Gull Dong vs Dogue De Bordeaux - Breed Comparison

The Dogue de Bordeaux is an ancient French dog breed and his history goes so far back that it is difficult to have accurate records of his origin.

During the 1700s he was used as a guard dog, with theories suggesting that several Mastiff type breeds were the closest ancestors.

For centuries the Bordeaux Mastiff, also referred to as the Bordeaux Bulldog, came in two size varieties, with the larger version being the Dogue de Bordeaux. It is this large dog which made its appearance in the Hollywood movie ‘Turner & Hooch’, shooting him into more recognition and interest.

The Gull Dong dog is thought to come from British Colonial India during the 1900's. The area later became known as Pakistan, and this is where the dog originated from.

Known also as the Bully Gull Terr, the dog came about by crossing Bully Kutta (Pakistani Mastiff) with a pure bred Gull Terr. The breeders wanted a dog that had the best features and characteristics of both the 2 dog breeds.

They were looking for particular characteristics such as size, strength and speed. This is a rare dog breed and he isn’t associated with any kennels or clubs, so not many records have been kept regarding their origin and development.

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a large molosser type dog with a large head, standing at 60 – 67cm and weighing anything between 54 and 65kg. His weight comes more from his muscular, powerful build rather than his height.

He is a powerful looking dog and his short coat is loose-fitting and is an attractive rich reddish brown color. There are wrinkles around the face with the nose being somewhat pinkish-orange as opposed to black.

The eyes are wide apart and are hazel. He has short to medium length floppy ears and where once the thick tail was docked, giving him a powerful, distinctive look, it is mostly left long today.

Temperament:

He is a confident, self-assured, territorial dog who will require training and socialization if he is to know his place in the home. He is a powerful mastiff-type dog, who without training can be stubborn, arrogant and somewhat aggressive towards strangers.

His looks and his territorial nature make him an excellent watchdog. He is no push-over and isn’t a good choice for the first time dog owner.

Without a strong, firm owner, he could prove difficult to handle. He is calm and laid back with children in the home and he can get along well with other pets if he has been brought up with them since puppy-hood.

The deep chested Gull Dong is a large dog and stands at 76 – 106cm in height and weighs in the region of 40 – 63kg.

He has a short, smooth coat in various colors such as white, grey, black, brindle or bi-color such as white with black spots. He is a muscular, powerful breed dog and his ears are mostly cropped, but when left they are short and floppy. His tail can be docked but these days it tends to be left long. He has a huge head, and similar to bulldogs, this mastiff dog has loose skin around the jaw and neck.

Temperament:

This is a strong-willed dog who is also intelligent. Just his sheer size will require that you have him trained and socialized. It is actually important to train and discipline this dog as he is strong willed. He is intelligent and learns easily.

After training, he will require a strong, firm and consistent owner. He is fairly suspicious of strangers and won't take kindly to anyone who tries to come onto his properly. He is a dominant, aggressive dog and while he is a loyal, loving pet with his human family, he isn't an ideal dog to have with small children in the home.

The Dogue de Bordeaux isn’t a big, boisterous kind of dog but is rather calm and relaxed. As a watchdog however, he can surprise you and become quite active, showing agility for such a hulk.

He can adapt to life in the city or the country but even though he appears lazy, he will need moderate daily exercise.

He loves his human family and wants to be constantly with them. He is stubborn but will do well with training and socialization.

Calm and easy-going and with his easy-to-maintain short, soft coat, be prepared for some drooling and snoring from this loving, devoted large pet of yours.

This is a powerful, intelligent dog and with training and socialization he is capable of becoming a loving, protective pet who listens to you.

He does tend to be aggressive and therefore people who are buying a dog for the first time might battle with the characteristics of this dog. He will certainly need a firm, strong, patient owner. He isn't the wisest choice for when you've got small children in the house, though well trained dogs and children are able to get along well together.

When your heavy, muscular Gull Dong is handled in a firm, kind manner, he is well exercised and fed and treated firmly and kindly, he is able to make a great, loyal companion.

The Dogue De Bordeaux doesn’t have as long a lifespan as many other dogs, but with good care, can go to 7 – 10 years of age.

Because he is a brachycephalic breed – a short-nosed dog such as the Boxer, Pug and Bulldog – he may well have the same number of teeth as other dogs, but the teeth are crowded, putting dogs like this at higher risk of getting dental disease.

His teeth will need to be brushed 2 or 3 times a week to prevent plaque and tartar getting trapped.

Brachycephalic Syndrome is also something to watch out for with your Dogue de Bordeaux. It’s an upper respiratory disorder which can bring on difficulty with breathing because of the crowding of tissue and narrower airways.

The Gull is a fairly healthy dog, and with good care he can reach 10, 11 or 12 years of age.

Deafness:

If you choose to own a white one, you will know that he is susceptible to deafness and skin problems. White coated dogs battle with deafness, and the reason for this is that they carry the piebald gene. The piebald gene is a result of the absence of melanocytes – those cells which create pigment.

The ability to hear comes from a layer of cells within the inner ear which come from the same stem cell source. Without this stem cell, the dog isn't able to make this specialized layer of hearing cells.

Hip Dysplasia:

With hip dysplasia, the head of the thigh bone doesn’t fit properly into the hip socket, resulting in the bone wearing away and arthritis settling in. Your dog can experience pain and stiffness and he can become lame. You'll notice he is no longer enthusiastic to join in with games and exercise.

Hip dysplasia can be managed with medication while some dog owners, if they can afford it, turn to surgery which can be very costly.

Bloat:

He is a deep chested dog and this means you need to be aware of the risks associated with bloat, an emergency gastrointestinal syndrome which can be life threatening and where your dogs stomach becomes hard and bloated.

Exercise:

He isn’t the most active dog and he is inclined to snooze quite a bit throughout the day. It will nonetheless be a good idea to include him in your daily walks and allow him to take part in a ball game now and again.

Diet:

The Dogue de Bordeaux needs to be fed a high-quality dog food in keeping with his large size and age.

Grooming:

This dog is known for drooling, and because of his wrinkled face, you’ll need to be watching the facial area that it is kept clean and dry to avoid skin infections. Check his ears at the same time to ensure they are free from dirt and wax.

The short coat does shed throughout the year, and you will need to be brushing him down twice a week to remove all those loose hairs.

Exercise:

Plenty of room to run around in is important for the Gull Dong as he is a working breed who is used to having a job to do. You will certainly need to take him on walks or play rope- and ball games with him.

Grooming:

The Gull will require brushing twice a week as he is a short haired dog and an average shedder.

Diet:

This is a large energetic dog and you will need to feed him a high quality food specially for large, energetic dogs. He needs his full quota of minerals and vitamins in his food. Provide him with homemade food such as cooked chicken, rice and vegetables and some raw meat from time to time. Never leave him without a constant supply of fresh, cool drinking water.