A fully grown male Dogue de Bordeaux usually stands 23.5 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs 125 to 145 pounds, with 110 pounds set as the standard minimum. Females typically reach 23 to 26 inches and 99 to 120 pounds. Most Dogues de Bordeaux reach close to adult height by around 12 to 15 months, then keep building the famous head, chest and shoulders until roughly two and a half to three years of age.
If you are looking at a wrinkled fawn puppy with paws the size of a coffee mug and wondering how much bigger this is going to get, you are asking the right question at the right moment. The Dogue de Bordeaux is a true mastiff, heavy of bone and famously heavy of head, and the way you guide those first two years shapes the adult your puppy becomes. This guide gives you a clear month by month weight picture, the timeline for when growth finishes, and the daily habits that help a Bordeaux mature comfortably.
How big will a Dogue de Bordeaux get?
A fully grown male Dogue de Bordeaux usually weighs 125 to 145 pounds and stands 23.5 to 27 inches at the shoulder. Females usually weigh 99 to 120 pounds and stand 23 to 26 inches. The breed standard sets a floor rather than a ceiling, asking for at least 110 pounds in males and 99 pounds in females.
Genetics, sex, bloodline and nutrition all shape the final number, so treat these ranges as a dependable guide rather than a fixed target. With a breed that carries this much mass on a short, compact frame, how your Bordeaux arrives at its adult size matters far more than the number on the scale.
What makes a Dogue de Bordeaux grow the way it does
The Dogue de Bordeaux is built low, wide and powerful, carrying the largest head in proportion to body of any dog breed on a deep chest and thick, heavy bone. All of that mass is assembled during puppyhood, and it arrives in an order that surprises many first time Bordeaux parents.
Height and length come first. Your puppy climbs quickly through the first eight months, often looking rangy and loose skinned, with a head that seems to belong to a bigger dog. Then height slows and substance arrives. Through the second year the chest drops and widens, the shoulders thicken and that trademark head broadens. A twenty month old Bordeaux who still looks a little narrow through the front is completely normal.
Because a mastiff carries so much weight over joints that are still forming, the pace matters. A Bordeaux that piles on pounds quickly is asking a young frame to carry a load it has not yet built the structure for.
Dogue de Bordeaux growth chart, month by month
Use this chart as a friendly guide, not a report card. A Bordeaux who tracks a little above or below these numbers while staying lean and comfortable on the move is usually doing just fine.
| Age | Male weight | Female weight |
|---|---|---|
| 2 months | 22 to 30 lb | 20 to 26 lb |
| 3 months | 37 to 46 lb | 33 to 42 lb |
| 4 months | 50 to 62 lb | 45 to 55 lb |
| 5 months | 62 to 75 lb | 55 to 68 lb |
| 6 months | 73 to 88 lb | 65 to 78 lb |
| 8 months | 88 to 105 lb | 78 to 92 lb |
| 10 months | 98 to 118 lb | 85 to 102 lb |
| 12 months | 105 to 128 lb | 90 to 108 lb |
| 18 months | 115 to 138 lb | 95 to 115 lb |
| 2 years plus | 125 to 145 lb | 99 to 120 lb |
When do Dogue de Bordeaux stop growing?
A Dogue de Bordeaux reaches most of its adult height by around 12 to 15 months, early compared with the taller giant breeds. After that the change is all about substance. Your Bordeaux keeps widening through the chest, thickening through the shoulders and deepening through the head until roughly two and a half to three years of age, and many males add their last real weight in the third year.
As a rough guide, dogs with an expected adult weight of 130 pounds and up keep developing for roughly 24 to 30 months. Because so much of the frame is set early, that window is your prime time to build habits around food, movement and joint support.
Why the growth window matters so much for a mastiff
During this window your Bordeaux is laying down the cartilage, bone and connective tissue that will carry well over a hundred pounds for life. Growth plates, the soft areas at the ends of the long bones, stay open through much of the first year and close later in giant breeds than in smaller dogs. While they are open, hard impact and extra body weight ask a great deal of a frame still under construction.
The Dogue de Bordeaux also matures faster and lives a shorter life than most smaller dogs, so the habits you set in the first two years carry proportionally more weight.
