Dogue de Bordeaux puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Gastric dilatation volvulus, a surgical emergency, risk rises with deep chests, so owners should learn the signs
• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
• Cardiac disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
• Shoulder osteochondrosis, screened by a shoulder evaluation and confirmed on x-ray
• Epilepsy, diagnosed by ruling out other causes of seizures
• Cancer, which is a leading cause of death in the breed and is why lumps should be checked early

From Dogue de Bordeaux breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/dogue-de-bordeaux/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Dogue de Bordeaux puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Dogue de Bordeaux.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 44.9 to 65.8 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other giant breeds

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