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Sándor Szilágyi
The Bordeaux Dog
In the end of the 1880's, when the reputation of the breed was not so standard like these days, one of the three most popular version was the Parisian, beside the Toulouse and the Bordeaux types. The first written remembrance of the breed is from 1863, when the first French dog-show was held in Paris in Jardin d'Acclimatation.
The event was just like an exhibition of dogs, not a dog-show in present-day meaning, but the point is that the Bordeaux dogs have already featured there. From the eight dogs - who had different reputations - the winner was a female, Magenta who received the award Surcharge of Paris at the same time. The value of the gold medal was 150 Franc. Magenta's chest measurement was 70 cm, her colour was grey with reddish tone. After this till 1883 there is no more data about the breed. During these years there was no development in the unified, definitive reputation. There were totally different individuals, like the opinions of the contemporary breeders about the ideal attributions. Some of them preferred the scissor bite, the others preferred the pincer bite but there were numerous debates about the mask also.
The miscegenation of the mentioned three main types - Parisian, Toulousian, Bordelais - created the dog that we call Bordeaux dog in our days. The body of the Toulousian type was longer, with smaller bones. The Parisians' teeth closed with scissor bite, while the other dogs had 1-2 cm difference in the encasement of the lower and upper nippers. After all, the breeders agreed in the prognathism, which stayed as a main characteristic of the breed.
Interesting fact that the Kennel Club in Great- Britain not so long ago, only in 1997 allowed the Bordeaux dog as an official dog breed, however reports from referees in the Kennel Club Gazette were issued from 1893 about exhibitions, where these big, red dogs were there, even had a separate breedclub in 1897. In 1895 John Proctor or Antwerp published his experiences in The Stock Keeper under the title "Martial dogs of Southern France". Sure enou gh, the Bordeaux dogs were also included. They used them as martial and staghound, and viador dogs also. They had to fight against bulls, bears, boars and jaguars(!). Fortunately they had a more peaceful station than this, butchers used their dogs for guarding their property besides drifting cows. After the forbidding of the animal fights and decreasing of the drifting needs, the Bordeaux dog had a watchdog roll in general. The first serious professional article and description of the breed was written by the vet Pierre Mégin in 1896, who was the editor of the Elevuer (Breeder) journal. Mégnin formulated the synthetis of the known individuals between 1863 and 1895.
People all over the world who deal with dogs got to know the characteristics of the Bordeaux dog from "The Breeds of Dogs" written by Henry de Bylants. By the way, Mégnin preferred the brown mask to the black one, because the latter is a result of crossing with the bullmastiff in his point of view. Anyway noone could find a reassuring answer for this question till now: is the bullmastiff the ancestor of the Bordeaux dog or is the shoe on the other foot? Or have both of them worked out at the same time, in line with each other?
One thing is sure: Professor J. Kunstler is considered to be the creator of the modern Bordeaux dog, who dealt with comparative anatomy among other things in the University of Bordeaux and published his writing about the breed "Etude critique du Dogue de Bordeaux". He criticized the alternations of the breed and in contrast to Mégnin, he preferred the black mask. The third great mentor of the breed was Raymond Triquet, who met with a Bordeaux dog in the end of the 50's called César de la Croix Coupée and have totally fallen in love with the breed. From that time he did everything for the development and popularity of the beloved breed. In this oddish way, a man from the Northern part of France reanimated the breed from the Southern.
In Triquet's personality the Bordeaux dog found a valuable helper, he edited numerous dictionaries and issues. He is the doctor of the linguistics, a professor, even honorary member of the British Order. After a long research he brought out his comprehensive work, the "La Saga de Dogue de Bordeaux". The standard which is in force today is the result of Triquet's work.
From the 70's the breed became more popular in France, in 1970 66 puppy was born, in 1980 this number increased 250. The Bordeaux dog was important in developing two other breeds in the XX century: the Japanise tosa and the Argentin dog also has French blood in their veins. However, the AKC in the United States still doesn't allow the breed official, the Bordeaux dog is really popular. The arrival of the first Bordeaux dogs to the United States is arrogated to Dr. Philip Todd in the 60's. Due to the careful work of some committed breeder so many world-toned Bordeaux dogs live in the United States. The Dogue de Bordeaux Society do everything in favour of the breed. On their Speciality dog-show in 2000 the judge was no less person than Raymond Triquet. Expectedly the AKC will officially allow the Bordeaux dog before 2010. Bordeaux dogs are calm with high threshold of stimulus. In general they are friendly, not aggressive not even with other dogs, but capable of protecting themselves and their loved ones; they are good watchdogs. They tend to be obstinate, but with so much love and consistence they are manageable. They are slightly reactive to hot weather; they have less need for moving relatively. They are not recommended for runners and obsessed hikers. Their life expectancy is about 10 years.
Available graduations on dog-shows
The available graduations in each category:
- excellent- blue ribbon
- really good- red ribbon
- good- yellow ribbon
- eligible- green ribbon
Making all the written graduations in each show-categories is not compulsory in present regulation. If the judge makes a graduation, he distinguishes breeds and sexes according to the instructions of the FCI, in consideration of those breeds, who has more colour, size and coat variations.
In the National CAC dog show the winning graduations can be issued in colours in every breeds which were marked by the Presidency of the MEOE. It can be different from the international instructions.