As none of the “mastiff” breeds are native to Australia, their inclusion in the current Australian dog scene is due to someone importing and introducing the breed to Australia.

When looking at the history of the Dogue de Bordeaux in Australia, one discovers the first Dogues were brought in to Australian in 1993, but the breed was only formally recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) late in 1994. When querying why the parents of puppies who were born and registered in Australia were not listed in the Australian Dogue de Bordeaux Studbook, I was sent a separate list of the first fifteen Dogues de Bordeaux to be registered. They do not appear in the main Dogue de Bordeaux Studbook as their registration dates are all listed as “unknown”. It is believed they were all approved for registration the day the breed was recognised by the ANKC in 1994. Furthermore, it would not be until 1996 that the Australian National Kennel Council would formally adopt the FCI Standard for the Dogue de Bordeaux.

So who were the first fifteen and who imported them? The dogs themselves were:

Oak Creek’s I’m Gary’s (Imp USA) - (TNT's Willow de la Fox (USA) x Fabiola des Molosses D'Aquitaine (USA))
TNT’s Arla (Imp USA) - (TNT's Willow de la Fox (USA) x Aurelia de la Grange Saint Martin (USA/FRA))
Ch. Blue Blood’s Amos Reed (Imp USA) - (Denarius (USA/FRA) x TNT's Cinnamon de Merrimac (USA))
Barbarian Gentle Annie (Imp NZ) - (NZ Ch. TNT's Gilbert de Merrimac (NZ/USA) x TNT's Morticia de Merrimac (NZ/USA))
Ch. Zacharias of Integritas (Imp NZ) - (Barbarian Only One Son (NZ) x Ivangy (USA))
Zola of Integritas (Imp NZ - (Barbarian Only One Son (NZ) x Ivangy (USA))
Zelda of Integritas (Imp NZ) - (Barbarian Only One Son (NZ) x Ivangy (USA))
Ch. Barbarian Dragon Flame (Imp NZ) - (Barbarian Only One Son (NZ) xTNT's Morticia de Merrimac (NZ/USA))
Barbarian Red Tulip (Imp NZ) - (Barbarian Only One Son (NZ) xTNT's Morticia de Merrimac (NZ/USA))
Barbarian SpiritDancer (Imp NZ) - (NZ Ch. TNT's Gilbert de Merrimac (NZ/USA) x TNT's Morticia de Merrimac (NZ/USA))
Ch. Barbarian Thorny Dragon (Imp NZ) - (Barbarian Only One Son (NZ) xTNT's Morticia de Merrimac (NZ/USA))
Ch. Barbarian Dreamie Boy (Imp NZ) - (NZ Ch. TNT's Gilbert de Merrimac (NZ/USA) x NZ Ch. Gargoville des Coteaux de L'Autan (NZ))
Ch. Barbarian Dragonbud (Imp NZ) - (NZ Ch. TNT's Gilbert de Merrimac (NZ/USA) x TNT's Morticia de Merrimac (NZ/USA))
Barbarian Dancing Bear (Imp NZ) - (NZ Ch. TNT's Gilbert de Merrimac (NZ/USA) x TNT's Morticia de Merrimac (NZ/USA)
Barbarian Gentle Ben (Imp NZ) - (NZ Ch. TNT's Gilbert de Merrimac (NZ/USA) x NZ Ch. Gargoville des Coteaux de L'Autan (NZ))

The first thing to note when looking at the above list is that the Australian Dogue de Bordeaux Studbook lists the sire of "Oak Creek's Im' Gary's" and "TNT's Arla" as "TNT's Willow de la Fox. However, when you look at the name of the sire listed on the scanned copy of "Oak Creek's I'm Gary's" original Victoria Canine Association Certificate of Registration and Pedigree (sent to me by Gary Gillard and included at the bottom of this article) her sire is listed as "TNT's Willow of Lefox". The other interesting aspect of the list is the spelling of the dam of "Ch. Barbarian Dreamie Boy" and "Barbarian Gentle Ben". The Australian Studbook has the name spelt as "Gargoville" - with a "V". However the French Studbook has her name spelt "Gargouille" - wth a "U". It appears that the Australian Studbook contains the odd error.

