What to feed a Dogue de Bordeaux
A Dogue de Bordeaux is a giant, heavily built breed that can weigh 50kg or more as an adult, and what suits one reflects the size and structure that come with that: a giant-breed puppy food with controlled growth, and, as an adult, a diet that supports joint health and is fed in a way that respects the breed's known risk of bloat as a deep-chested dog.
Why growth rate matters so much for this breed
A giant-breed puppy formula is built with a controlled calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and a calorie density that slows growth compared with a standard puppy food, which matters enormously for a breed that can more than double in size within its first year. Growing too fast, too heavy, too soon is a recognised risk factor for developmental joint problems in giant breeds, Dogue de Bordeaux included.
This is one of the clearest cases where checking the pack specifically says giant or large breed, rather than assuming any puppy food scaled up in portion will do, has a real and measurable effect on how the dog's skeleton develops.
Feeding an adult Dogue de Bordeaux
Once fully grown, a joint-support formula with glucosamine and chondroitin is worth prioritising, given the mechanical load this breed's size and build puts through its joints over a lifetime. Coat and skin condition are also worth watching, since the breed's characteristic wrinkled skin can be prone to irritation, and a well-balanced diet with adequate fatty acids supports skin health generally.
Deep-chested giant breeds, this one included, carry a higher recognised risk of bloat — a serious and sometimes life-threatening twisting of the stomach — which is part of why feeding two or more smaller meals a day rather than one large one, and avoiding strenuous exercise immediately before or after eating, is commonly recommended for breeds built this way.
Practical feeding habits worth building in
A slow feeder bowl can help a dog that eats quickly, since bolting food and swallowing air is thought to be a contributing factor in bloat risk for predisposed breeds. Splitting meals and feeding at a calmer pace are both habits worth establishing early rather than only after a problem appears.
As with any large or giant breed, introduce new food gradually, and speak to a vet about your individual dog's ideal weight and feeding routine, since a Dogue de Bordeaux carrying extra weight puts additional strain on joints and a chest structure already under more mechanical load than most breeds face.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Alpha Sensitive Salmon & Rice
A salmon and rice dry food for adult dogs with sensitive digestions, made without wheat gluten, soya or dairy.
£49.00
Alpha Working Dog Maintenance Chicken
An energy-controlled chicken dry food for working dogs with lower energy needs or a tendency to put on weight.
£29.00
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Senior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey kibble for senior dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin for joints
£82.35
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Bakers Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables Dry Dog Food
Bakers Chicken with Vegetables dry dog food, 14kg, complete nutrition for adult dogs
£39.15
Harringtons Adult Dog Salmon & Potato
Complete salmon and potato dry dog food with 21% protein in a 1.7KG bag
£6.25
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Burgess Supadog Adult Complete Dog Active
Complete dry food for active adult dogs, built around poultry meal and calcium for bone health
£29.15
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food Turkey Veg
Grain-free turkey kibble for adult dogs, evenly balanced with potato in the mix
From£12.75
Bakers Puppy Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables
Bakers Puppy Chicken & Vegetables dry dog food, 12.5kg, complete food for puppies from 6 weeks to 24 months
£39.15
Common questions
- When should a Dogue de Bordeaux move to adult food?
- Typically later than for a smaller breed, often somewhere between 18 and 24 months, since giant breeds take significantly longer to finish growing. Follow the specific food's guidance or your vet's advice for your individual dog rather than a general rule.
- Are Dogue de Bordeaux prone to bloat?
- As a deep-chested giant breed, they carry a higher recognised risk of bloat than many other breeds, which is why feeding smaller, more frequent meals and avoiding vigorous exercise right around mealtimes are commonly recommended precautions.
- Does a Dogue de Bordeaux need a special large-breed food?
- Yes, a giant-breed specific formula is a sensible choice, particularly as a puppy, because of the controlled growth rate it supports. As an adult, a large or giant-breed recipe with joint-support ingredients remains a reasonable default.
- How many meals a day should an adult Dogue de Bordeaux have?
- Two smaller meals rather than one large one is commonly recommended for deep-chested giant breeds, partly to support a calmer feeding pace that may reduce the risk factors associated with bloat, alongside a vet's guidance on total daily amount.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.