Page 192 - Showsight April 2013

Naturally, the same
basic principles and
methods used to judge
other breeds apply to
judging the Dogue
de Bordeaux (DDB).
However, when viewing and examining
each dog, it is important to know how
much emphasis to give exceptional quali-
ties as well as the faults that are listed
in the breed standard. Not only does the
Breed Standard include three disquali-
fying faults (DQ), but it also lists five
faults and two severe faults to consider
in your evaluation.
As the dogs line up in the ring, a good
DDB will give the impression of power
and confidence. He will have a massive
head, and because the chest is so deep, he
will have the appearance of being built
rather close to the ground. A large head
and the DDB’s distinctive expression is
the focal point of the breed. The impor-
tance of the head to the breed is not only
conveyed in the General Appearance sec-
tion of the breed standard, but by the fact
that over one third of the breed standard
is dedicated to describing its components
and proportions. Also, one of the DQs,
three of the five faults and both of the
severe faults listed in the Breed Standard
all refer to the head region.
Other words used to describe the
general appearance of the DDB are
serious, stocky, athletic, self assured
and imposing. But while the DDB is a
large, powerful dog, he is not a giant.
The proper proportions for a DDB
describe a compact, powerful, mus-
cular dog. Larger, taller dogs are not
preferred to those at the lower end of
the height range for the breed. All else
being equal, the middle of the range
is preferred. Balance and proportion
is paramount.
Standard Disqualifications & Faults
While as judges, we prefer to focus on the positive attributes of an entry, it is important to ensure possible faults are not
overlooked during the examination. Some of the faults listed in the Breed Standard are readily apparent; however, some faults
might require a closer inspection to detect.
DQs:
• An atrophied tail or a tail that is knotted and laterally deviated or twisted
• Mouth not undershot: wry jaw – this should be checked when looking in the mouth.
• White on the head or body, or any coat color other than shades of fawn – This would be readily apparent in the case of coat
color, but white markings on the underside of the body may not be noticeable in all cases. Closer inspection is probably warranted
in dogs with excessive white markings on the chest that invade the neck and forelegs.
Severe Faults:
• Long narrow head with insufficiently pronounced stop, with a muzzle measuring more than a third of the total length of
the head (lack of type in the head)
• Canines constantly visible when the mouth is closed – it is difficult to hide in extreme cases, but with constant attention by the
handler, or if the dog is panting, it is possible to miss.
Faults:
• Protruding eyes
• Extreme characteristics such as a very short muzzle, flat skull and a swollen fold behind the nose.
• White on the tip of the tail, or on the front part of the forelegs above the carpus and the tarsus.
• Incisors constantly visible when the mouth is closed – again, it is possible for an attentive handler to keep the teeth covered, or
if the dog is panting, it may be difficult to detect.
• Fused vertebrae (of the tail) but not kinked – This is a quite common condition that typically affects the vertebrae at the base of
the tail. It can normally only be detected by feeling the tail between your fingers. The fuse is most commonly toward the base of
the tail.
JUDGING THE
DOGUE DE BORDEAUX
By Mark & Cindy McElderry
192 • ShowSight Magazine, April 2013