Research indicates that Gary Gillard of Vesuvio Rare Breeds Kennel imported the first male and female to be registered in Australia. Both arrived prior to the breed being recognised by the ANKC. The first female (and the first Dogue imported in to Australia) was “Oak Creek’s I’m Garys (Imp USA) in 1993. She was sold to Gary by Peter Curley of TNT Kennel in the USA. The second Dogue imported was another female “TNT’s Arla (Imp USA)” who was bred by Peter Curley. Arla also arrived in 1993. (TNT Kennel sold five of its imported males to Disney for the movie “Turner and Hooch”.) The first male was “Blue Bloods Amos Reed (Imp USA)” - pictured at the beginning of this article. "Ch. Blue Bloods Amos Reed" was bred by Joe Aldreti and arrived in Australia in 1994. These three US imports formed the Dogude de Bordeaux foundation of Vesuvio Rare Breeds Kennel.

Another of the first imports was “Barbarian Gentle Annie (Imp NZ)”. Annie was the first Dogue de Bordeaux for Leo and Robyn Spierenburg at Runderkraal Kennels. Annie was soon joined at Runderkraal by a male “Ch. Zacharias of Integritis (Imp NZ)”. Zacharias was the sire of our second Dogue, "Ch. Doguerouge Samantha" and he can be traced in the pedigree of a number of Australian Dogues today.

"Zacharias’" two litter sisters, “Zola of Integritis (Imp NZ)” and “Zelda of Integritis (Imp NZ)" also made their way to Australia. Both were imported by Mr John Zavadil of Boyakka Kennel in Brisbane. "Zola" was actually the mother of the first Dogue we were introduced to, Boyakka Ripley, and grandmother of our adored girl, "Ch. Doguerouge Scully".

“Barbarian Dragon Flame (Imp NZ)” along with his litter sister “Barbarian Red Tulip (Imp NZ)” and their half sister “Barbarian SpiritDancer (Imp NZ)” became the foundation male and females for David dal Santo’s Hoochies Kennel.

“Barbarian Thorny Dragon (Imp NZ)” was imported from New Zealand, but I do not know who imported him. He was subsequently sold to Nick and Kerri Trikilis of Nukldusta Kennel in Tasmania. They were listed as being breeders of Shar-Pei and Dogue de Bordeaux. “Barbarian Thorny Dragon (Imp NZ)” does not appear again in the Australian DDB Studbook so one can conclude that he was not used for breeding. However, he was shown and gained his Australian Champion title. He is pictured below.

“Barbarian Gentle Ben (Imp NZ)”, along with “Barbarian Dragonbud (Imp NZ)” became the foundation male and female for Tammy Taylor’s Allegreto Kennel in Western Australia. “Barbarian Dancing Bear (Imp NZ)” (family name “Darna”) was also imported by Tammy Taylor and then sold at five months old to Clark Logan and Amanda Warner of Stormdogs kennel.

“Barbarian Dreamie Boy (Imp NZ)” was imported by Clark Logan. He was then joined by ”Barbarian Dancing Bear (Imp NZ)” and they became the foundation male and female for Stormdogs Kennel . Both “Barbarian Dreamie Boy (Imp NZ)” and ”Barbarian Dancing Bear (Imp NZ)” were later sold to Tammy Taylor of Allegreto Kennel.

So that is the first fifteen and the kennels that imported them. They are the foundation of the breed in Australia and in the original edition of "The Saga of the Dogue de Bordeaux", Professor Triquet would note they were all red masks.

It is also interesting to note that of these first fifteen, six of them were exhibited and gained their Australian Champion titles. “Blue Blood’s Amos Reed” is the first American import to gain an Australian Champion title.

In addition to his imports, Gary Gillard would also import frozen semen from "Mugsie de Merrimac (USA)" in 1995. The first Dogue de Bordeaux frozen semen imported to Australia.

