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By Cindra Grooming Products — USA-Made Professional Grooming Essentials
The Dogue de Bordeaux — the French Mastiff — is a massive, powerfully built guardian breed with a colossal wrinkled head and a coat that is genuinely low-maintenance. The real grooming commitment lies in daily wrinkle care and managing the breed’s famously prolific drool, not in the coat itself.
The Dogue de Bordeaux has a short, soft, fine coat in shades of fawn from light to deep red, often with a black or red mask. Some dogs carry a small amount of white on the chest and toes. The skin is loose, especially around the neck and head, forming a dewlap and the characteristic facial wrinkles — less extreme than the Neapolitan Mastiff but still requiring daily attention. The coat itself sheds at an average to moderate level and requires minimal effort; the real grooming workload is wrinkle care, ear maintenance, and drool management.
The Dogue de Bordeaux is powerful, watchful, and laid back — a gentle giant that is intensely devoted to its family. Despite their imposing size, Dogues are often surprisingly affectionate, sometimes acting unaware of their bulk as they lean against or nudge their people for attention. They are calm indoors and content with moderate exercise. They can be reserved or dominant with unfamiliar dogs without early socialization. Their massive head and muscular build, combined with steady devotion, make them excellent family guardians for experienced owners who can handle a large, strong-willed breed.
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Facial wrinkle infection | Drool, food debris, and moisture trapped in wrinkles; inadequate drying | Clean wrinkles daily with a damp cloth or dog-safe wipe; dry completely; check for redness, odor, or discharge |
| Drool management | The breed produces significant drool, particularly after eating, drinking, or scenting something interesting | Keep a towel handy for wiping the jowls regularly; wipe under the jowls after meals to prevent staining and skin irritation in the lip folds |
| Footpad cracking (hyperkeratosis) | Breed-specific skin condition; pads harden and develop splits | Monitor pads regularly starting around 4–6 months; apply a dog-safe paw balm; consult a vet if cracking worsens |
| Ear infections | Folded ears trap moisture and debris | Check and clean ears weekly with a vet-approved cleaner; dry thoroughly after bathing or swimming |
Clean facial wrinkles daily using a damp cloth or dog-safe wipe; dry each fold completely. This is the single most important grooming task for the breed and directly prevents skin fold infections. Keep a towel within reach throughout the day for wiping drool from the jowls — the Dogue de Bordeaux is a famously enthusiastic drooler, especially around food and interesting scents.
Brush once or twice weekly with a rubber curry brush or shedding blade to remove loose hair and keep the short coat looking its best. This is quick, low-effort work given the coat type.
Bathe approximately once a month, or when visibly dirty. Use Moisturizing Shampoo, paying extra attention to cleaning inside facial wrinkles thoroughly. Rinse completely — residue trapped in skin folds causes irritation. Dry the entire dog completely, with particular focus on drying inside every wrinkle. Finish with a light mist of Super Coat for added shine.
The Dogue de Bordeaux sheds at an average to moderate level year-round. Given the breed’s large size, shed hair is more noticeable around the home than the coat type alone would suggest. Weekly brushing with a rubber curry brush or shedding blade keeps loose hair manageable.
| Feature | Puppy | Adult |
|---|---|---|
| Wrinkle development | Wrinkles present but less pronounced; develop fully with maturity | Full facial wrinkles and dewlap requiring daily care |
| Footpad monitoring | Watch for early signs of hyperkeratosis starting around 4–6 months | Continue regular pad checks; established balm routine if needed |
| Grooming priority | Establish daily wrinkle-cleaning habit and drool-wiping routine early; build handling tolerance for this giant breed while still manageable in size | Daily wrinkle care and drool management are lifelong, non-negotiable tasks |
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Wrinkle cleaning | Daily |
| Drool wipe | Throughout the day, especially after meals |
| Brushing | 1–2 times weekly |
| Bath | Monthly |
| Footpad check | Weekly |
| Ear check | Weekly |
| Nail trim | Every 3–4 weeks |
The Dogue de Bordeaux’s grooming challenge isn’t the coat — it’s the wrinkles. Cindra’s Moisturizing Shampoo is gentle enough for the delicate skin folds while thorough enough to keep this powerful breed clean and comfortable. Made in the USA since 1982.
Used the texturizing shampoo on my Border Collie puppy and I loved it! Rinses nicely, smells okay, coat feels really nice after drying. Other shampoos over-soften which isn't correct for the breed. The texturizing shampoo is just right!
really nice product for my gsd!
love this sprayer and it's pretty to look at!
Washed a dirty puppy and the cleansing shampoo got him *literally* squeaky clean. First time using a cleansing shampoo and I was impressed. I'm not a fan of the scent, but I cant argue with the results.
