be the best and most efficient option.