Growing Too Fast
Rapid weight gain asks more of forming joints. Aim for a steady curve rather than a fast climb.
Excess Weight
Every extra pound rides on young joints all day. A lean Bordeaux moves more comfortably now and later.
Too Much Impact
Runs, stairs and repeated jumping land hard on a heavy puppy. Keep them moderate while growth plates are open.
Heat And Effort
A short muzzle cools less efficiently. Walk in the cool parts of the day and let your Bordeaux set the pace.
How much should a Dogue de Bordeaux eat while growing?
Giant breed puppies do best with steady, moderate growth. An even curve supports comfortable movement now and for the whole of a mastiff life. A few practical habits make a real difference:
- Choose a complete food formulated for large breed puppies, which balances calories, calcium and phosphorus for slower, steadier growth.
- Split the daily amount into three meals while young, then two as an adult, so a deep chested dog never faces one enormous bowl.
- Feed to a lean body condition. You should feel the ribs easily under a light covering. If you have to hunt for them, ease back on portions.
- Ask your veterinarian to confirm the right daily amount at each checkup, since the correct portion changes fast in the first year.
How to check body condition in ten seconds
The scale tells you weight, but body condition tells you health. With all that loose skin, a Bordeaux rewards hands over eyes.
- Ribs. Run your hands along the sides. You should feel the ribs easily under a thin layer. If you have to press, ease back on food.
- Waist. Look down from above. You want a visible narrowing behind the ribs, even on a wide bodied breed.
- Tuck. From the side, the belly should rise toward the back legs rather than hanging level.
Check every couple of weeks through the growth years and adjust portions with your veterinarian’s guidance.
Growth safe exercise for a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy
Bordeaux puppies are playful in short bursts and happy to nap the rest of the day. That natural rhythm works in your favour, because during the fast growth months the goal is regular, gentle activity rather than distance or impact.
- Favour free play, sniffing walks and short outings on grass or soft ground.
- Keep jogging, hard sprints and repeated jumping to a minimum while the growth plates are open.
- Use a ramp for stairs and the car during the heaviest growth months, because a wide bodied puppy lands hard.
- Exercise in the cooler parts of the day, since a short muzzled breed works harder to cool itself.
- Let your puppy rest fully between bursts. Sleep is when a giant breed does its building.
Supporting the joints of a heavy framed breed
A Dogue de Bordeaux carries mastiff weight on a compact frame, and every stride, turn and step onto the sofa travels straight through the joints. Supporting healthy joint development while that frame is still being assembled is one of the kindest habits a big dog parent can build.
Alongside lean feeding and sensible exercise, many big dog parents add a daily joint support chew made for large and giant breeds. MoveGuard Growth is built for exactly this stage. It combines nine actives, including New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel, glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and hyaluronic acid, to support the developing joints of young large breed dogs across the roughly 8 to 30 month growth window. You dose by expected adult weight, so almost every Dogue de Bordeaux sits at three chews a day. It is made in the USA, with 90 chews per jar and a 60 day guarantee.
Support A Heavy Frame Early
Give your growing Bordeaux daily joint support built for large and giant breeds. Explore MoveGuard Growth.
Signs your Dogue de Bordeaux is growing on track
You do not need a weekly weigh in to know things are going well. Look for a bright, engaged puppy with ribs you can feel under light pressure, a visible narrowing behind the ribcage, easy movement, and a healthy but not frantic appetite. Even, unhurried growth with good muscle over the hips and shoulders is exactly what you want.
If you ever notice limping, stiffness after rest, reluctance to get up, a sudden jump in weight, or a puppy who sits down halfway through a normal walk, a quick chat with your veterinarian lets you adjust food or activity early rather than late.
A simple growth game plan, stage by stage
You do not need a complicated program to raise a sound Bordeaux. You need the right emphasis at the right time.
8 weeks to 4 months. Foundation stage. Focus on a complete large breed puppy food, three calm meals a day, early socialisation and short bursts of free play on soft ground. Start gentle handling while a dog that will weigh 130 pounds is still liftable.
4 to 8 months. Growth is at its fastest and your puppy may look loose and unfinished. Keep feeding lean, keep exercise moderate, and build good habits around stairs and car entry. This is a natural point to begin a daily joint support routine.
