We all love buddy movies featuring a human and a dog, which made the movie Turner and Hooch such a hit when it was released in 1989. The arrival of Hooch to Detective Scott Turner’s squeaky-clean life brings chaos and frustration for Turner but also brings laughter and friendship.
If you’ve ever watched this movie, you may have found yourself wondering what breed of dog the huge Hooch actually is, though. Here’s the answer to that question! Hooch is a Dogue de Bordeaux, also called a French Mastiff.
What Breed of Dog Is Hooch?
What Breed of Dog Is Hooch?Hooch is a Dogue de Bordeaux, which you may also sometimes see referred to as the DDB, Bordeaux Mastiff, or French Mastiff. This breed is distinctive in its appearance, thanks to its serious expression, short snout, and reddish fawn coloration. Like Hooch, this breed can be obstinate and difficult for the unprepared, so it’s essential to make sure you’re up for the challenge of this breed before bringing it home.
About the Dogue de Bordeaux
The DDB is a Mastiff breed that originated in France. In fact, the AKC considers this breed to be the most ancient of the French dog breeds. It’s unknown what the exact origins of the breed are, but they’ve been around for hundreds of years.
These working dogs are ideal guard dogs, not only because of their natural instinct to protect but also because of their fierce appearance and immense size. These dogs can easily exceed 100 pounds, with the breed standard for males being 110 pounds and above, while females shouldn’t be smaller than 99 pounds.
Unfortunately, like most giant dog breeds, the Dogue de Bordeaux may live a relatively short life. Their expected lifespan is only up to 8 years, although some dogs do exceed this. Responsible breeders who practice breed-appropriate health testing on their breeding dogs are most likely to breed pups that will live longer lives, although this is not always a surefire thing. Responsible breeding practices are constantly enhancing and improving the breed, though, so maybe in the future, these giants will live longer lives.
Was Hooch’s Behavior Typical for This Breed?
While Hooch’s antics aren’t necessarily the norm for this breed, they certainly can be. This breed has a major stubborn streak, and it’s essential to socialize them and begin training them at a young age. Without proper socialization and training starting young, you may end up with a 100+ pound dog that doesn’t listen to a thing you say.
One way to prevent some inappropriate behaviors is by keeping your dog well-exercised and entertained. Bored dogs are far more likely to get into trouble than dogs that are kept busy and tired. Due to their brachycephalic nature, these dogs may have a poor heat tolerance, but daily walks when the weather is nice can be beneficial. Giving your DDB a job, as well as plenty of playtime, toys, and puzzles, will help reduce the chance of bad behavior as well.
Conclusion
Hooch was a Dogue de Bordeaux, a giant Mastiff breed known for its protective nature and dominating appearance. These dogs can be difficult and obstinate, so training and exercise are essential. Training should start as young as possible. You should also select a dog from a responsible breeder who health tests their dogs and provides health guarantees.
Featured Image Credit: Characters by Touchstone Pictures, The Walt Disney Company. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