When talking to Robyn Spierenburg about the early days in the breed and these early imports, she commented that Gary Gillard was the driving force behind getting the breed recognised by the ANKC. She indicated than much persistence, patience and letter writing was involved.

Gary would also write the Australian article for the first French edition of "The Saga of the Dogue de Bordeaux", giving an update on the progress of the breed in Australia. In "The Saga" article, Gary would state there were three Dogue de Bordeaux breeders in Australia - Gary Gillard "Vesuvio Kennel", David dal Santo "Hoochies Kennel" and Terry and Michelle Hangan "Arsenio Kennel".

The first litter registered in Australia was born on 10 January 1995 and registered with the ANKC on 6 March 1995 by Vesuvio Kennel. It consisted of two male puppies “Vesuvio Le Mugs” and “Vesuvio Le Tank”. Their sire was “Ch. Blue Blood’s Amos Reed (Imp USA)” and their dam was “TNT’s Arla (Imp USA)”.

Vesuvio Kennel registered three litters consisting of a total of 9 puppies in 1995. In addition to the first litter, the other two litters were the repeat mating of “Ch. Blue Blood’s Amos Reed (Imp USA)” x “TNT’s Arla (Imp USA)” which produced 6 puppies and then “Ch. Blue Blood’s Amos Reed (Imp USA)” x “Oak Creek’s I’m Gary’s (Imp USA”) which produced one female puppy “Vesuvio La Carmen”. This was the only litter registered from “Oak Creek’s I’m Garry’s (Imp USA)”.

“Vesuvio La Carmen” was sold to Terry and Michelle Hangan and became the foundation bitch for their Arsenio Kennel, which was first established in New South Wales and then moved to Queensland.

Although four litters from three kennels (Arsenio, Stormdogs and Boyakka) were born in 1996, none of the puppies were registered until 1997. These were the first litters registered by these kennels.

1997 saw a total of nine litters, consisting of 45 puppies, registered (including the four litters mentioned above). Runderkraal bred its first litter of Dogues from “Zacharias of Integritis (Imp NZ)” and “Barbarian Gentle Annie (Imp NZ)”. A bitch from this litter, “Runderkraal French Wench” would be exported to New Zealand and can be seen in some of the older New Zealand pedigrees.

Vesuvio did a third repeat mating of “Ch. Blue Blood’s Amos Reed (Imp USA)” x “TNT’s Arla (Imp USA)”, this time producing 8 puppies. One of these puppies, the male “Ch. Vesuvio Dudley”, only sired one litter at Bordeauville Kennel in Tasmania, but he can be found back in the pedigrees of several Best in Group winners in Australia today.

1997 also saw Terry and Michelle Hangan’s Arsenio Kennel (now moved to Queensland) breed its second litter. This time “Vesuvio La Carmen” was bred to “Zacharias of Integritis (Imp NZ)”. This litter would produce the litter brothers “Arsenio Iron Mike” and “Arsenio Smokin Joe”. “Arsenio Iron Mike” would go to Tammy Taylor at Allegreto Kennel in Western Australia. He would sire 5 litters of 32 pups, 3 litters for her own kennel, the only Dogue de Bordeaux litter bred by N. & B. Green’s Bankg Kennel and one litter at Miss T. Zapantis' Theano Kennel. “Arsenio Smokin Joe” would sire 8 litters of 42 pups including at some of the earlier kennels like Amanda Warner’s Seagypsy and Mrs K. Schrodter’s Wambul Kennel.

September 1997 would see David Dal Santo breed his first litter under his “Hoochies” prefix, when he bred “Barbarian Red Tulip (Imp NZ)” to “Ch. Blue Blood’s Amos Reed (Imp USA)”. The nine puppies (5 females and 4 males) were registered in February 1998. A male from this litter, “Hoochies La Bon Smoocher” would become the first Australian bred Dogue to gain the Australian Championship title. Three bitches from this litter are seen in the pedigree of a significant number of Australian Dogues today. Their names are easily recognisable – “Hoochies No Smoochies E.T.”, Hoochies WarriorPrincess” and “Hoochies Aux Gabrielle”.

