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Dogue De Bordeaux Grooming.
Informtion on how to groom your Dogue De Bordeaux
DBT highly recommends the How To Professionally Groom Your Dog At Home ebook when learning to groom your dog or pet.
The Tom Hanks movie, Turner and Hooch, featured this dog and its imposing presence. No, the 2-foot tendrils of drool are not common to this breed, that was manufactured for the movie: the Dogue de Bordeaux, also known as the French Mastiff, the Bordeaux dog and the Bulldogue Francais drools no more or less than any other large breed.
The Dogue de Bordeaux has pretty low grooming needs but considering the size of the dog, it is best to accustom it to regular grooming early on.
Brushing:
Brushing is the best grooming you can do for your pet. Brushing removes dirt and debris, stimulates and spreads natural oils, and is a great bonding experience. Early detection of problems such as fleas, ticks, eczema and other issues occurs during brushing also.
Having a short coat, the Dogue de Bordeaux need only be brushed once a week, but more frequent brushing keeps your home and clothes free of shedding hair.
A variety of brushes exist that can work on your Dogue de Bordeaux. A rubber brush or mitt will not hurt their skin as much and feels more like stroking, but your dog may appreciate a stiffer brush like a bristle brush.
Eyes:
Wipe your Dogue de Bordeaux's eyes several times during the day with a damp cloth or paper towel. As with humans, our eyes push irritants to the corners and this can build up. This build up is not only unattractive; it can be irritating and a source of bacteria growth.
Ears:
Cleaning your dog's ears regularly prevents yeast build up and often minimizes odor. There are ear solution products but mineral oil, witch hazel, and hydrogen peroxide work just as well. Put a few drops in your dog's ears and massage to loosen wax then wipe out with cotton balls.
Nails:
All dogs require regular nail trimming. Lack of it can cause pain, infection, and a limp.
How often you clip depends upon the activity of your dog and whether or not it walks on pavements. Some people trim weekly but at least once a month is a good bet. The more frequently you clip, the more the quick recedes.
Your dog's nails should not touch the ground. You can tell by looking at them when standing if the nails are retracted and above the ground.
The Dogue de Bordeaux has dewclaws, extra claws up on the inner leg. Don't forget these, they never get contact so can curl and grow inward.
It's good to get this dog used to nail trimming early on. If not, you may need some help restraining a dog of this size. Pliers-type clippers work best.
Sit beside your dog and if you can, reach around them. This proximity helps to calm the dog, and ensures that you clip at the right angle.
Pick up the paw and push on pads to reveal nails. If they are light, look for the quick. The quick is a dark bundle of nerves and blood vessels that you do not want to cut.
If your dog has dark nails, clip just the tip under the curve. Always clip from underneath and at an away angle. If you wish to clip further, you should be careful and look for the dark quick.
Styptic powder can be bought in a stick and will help staunch bleeding if you've cut the quick.
Paws:
Check your dog's paws and pads frequently. Foreign matter can get lodged between pads and cuts or abrasions can become infected.
Teeth: Regularly
Brush your dog's teeth? Yes. 80% of 3 year old dogs have periodontal disease. Cavities and gum disease are painful for your dog; they diminish its pleasure and ability to eat. Bacteria that develop can infect the heart, kidney, liver and brain. Really bad breath is usually a sign of gum disease.
Tools: Toothbrush/finger cap/cloth, doggie toothpaste, tooth scraper
Never use human toothpaste. It is not edible.
Starting this dog out with this practice takes patience. Reward it constantly.
Start out getting it used to its mouth being handled.
Progress to touching the teeth with your finger.
Get some meat-seasoned toothpaste and apply with your finger.
Then introduce the brush. A few teeth at a time and soon you will have a routine that takes just minutes. Brush in a circular motion and get under the gum line.
If you don't want to brush everyday, use a tooth scraper to get rid of the plaque buildup once or twice a month. Most accumulation is on the outside of the teeth and on the back molars. This won't be so much fun for your dog or you though.
Lots of bones and hard, crunchy foods can minimize plaque but not to a truly effective degree.
Expressing Glands: Every 2 to 4 weeks
This is a task normally done when you take your dog in for professional grooming. Your dog uses scent glands in the anus to mark its territory.
These glands also excrete when your dog defecates. At times, they may get impacted. Signs of this include: increased doggie odor, excessive licking and chewing of the behind and worst of all, scooting. That's when your dog drags its butt/bum along your carpet.
There is no risk of overly expressing these glands so it's a good habit to become accustomed to. It will lesson dog odor.
Bathing:
Your Dogue de Bordeaux only needs bathing a couple of times a year, but frequent cleaning in the folds of the head and face wrinkles is important: dampness here can cause infection.
A rubdown with a damp towel can remove dirt. With regular brushing, ear cleaning and gland expression, dog odor will remain at a minimum.
Tools: Non-slip mat, sprayer hose, dog shampoo, conditioner, leash, towels.
Choose a place where you can close off escape routes and expect 1-3 water-spraying shakes.
A leash tied to a higher point than your dog's head will keep it standing and deter escape. This is highly recommended as it's really hard to stop a slippery dog.
Never bathe your dog in standing water and never use human shampoo.
If you choose to bathe your Dogue de Bordeaux outside, attach the hose to your kitchen sink for warm water. Grooming salons often offer self-service use of their well-equipped facilities.
Wet your dog using your hand to massage it.
Avoid getting water into the eyes, nose and ears. Cotton can be stuffed into the ear canal to deter water.
Massage shampoo into a lather. Rinse thoroughly as leftover shampoo can severely dry out and irritate your pet's skin.
Siphon off excess water by running your hands along its body and pressing. Towel dry.
