Scoland Terrier 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.

Not much is known about the Scoland Terrier. It is not a purebred but rather a crossbreed developed by crossing the Scottish Terrier with the Westland Terrier. To understand these mixed breeds, look to the original breeds for any combination of the characteristics of the breeds. The offspring of this crossing is not a 50-50 split of the original breeds looks or temperament.

Because the Scoland Terrier is a mix between the Scottie and the Westie he has all the characteristics of a typical terrier perhaps even twice as much. With both parents being terriers, you can expect your Scoland to act like a short legged terrier. These dogs are known for their courage and tenacity. Today these terriers are family companions. Most terriers today come from a pool of ancestral dog in the 19th century in Europe. This information was gleaned from a genetic analysis done in 2006.

The Scoland Terrier, being a hybrid, is not acknowledged by the American Kennel Club (AKC) or the United Kennel Club (UKC). It is acknowledged by the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR), American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC) and Designer Breed Registry (DBR).

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.

Being a hybrid, the Scoland Terrier will not always look alike and could look like a Scottie, a Westie or a combination of the two. Most breeders of this designer dog say it usually has a body like the Scottie and a round head like the Westie. They are more often black with white markings, but they can often be wheaten as well. With round dark eyes, a scissors bite and black nose, her face is unique. The breed has erect and small, triangular ears and a medium fluffy tale. The coat is hard and wiry, with a dense soft undercoat.

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.

1.Children friendliness - they can be very good with children and children can help them get their exercise.

2.Special talents – digging and going to ground after rodents.

3.Adaptability - yes but she is adept at digging and must have a safe enclosure.

4.Learning ability – is high but she can be very stubborn.

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.

This hybrid dog can inherit any of the issues faced by its two parent breeds. For the Scoland Terrier this can include:

• Seborrhea – Skin disease that can cause dogs to scratch until bleeding and/or infected.

• Von Willebrand’s Disease – hereditary blood clotting disorder.
• Keratoconjuncticitis Sicca – the is dry eye.

• Carniomandibular Osteopathy -called lion’s jaw this is a developmental disease that causes extensive changes in the bones of the mandible and skull.

• Deafness

• Pulmonic Stenosis – when the blood flowing from the heart’s right ventricul to the pulmonary artery is blocked.

• Cataracts – can lead to blindness.
• Legg-Calve Perthes Disease – can cause limping and lead to lameness.

• PPM or Persistent Pupillary Membranes - causes visual impairment when the membranes do not dissolve after birth.

• Chronic Hepatitis – disease of the liver that can eventually cause major damage.

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.

1.Feeding the puppy - Give a high quality puppy dog food designed for terriers or active medium sized dogs. Give ¾ of a cup over 3 meals a day.

2.Feeding the adult – Give a high quality adult dog food designed for terriers or active medium sized dogs. Give one cup over two meals a day.

3.Points for Good Health - Stamina

4. Games and Exercises – The Scoland Terrier is a very active dog and needs daily exercise, He need time to play, run, and be stimulated by games. She would be very good at flyball, Frisbee, fetch, agility, barn hunt, and obedience. He needs at least 2 hours of play and exercise everyday.