“Hoochies No Smoochies E.T.” was the first, and still is the only, Dogue de Bordeaux in Australia to gain an Endurance Title, which she was awarded in 2001. She would produce 3 litters of 37 puppies for Bersilat Kennel in Victoria. She appears in the pedigree of Australia's first, and only, Dogue de Bordeaux Tracking Champion and Tracking and Search Grand Champion.

“Hoochies WarriorPrincess” would produce 2 litters of 16 pups for Bordeauville Kennel in Tasmania and “Hoochies Aux Gabrielle” would produce 1 litter of 8 pups for Stracey Kennel in New South Wales.

In the litter from “Hoochies Warrior Princess” to “Vesuvio Dudley” was born the puppy bitch “Bordeauville Matilda”. “Tilly’s” grandson, great grandson and great granddaughter would all go on to win Best in Group 1st and one of them a Best in Show 1st in the Australian showring. Also notably from the litter between “Hoochies Aux Gabrielle” and “Vesuvio Barney Rubble” is the bitch “Stracey Griffin” and the males “Stracey Amos” and “Stracey Zeuse” as all often appear in the pedigrees of Australian Dogues.

In 1998 registrations totalled 120 puppies. What was more important about 1998 was the arrival of 21 new imports in to Australia. Well recognisable names like those below were amongst the imports:

Kenston Star of Hawaii (Imp USA) - Hooch du Mystic Rouge (USA) x Reba de Merrimac (USA)
Hooch Du Mystic Rouge (Imp USA) - Peete of Norris Place (USA) x Francis de Mystic Rouge (USA)
Yarra of Integritis (Imp NZ) - Istarskog Porijekla Lebeaux (FR/NZ) x Istarskog Porijekla Letoya (FR/NZ)
Spring Mountains Cheroo (Imp USA) - Spring Mountain's Cheval (USA) x Pinto's Spring Mountain's Ruebel (USA)
Gloria (Imp GER) - Tyson (GER) x Helga du Terroir Bordelais (GER)
Nais des Molosses D’Aquitaine (Imp FRA) - Fra Ch. Hercule des Molosses D'Aquitaine (FRA) x Jenny7 de Saint Schmitte (FRA)
Naya des Molosses D’Aquitaine (Imp FRA) - Fra Ch. Hercule des Molosses D'Aquitaine (FRA) x Jenny7 de Saint Schmitte (FRA)
Karoline vom Holm (Imp GER) - Bo-Gyi vd Bargefenne (GER) x Angelique vom Hause Likarina (GER)
Arthur vom Wardersee (Imp GER) - Bo-Gyi vd Bargefenne (GER) x Sofia de L'Aube Rouge (GER)
Maloney V’T Gelre’s End (Imp NETH) - Loader de la Maison de Hollande (NDL) x Gravin Ziya von Ruflohof (Ndl)
Frn. Ch. Ismar de L’Etoile Saint Hubert (Imp NETH) - Duplex des Demons Noirs (Ndl) x Emeraude de L'Etoile Saint Hubert (Ndl)
Gravin Sharon von Ruflohof (Imp NETH) - Frn Ch. Aust. Ch. Ismar de L'Etoile Saint Hubert (Ndl) x Chanel (Ndl)
NZ Ch. Barbarian Gentle Bear (Imp NZ) - NZ Ch. TNT's Gilbert de Merrimac (USA/NZ) x NZ Ch. Gargoville des Coteaux de L'Autan (FRA/NZ)
Barbarian Ruby Tuesday (Imp NZ) - NZ Ch. Barbarian Gentle Bear (Imp NZ) x TNT's Morticia de Merrimac (USA/NZ)

These dogs were imported by several different kennels. “Kenston Star of Hawaii (Imp USA)”, “Hooch Du Mystic Rouge (Imp USA)” and “Yarra of Integritis (Imp NZ)” were imported by Rhonda Kenny at Kenston Kennel. “Spring Mountains Cheroo (Imp USA)” was imported by Terry and Michelle Hangan at Arsenio. “Frn. Ch. Ismar de L’Etoile Saint Hubert (Imp NETH)” and “Gravin Sharon von Ruflohof (Imp NETH)” were imported by Leo and Robyn Spierenburg at Runderkraal. “NZ Ch. Barbarian Gentle Bear (Imp NZ)” was imported by Mrs J. Booth at Bordeauville. “Barbarian Ruby Tuesday (Imp NZ)” was imported by Scott Moller and would become the foundation bitch for his Wadbilliga Kennel.

