402 BRITISH DOGS 



a very fertile imagination to conjure up the elements from which 

 this formidable-looking dog was evolved. However, breeding, as it 

 does, true to type, it is as much entitled to be considered a variety 

 as many another now accorded such rank. Not so heavy as the 

 Mastiff or the Great Dane, it is more powerful than either, while 

 its activity is wonderful. 



Several fanciers here took up the breed with enthusiasm, classes 

 were provided for it, and in 1897 a club for its encouragement 

 was formed, mainly through the instrumentality ,of Mr. H. C. Brooke, 

 who not only acted as Hon. Secretary, but also was jointly responsible 

 with M. Megnin for the description published below. Despite the 

 temporary enthusiasm which was aroused, the breed, so far as 

 England is concerned, is practically non-existent. The Dogue de 

 Bordeaux is thus described by Mr. H. C. Brooke, to whom belongs 

 the honour of breeding the first litter in England : 



"The general appearance of the Dogue de Bordeaux is that of 

 a smooth-coated dog very powerful in build, somewhat low in stature, 

 massive, broad, and muscular. The head is enormous, and its size, 

 in proportion to the size of the dog, should be greater than in any 

 other breed of dog. The skull must be very long and broad, high, 

 square in appearance ; a rounded or a cocoanut skull is a fault. 

 The muzzle is very broad, deep, and powerful. The face, measured 

 from eye to nose, should be short, but not too short 2|in. to 3in. 

 would be about the correct length for a full-grown Dogue ; if short- 

 ness be too much insisted upon, the power of jaw would suffer. 

 The cheek-bumps are highly developed. The underjaw should 

 project slightly, about half an inch in front of the upper, and be 

 turned up ; but this formation should be almost concealed by the 

 pendulous lips. The teeth are enormous. The eyes are small 

 (a full or a goggle eye is a great fault), wide apart, deep set, light 

 in colour, and very penetrating in expression. A deep furrow 

 extends from between the eyes up the middle of the forehead. 

 The-flews, or chops, are pendulous, thick, and broad. The nose is 

 very large and wide, set slightly back, with large nostrils. The ears, 

 when uncropped, should be small and fine in texture, a fine rose 

 ear being preferable to a heavy ear lying flat to the cheek. As 

 these dogs have always been cropped, however, no attention has 

 been paid to this property, so that too much stress must not at 

 present be laid on the carriage of ear. The whole of the skull, 

 face, and muzzle should be covered with ropes of loose skin lying 

 in symmetrical wrinkles. The neck should be very thick and 

 powerful, well arched, and the skin of the neck very loose, forming 

 a dewlap on each side of the throat, from the angle of the jaws to 

 the chest. The shoulders are strong, broad, and muscular. The 

 chest is very wide, deep, and of great circumference. The back 

 is short and straight, of great breadth at the shoulders ; a hollow 



