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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Dogue de Bordeaux

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a giant, heavily-muscled guardian that carries 100-plus pounds on a short-lived clock — these gentle giants often see only 5 to 8 years, so every meal is a chance to protect their joints, their waistline, and their hard-working heart.

Here is exactly how to feed a Dogue de Bordeaux on freeze-dried raw: portioned by weight and life stage, with the lean protein and joint nutrition a French Mastiff's massive frame depends on.

  • Adult weight99–145 lb
  • SizeGiant
  • EnergyLow to moderate
  • Lifespan5–8 years
  • CoatShort, dense — moderate shedder; wrinkled, fold-prone skin
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A healthy Dogue de Bordeaux
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Dogue de Bordeaux's body needs

Every Dogue de Bordeaux trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Giant, heavily-muscled frame

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% meat, organs and ground bone fuels and maintains the dense muscle a 100-to-145-pound Dogue carries — without the carb fillers that add fat instead of strength.

  • Hip & elbow dysplasia risk

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, cartilage and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, while omega-3s help calm joint inflammation — and keeping a Dogue lean takes crushing load off those big joints.

  • Deep chest, prone to bloat (GDV)

    Needs: Calm, measured, slower meals

    Calorie-dense freeze-dried raw lets you serve a smaller, satisfying volume across two unhurried meals — easier on a deep-chested giant than a huge bowl of air-puffed kibble bolted down at once.

  • Loose skin, wrinkles & folds

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids, low-filler diet

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting the wrinkle-prone, fold-prone skin a Dogue is known for, while minimal processing skips starches that can feed inflammation.

  • Short-lived giant breed

    Needs: Lean body condition for life

    Staying lean is the single biggest lever on a giant breed's lifespan — measured raw feeding, fed to body condition rather than appetite, helps a Dogue make the most of its years.

How much to feed a Dogue de Bordeaux

Quick answer: a healthy adult Dogue de Bordeaux (99–145 lb) needs about 14.9–21.8 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
99 lb 14.9 oz 7.4 oz
111 lb 16.7 oz 8.3 oz
123 lb typical Dogue de Bordeaux 18.5 oz 9.2 oz
135 lb 20.3 oz 10.1 oz
145 lb 21.8 oz 10.9 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Dogue de Bordeaux

For a Dogue de Bordeaux we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a rich topper while you transition. It is calorie-dense, so a giant breed eats a sensible volume, not a mountain.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit weight management and sensitive skin, while richer Beef supports a hard-keeping or underweight Dogue. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Dogue de Bordeauxs

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Daily support for Dogue de Bordeauxs

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Treats Dogue de Bordeauxs love

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Feeding a Dogue de Bordeaux by life stage

  • Puppy: Dogue de Bordeaux puppies are a giant breed and must grow slowly to protect developing hips and elbows. Feed a large/giant-breed-appropriate amount across 3-4 meals a day and resist the urge to overfeed — rushing growth on a future 120-pound dog dramatically raises joint-disease risk.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, just-visible waist, split across two meals to ease the deep chest. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag.
  • Senior: Dogues age early. Trim portions as activity drops, keep protein high to hold onto lean muscle, and lean into joint- and omega-supporting nutrition to keep an aging giant comfortable and mobile.

Common Dogue de Bordeaux concerns — and the diet connection

  • Hip & elbow dysplasiaCommon in giant breeds and largely genetic, but lean body weight plus natural joint nutrients (glucosamine from bone and cartilage, plus omega-3) support comfort and day-to-day mobility.
  • Bloat & GDV riskA deep chest raises the risk of a twisted, gas-filled stomach. Calorie-dense raw served in two calm, measured meals — not one huge fast-eaten bowl — supports a gentler, lower-volume routine.
  • Skin folds & wrinkle sensitivityLoose, folded skin can be reactive and prone to irritation; a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier from the inside while you keep folds clean and dry.
  • Carrying extra weightOn a short-lived giant, every excess pound shortens the clock and loads the joints — measured raw feeding fed to a visible waist is the most powerful tool a Dogue parent has.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Dogue de Bordeaux: what to know

A Dogue de Bordeaux is calm and food-motivated, and extra pounds disappear fast under all that loose skin and muscle. Feed to body condition, not to the bowl: you should be able to feel the ribs under a light layer and see a waist from above.

Because this is a deep-chested giant breed, split the day's food into two unhurried meals, use a slow-feeder if your Dogue gulps, and avoid hard exercise right before and after eating — all simple habits that lower the risk of bloat.

Dogue de Bordeaux feeding questions

How much should I feed my Dogue de Bordeaux?
A healthy adult Dogue (roughly 99-145 lb) needs a large volume of food, but freeze-dried raw is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble. Use the weight-based chart below as a starting point, split it across two meals, and adjust every few weeks to keep a just-visible waist.
What is the best food for a Dogue de Bordeaux's joints?
A complete freeze-dried raw diet with real bone, cartilage and organ supplies natural glucosamine, chondroitin and omega-3 — and keeping your Dogue lean is the single most effective thing you can do for those big joints. Pairing meals with a hip and joint supplement adds extra support for a giant breed.
How do I lower my Dogue de Bordeaux's risk of bloat at mealtime?
Split the daily food into two calm meals rather than one, slow fast eaters with a slow-feeder bowl, and avoid hard exercise right before and after eating. Calorie-dense freeze-dried raw helps because a satisfying meal is a smaller, lower-air volume than a giant bowl of kibble.
How do I switch my Dogue de Bordeaux to raw?
Transition over 7-10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. It is rich, so start at the lower end of the range, keep meals split in two, and watch the waistline as you go.
Are Dogues de Bordeaux prone to gaining weight?
Yes — they are calm, food-motivated, and extra pounds hide easily under loose skin and muscle. Feed measured portions by weight rather than by appetite, feel for the ribs weekly, and adjust amounts to keep your Dogue lean for life.

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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.