Parson Russell Terrier vs Dogue De Bordeaux - Breed Comparison

The Parson Russell Terrier hails from England and is a small to medium sized dog dating back to the 18th century. It is believed that Reverend John ‘Jack’ Russell was the developer of this dog. The Parson has always been involved with England’s sport of foxhunting.

They’re spritely and quick and have been able to keep up on a hunt and take on a fox in its lair. The dog was first recognized in 1990 in the United Kingdom as the Parson Jack Russell Terrier and in America in 1997.

All the top kennel clubs recognize this dog as the Parson Jack Russell Terrier.

The Dogue de Bordeaux is an ancient French dog breed and his history goes so far back that it is difficult to have accurate records of his origin.

During the 1700s he was used as a guard dog, with theories suggesting that several Mastiff type breeds were the closest ancestors.

For centuries the Bordeaux Mastiff, also referred to as the Bordeaux Bulldog, came in two size varieties, with the larger version being the Dogue de Bordeaux. It is this large dog which made its appearance in the Hollywood movie ‘Turner & Hooch’, shooting him into more recognition and interest.

The Parson Jack Russell is essentially a white dog with black and tan or orange-fawn patches. He can be tri-colored too. The coat is either smooth, rough or broken.

He stands at between 33–36cm tall at the withers and weighs between 5 and 8kg. Unlike the Jack Russell, the Parson Russell Terrier has longer legs. He has some longer hair on the head, legs and body. The ears are floppy wit the tip pointed forward. The tail has always been docked but when left long it it held high, slightly curving over the back.

Temperament:

Feisty, brave, cheeky and alert, the Parson Russell Terrier is an energetic dog who gets on well with children as he knows that this is essentially where his games come from.

He is bold and clever and you’ll be able to have him trained and socialized without any trouble. These little dogs are full of life and they are protective of their humans and their property, making excellent watchdogs.

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a large molosser type dog with a large head, standing at 60 – 67cm and weighing anything between 54 and 65kg. His weight comes more from his muscular, powerful build rather than his height.

He is a powerful looking dog and his short coat is loose-fitting and is an attractive rich reddish brown color. There are wrinkles around the face with the nose being somewhat pinkish-orange as opposed to black.

The eyes are wide apart and are hazel. He has short to medium length floppy ears and where once the thick tail was docked, giving him a powerful, distinctive look, it is mostly left long today.

Temperament:

He is a confident, self-assured, territorial dog who will require training and socialization if he is to know his place in the home. He is a powerful mastiff-type dog, who without training can be stubborn, arrogant and somewhat aggressive towards strangers.

His looks and his territorial nature make him an excellent watchdog. He is no push-over and isn’t a good choice for the first time dog owner.

Without a strong, firm owner, he could prove difficult to handle. He is calm and laid back with children in the home and he can get along well with other pets if he has been brought up with them since puppy-hood.

In general the Parson is a friendly,loving dog, fairly small but packed full of feisty personality.

They make excellent pets for the entire family. He is an intelligent dog, but typical of most terriers he can be stubborn, but this can easily be fixed with training and socialization. With good care, he’ll make you a wonderful little pet and companion.

The Dogue de Bordeaux isn’t a big, boisterous kind of dog but is rather calm and relaxed. As a watchdog however, he can surprise you and become quite active, showing agility for such a hulk.

He can adapt to life in the city or the country but even though he appears lazy, he will need moderate daily exercise.

He loves his human family and wants to be constantly with them. He is stubborn but will do well with training and socialization.

Calm and easy-going and with his easy-to-maintain short, soft coat, be prepared for some drooling and snoring from this loving, devoted large pet of yours.

Your Parson Jack Russell can live to be between 12 and 15 years but nonetheless he does have some breed-related health issues to watch for.

Eye Disorders:

Eye conditions which can affect this dog include primary lens luxation,cataracts, corneal dystrophy and progressive retinal atrophy. With cataracts the lens of the eye develops a cloudy look resulting in poorer vision and sometimes blindness. Cataract surgery is available for dogs.

Obesity:

Your Parson Jack Russel should be lean and muscular and always full of energy. Avoid feeding him unhealthy treats which can lead to obesity and other health problems.

Parasites:

All kinds of parasites such as ticks, fleas and worms can invade your dog’s body. Roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms can cause havoc with their health and some of these parasites can even be transmitted to humans. It’s why it is important to get your puppy to the vet to be de-wormed and to get his first injections.

Liver Problems:

A liver disorder known as portosystemic shunt can mean that some of the blood supply doesn’t get to the liver and it doesn’t function properly. This will mean the liver can’t remove toxins from the bloodstream effectively.

The Dogue De Bordeaux doesn’t have as long a lifespan as many other dogs, but with good care, can go to 7 – 10 years of age.

Because he is a brachycephalic breed – a short-nosed dog such as the Boxer, Pug and Bulldog – he may well have the same number of teeth as other dogs, but the teeth are crowded, putting dogs like this at higher risk of getting dental disease.

His teeth will need to be brushed 2 or 3 times a week to prevent plaque and tartar getting trapped.

Brachycephalic Syndrome is also something to watch out for with your Dogue de Bordeaux. It’s an upper respiratory disorder which can bring on difficulty with breathing because of the crowding of tissue and narrower airways.

The Parson Russell Terrier has different coat types – the smooth and rough and both will require regular brushing. Rough coats will require plucking or clipping to avoid matting.

Check his eyes and ears regularly. Look inside his ears for excess wax and dirt which could lead to an ear infection. His nails should also be trimmed.

No Puppies – Spay or Neuter:

The best thing you can do for your Parson Russell Terrier if you don’t want your pet producing puppies is to have it spayed or neutered. Spaying for females or neutering for males decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers too so it can be beneficial.

Diet:

Diet is hugely important for a Parson Russell Terrier and the food you decide for him can impact his health. Many time those ‘treats’ you feed your pet do nothing more but give him a stomach ache.

It's tempting to pop chocolates, popcorn, nuts and ice cream into your pets mouth when he is so adorable but in the long run it is shortening his life. All he basically requires and needs is a simple, consistent diet of the top commercially manufactured foods mixed with some tasty home made food from time to time.

Boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach will do your pet wonders. Ensure he always has fresh, cool water available to him.

Exercise:

He isn’t the most active dog and he is inclined to snooze quite a bit throughout the day. It will nonetheless be a good idea to include him in your daily walks and allow him to take part in a ball game now and again.

Diet:

The Dogue de Bordeaux needs to be fed a high-quality dog food in keeping with his large size and age.

Grooming:

This dog is known for drooling, and because of his wrinkled face, you’ll need to be watching the facial area that it is kept clean and dry to avoid skin infections. Check his ears at the same time to ensure they are free from dirt and wax.

The short coat does shed throughout the year, and you will need to be brushing him down twice a week to remove all those loose hairs.