“Gloria (Imp GER)”, “Nais des Molosses D’Aquitaine (Imp FRA)”, “Naya des Molosses D’Aquitaine (Imp FRA)”, “Karoline vom Holm (Imp GER)”, “Arthur vom Wardersee (Imp GER)” and “Maloney V’T Gelre’s End (Imp NETH)” would be the first group of imports for Joe and Lorraine Cauchi of Cauchis Kennel. In 1997 Joe and Lorraine Cauchi travelled through South and South-West France visiting a number of kennels to purchase their Dogues. They also sought advice of such breed experts as Professor Raymond Triquet.

For many years “Arthur vom Wardersee (Imp GER)” would be the most used stud dog in Australia, siring 15 litters producing 97 pups. Unfortunately, I have never been able to find a photo of "Arthur".

“Gloria (Imp GER) was imported pregnant to "Int. Ch., Lux. Ch., Blg. Ch. Gainsbourg-Uriel du Domaine des Ormes (FRA)". She would whelp 4 puppies upon arrival in Australia, 3 females and 1 male. This was the first “import in dam” Dogue litter registered in Australia. This litter was registered under the Xlandi prefix. This is the only Dogue litter registered under the Xlandi prefix. All other Dogue litters bred by Joe and Lorraine Cauchi are registered under the “Cauchis” prefix. From the Xlandi litter, one of the females was exported to New Zealand. One female has no offspring registered. The other female and the male both produced puppies.

1999 saw 144 puppies registered and 8 new imports re-registered in Australia.

For Gary Gillard’s Vesuvio Kennel, a new bitch arrived, this time from Bonnie Gordon’s Big House kennel in the US. She was “Big House Umphalia (Imp USA)”. "Umphalia" would produce one litter to “Big Houses Louie The Undertaker (USA)”. Vesuvio’s fifth and final litter was born from these two. The two males from this litter, “Vesuvio Bam Bam” and “Vesuvio Barney Rubble”, both sired three litters each and “Vesuvio Bam Bam” can be traced back through a number of kennels in Australia.

Gary Gillard’s other great canine love was the Neapolitan Mastiff and he was also expending considerable resources importing dogs of that breed from the UK and Italy. Gary took the decision to step away from the Dogue de Bordeaux and to concentrate on the Neapolitan Mastiff. Vesuvio kennel is still involved in Neapolitan Mastiffs today.

The year would also see the registration in Australia of “Gravin Scherin von Ruflohof (Imp NETH)”. “Scherin” was imported by Leo and Robyn Spierenburg at Runderkraal Kennel and she would also be the first black mask Dogue imported in to Australia. She would go on to win Best of Breed at the 1999 Sydney Royal making her the first black mask to win a Royal Challenge and a Royal Best of Breed. She would also become the first black mask to gain an Australian Champion title. She would produce 3 litters for Runderkraal, but only one black mask offspring, "Runderkraal Indigo", in her litter to "Int., Ndl, Blg, Aust. Ch. Leeuw de la Maison de Hollande (Imp Blg) ". One of the red mask pups in that litter, "Ch. Runderkraal Jour Dain", would become the foundation stud dog for Chienparadis Kennel and appear in a number of pedigrees throughout Australia.