8 to 18 months. Height reaches its ceiling while substance starts to arrive. Match portions to a lean body condition, because appetite often outruns need. Add structured activity slowly and keep favouring soft surfaces.
18 months to 3 years. The rangy adolescent becomes a broad, imposing adult as chest, shoulders and head continue to develop. Build activity up as your veterinarian advises, keep the same lean feeding discipline, and many parents carry the joint support routine into adulthood.
Common growth mistakes to avoid
Most growth trouble in giant breeds comes from a handful of avoidable habits. Steer clear of these and you are already well ahead.
- Feeding for size. A heavy young Bordeaux is not a healthier one. Feed lean and let size arrive on its own timeline.
- Skipping large breed puppy food. These formulas control calcium and calories for steady growth. Confirm the right food with your veterinarian.
- Too much hard exercise, too young. Long walks on pavement, stair repeats and jumping down from height ask a great deal of open growth plates under a hundred pound puppy.
- Ignoring the heat. A short muzzled dog can struggle on a warm day long before you notice. Shift walks to morning and evening in summer.
- Waiting for a problem before supporting joints. The growth window is the ideal time to support developing joints, not the moment after something looks off.
The Dogue de Bordeaux temperament and the growth years
Behind that solemn wrinkled face is one of the most devoted companions in the mastiff family. The Dogue de Bordeaux is calm, deeply loyal and famously attached to its people, often following its favourite human from room to room like a very large shadow. Most are content with a short outing and a long nap against your feet.
That steadiness comes with a stubborn streak and real physical power, which is why the growth years are as much about the mind as the frame. Short, positive training sessions work far better than repetition, because this is a thinking breed that shuts down under pressure and blossoms under patience. Teach loose leash walking early, while your puppy still weighs less than you do, and practise polite greetings before enthusiasm and mass arrive together. Socialise widely and calmly, so that natural watchfulness matures into confidence rather than suspicion, and you end up with what the breed does better than almost any other dog: a gentle, immovable presence in the middle of your home.
Frequently asked questions
At what age is a Dogue de Bordeaux full grown?
Most Dogue de Bordeaux reach their adult height by around 12 to 15 months, then keep building chest, shoulders and head until roughly two and a half to three years of age. Height comes early in this breed and substance comes late.
How much does a full grown Dogue de Bordeaux weigh?
A fully grown male Dogue de Bordeaux usually weighs 125 to 145 pounds and a female usually weighs 99 to 120 pounds. The breed standard asks for a minimum of 110 pounds in males and 99 pounds in females, so those figures are a floor rather than a target.
How big is a Dogue de Bordeaux at 6 months?
At 6 months a male Dogue de Bordeaux often weighs around 73 to 88 pounds and a female around 65 to 78 pounds. There is still a great deal of width and depth to come, so a loose, unfinished look at this age is completely normal.
Do Dogue de Bordeaux need joint support while growing?
A Dogue de Bordeaux carries mastiff weight on a compact frame, so steady growth, a lean body condition, gentle exercise and daily joint support during the growth window are all sensible ways to support long term comfort. Speak with your veterinarian about your individual dog.
What should I feed a Dogue de Bordeaux puppy?
A complete food formulated for large breed puppies is the safest choice, because it balances calories and minerals for slow, steady growth. Feed to a lean body condition, split the daily amount across three meals while young, and confirm portions with your veterinarian at each visit.
The bottom line
Your Dogue de Bordeaux will most likely mature into a 99 to 145 pound mastiff who reaches adult height by around 12 to 15 months and finishes building width and head by two and a half to three years. Feed lean, keep exercise gentle and cool while those joints develop, support the growth window with steady daily habits, and give that sensitive mind patient handling. That is how you raise a Bordeaux who carries every one of those pounds comfortably.
Want the simple roadmap in one place? Grab our free Big Dog Growth Guide for the growth window checklist, feeding framework and joint safe exercise limits, all written for large and giant breeds.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not veterinary advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult your veterinarian about your dog’s individual health, nutrition and supplement needs. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Support Big Breed Joints from Day One
Large and giant breeds carry more load through every growth stage. MoveGuard Growth supports developing joints in young big dogs (8 to 30 months); MoveGuard Adult keeps grown big dogs moving comfortably.
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