Side by side
Put a few breeds side by side before you make up your mind.
Pick up to four. The URL updates as you go, so you can send this comparison to whoever you are arguing with.
| Breed |  Dogue de Bordeaux |  Neapolitan Mastiff |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | The breed is an old French mastiff type, used for centuries to guard estates, hunt large game and drive cattle in the Bordeaux region. It nearly disappeared during the twentieth century's wars, and modern numbers descend from a small group of dogs rebuilt by dedicated French breeders in the 1960s. International fame arrived with the 1989 film Turner and Hooch, which brought both popularity and the problems of fashionable breeding. Careful breeders today work hard on the breed's health, particularly its heart. | The breed descends from the ancient molosser dogs of the Roman world, used as war dogs, arena dogs and estate guardians. For centuries the type survived on farms and estates around Naples, where it guarded property and families, largely unknown outside the region. The modern breed was formalised in Italy in the late 1940s, and it spread to Britain and the United States in the following decades. Its dramatic wrinkles and mass were refined in the show era, sometimes at the cost of soundness, which makes choosing a careful breeder especially important. |
| Group | Working | Working |
| Size | Giant | Giant |
| Coat | Short, fine and soft over a muscular, slightly loose-skinned frame; shades of fawn to red with a darker or red mask. | Short, dense and harsh over abundant loose skin with heavy facial folds and dewlap; grey-blue, black, mahogany or tawny, sometimes brindled. |
| Weight | 45 to 68 kg | 50 to 70 kg |
| Height | 58 to 68 cm | 60 to 75 cm |
| Lifespan | 5 to 8 yrs | 7 to 9 yrs |
| Exercise need | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Affection | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Grooming needs | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Barking | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Good with children | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Good with other dogs | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Trainability | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Prey drive | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Copes alone | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Drool | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Shedding | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Flat fit | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Running cost | €303 / month | €308 / month |
Dogue de Bordeaux verdict
The French mastiff: a gentle, devoted giant with the shortest of years
Get one if
- · Experienced owners who want a deeply bonded, affectionate giant
- · Calm households at home enough to give the dog company
- · People comfortable with drool, fold care and giant-breed costs
Think again if
- · First-time owners wanting an easy, long-lived dog
- · Anyone who cannot face a short lifespan honestly
- · House-proud homes where drool on walls and floors would cause daily stress
Neapolitan Mastiff verdict
The wrinkled guardian: a calm, massive presence with serious care needs
Get one if
- · Experienced giant-breed owners who want a calm, low-exercise companion
- · Homes with space, cool rooms and easy access without many stairs
- · People at home much of the day who enjoy a constant, quiet shadow
Think again if
- · First-time owners or anyone wanting an easy, low-maintenance dog
- · Hot climates or homes without cool, shaded space
- · Anyone house-proud about drool, which is genuinely unavoidable