Dr Chris Girling and Yvette Clark imported 3 Dogues from the UK in 1999 to establish their Moloscyg Dogue de Bordeaux kennel. They had previously been involved with breeding Bullmastiffs. Their initial Dogues were all bred by Alan Bates in the UK, and included “Laruscades Monet (Imp UK)", and the litter brother and sister “Laruscades Hugo (Imp UK)” and “Laruscades Tazz (Imp UK)". They would soon be followed by "Hugo" and “Tazz's” mother, “Tanakajd Szepe Mandi (Imp Hung)” , “Noxanne des Molosses D’Aquitaine (Imp UK)" and “Laruscades de la Rose (Imp UK)”. Christmas Eve 1999 would also see the arrival of Moloscyg kennel’s first Dogue litter. In that first litter was "Ch. Moloscyg Amabelle" who would go on to produce the lovely black mask female, "Ch. Moloscyg French Kissn".

“Grand Ch. Laruscades Tazz (Imp UK)" would become the first Dogue de Bordeaux in Australia to win Best in Group 1st and Best in Show 1st. She was a prolific Best of Breed winner at Royal Shows, holding 18 Royal Challenges and 13 Royal Best of Breeds. She was also placed at Group level at Royal shows on three occasions. She was the first Australian Grand Champion Dogue de Bordeaux. "Tazz's" son, "Ch. Moloscyg Obadiah" (sired by Ch. Zamadeaus Garde D'Honneur du Monde (Imp Blg)" would become the first Australian bred Dogue de Bordeaux to win Best in Group 1st.

The year 2000 would be an important year for Leo and Robyn Spierenburg at Runderkraal with the importation of “Int. Ch., Ndl. Ch., Blg. Ch. Leeuw de la Maison de Hollande (Imp Blg)”, “Monza la Poussee (Imp Neth)” and the black mask bitch “Cora la Poussee (Imp Neth)”. “Leeuw” would have a significant impact on the future development of the breed in Australia. He produced a number of Australian champions and, in particular, four of his grandchildren would become Grand Champions and grandson "Grand Ch. Bordogue Benjamin" both a Grand Champion and a multi Best in Group 1st winner. His granddaughter, "Grand Ch. Runderkraal Paris" would become the first Australian Bred Grand Champion. His legacy can be seen through a number of Australian pedigees today. “Monza”, in her litter to “Frn. Ch. Ismar de L’Etoile Saint Hubert (Imp NETH)” would go on to produce the male “Ch. Runderkraal Mynheer” who would become a multi Royal Best of Breed winner and only the 4th Dogue in Australia to win Best in Group 1st.

The year 2000 would also see the newly established Ataraxia Kennel of Deborah Powell breed its first litter from her foundation bitch, “Cauchi’s Amber”. The breeding to “Arthur vom Wardersee (Imp GER)” would produce “Ataraxia The Jazz” and “Ataraxia Brigadeer”. “Ataraxia Brigadeer” would be sold to Rhonda Kenny at Kenston kennel in Queensland and would become the main stud dog at that kennel. “Ataraxia The Jazz” would be leased to Debbie Marshall at Chienparadis Kennel. "Jazz's" litter to “Ch. Runderkraal Jour Dain” in January 2002 would produce the first brother and sister Grand Champions with “Chienparadis Jarton” and “Chienparadis Chaunte”. In 2003 “Jazz” would be flown to France to be bred with “Lux. Ch., Eur. Ch., Frn. Ch., Blg. Ch. Signore Kwan de la Seigeurie des Chartrons”. Upon her return to Australia she would produce seven puppies from this mating.

Many of these earlier kennels no longer exist, however, some still do. Runderkraal, Allegreto, Moloscyg and Chienparadis still exist and breed Dogues. The years 2001 to 2004 would see the formation of a number of new kennels whose prefixes are well known in the breed today - Deauxrouge, Bordogue, Amiantan, Denvin, Beaurumba, Brytanskie and Kenraine. However, in 2017 only three of this group still breed and show Dogues.

I would like to thank Gary Gillard, Robyn Spierenburg, Tammy Taylor and Sue Gibbons for their assistance with this article.

Errors and omissions in this article accepted. If you can provide further information or photographs, please advise me.

This article is copyright and may not be reproduced without my written permission. Kylie Reid