Talking With Élisabeth Coiffard
For more than four decades, Élisabeth Coiffard and her husband Yves have devoted themselves to the Dogue de Bordeaux: Their Seigneurie des Chartrons kennel is internationally known for consistently producing quality and type. In 1982, the couple moved to the small village of Aquitaine in the southwest of France, between the cities of Bordeaux and Toulouse. Their farm, named Chalosse, provides an isolated and peaceful location that is designed specifically for their breeding program. Today it is home to two stud dogs and four bitches, and the goal is the same as when the Coiffards began in the 1970s: to produce dogs of quality in compliance with the standard – balanced, harmonious and healthy.
In this wide-ranging interview, Élisabeth Coiffard discusses their Seigneurie des Chartrons kennel, the lessons her mentors taught her and the heyday of the Dogue de Bordeaux.
Coiffard with a favorite male, Signore Kwan.
How did you become aware of the breed? Do you remember the first time you saw a Dogue de Bordeaux?
My husband Yves first discovered the Dogue de Bordeaux in 1955, in an encyclopedia of dogs that he bought with his savings when he was 15 years old. Looking through this book dedicated to many breeds, it was the Dogue de Bordeaux that drew his attention; for him, it was the obvious choice, and he knew then that when circumstances permitted, this was the dog that he wanted to own. He realized that wish in 1973, when he acquired the black-masked bitch “Irun,” bred by Jean and Raymonde Létendart, whose Du Domaine des Sources kennel would soon know great fame. From the first visit to their kennel, Yves was won over by Jean and Raymonde’s warm touch, and of course the quality of their dogs; we enjoyed a warm friendship with them for many years.
As for me, the thunderbolt struck twice that year: Irun was six months old when Yves and I first met; this was the beginning of a passion that continues to this day.
Two litters bred by the Létendarts of Du Domaine des Sources – a total of 16 puppies, with their dams, Tania and Circee, in 1974.
What attracted you to the breed?
We have always appreciated the Molosser breeds, but the Dogue de Bordeaux is our favorite. This colossus with the big heart has seduced us with his power, his appearance and his jovial, calm and discreet temperament. His skills as a guardian are undeniable, but he is not aggressive when he displays them. There is no power struggle between a Dogue de Bordeaux and his master: he is very sensitive, and hates brusqueness in a relationship. More can be gotten from him with kindness than with force. Although the Dogue can be stubborn, he is a very easy dog to train. He is an ideal companion for children and a perfect partner for the family.
How and why did you start breeding?
We very quickly became interested in the breed. In 1975, we joined the French breed club, La Société des Amateurs de Dogues de Bordeaux, or SADB, whose president at the time was Mr. Raymond Triquet. Knowing him was a privilege and an opportunity in our journey as breeders that we appreciate to this day. He is a Dogue person who needs no introduction, as he is so well known and appreciated the world over.
In 1975, 97 Dogue de Bordeaux puppies were whelped in France. The breed was still relatively unknown, even if it was experiencing a bit of a boom. Little by little, as we began participating in dog shows, the desire to start a small breeding program grew, especially as I had the free time to devote myself completely to this endeavor. For his part, Yves contributed his expertise in animal nutrition while actively participating in our breeding projects. Our first priority was to create a strictly home-based hobby kennel so we could be in constant contact with our dogs. Our kennel expanded year by year, to about 10 dogs in the late 1970s. It was the beginning of an exciting adventure that we always undertook together, a prerequisite for us. Very quickly we realized that breeding was synonymous with great joy and satisfaction, but also disappointments and doubts. To be a serious contributor to the improvement of the breed is no cakewalk …
Simon Kwan de la Seigneurie des Chartrons with her daughter Carmina Kwan de la Seigneurie des Chartrons.
Tell us a little bit about the dogs that you started with: Where did you get your foundation dogs? What were they like?
Our bitch “Irun” (CH.B Rock x Tania de Fenelon), bred by Mr. and Mrs. Létendart, was mated with our first male, Lycos de Ker St Mesmes (CHIB Uhr des Dogues x Indienne de l’Etang des Aïeux), who was bred by Mr. Fournis. That gave us our first litter under our kennel affix – eight puppies born in 1976.
But the two dogs that are the foundation of our current line are the male CHIB Nature (CH. B. Lord de la Maison des Arbres x Jacotte Fontaine aux Amours), bred by Mr. and Mrs. Baudot; and the female CHIB Lara du Mas des Chênes (CHIB Assan von der Weidelsburg x Ilia du Domaine des Sources), bred by Mr. and Mrs. Delais. From the breeding of Nature and Lara du Mas des Chênes in 1980, we kept Rosalie Kwan, the first in a long line … She was the first Dogue of our breeding to earn the title of international champion.
CHIB Lara du Mas des Chênes and CHIB Nature, the breeding pair that provided the foundation for the Seigneurie des Chartons kennel, in 1979.
What was the Dogue de Bordeaux breeding scene like when you started? Were there many breeders?
On the list of sires and kennels (that either bred or intended to breed) that were members of the SADB, there were 15 breeders listed, and we are one of them: Mr. Averlant (Elevage des Démons Noirs); Mr. Triquet (Elevage de la Maison des Arbres); Mr. Forest (Elevage du Mont de Clarence); Mr. Létendart (Elevage du Domaine des Sources); Mr. Marchal (Elevage de l’Etang des Aïeux); Mrs. Debernard (future Elevage de l’Eglantine d’Or); Mr. Fournis (Elevage de Ker Saint Mesmes); Miss Coisne and Mrs. Lepage (the future Elevage du Bois des Canelles; Coiffard (future Elevage de la Seigneurie des Chartrons); Mr. Gongora (Elevage de Vangora); Mr. Lacaud (Elevage du Bon Puits), and Mr. Lebailly.
Through the dog shows, we met personalities from the Dogue world, in particular Mr. Triquet, Mr. Van Cappel, and Mr. and Mrs. Létendart. Throughout the 1970s, we could admire the superior specimens produced by Mr. Triquet’s Maison des Arbres kennel, like the famous champion Titus de la Maison des Arbres, owned by Mr. Delais; Lotus de la Maison des Arbres, who belonged to Mr. Bastide; Luck de la Maison des Arbres, owned by Mr. Carlier, and another champion, Lord de la Maison des Arbres, who was the sire of our founding male.
Lord de la Maison des Arbres (far left, handled by Raymond Triquet) in 1979 at the World Dog Show in Bern, Switzerland.
Also, there was the famous champion Jip de Fénelon, bred by Mr. Van Cappel and owned by Mr. Sérouil, a superb black mask who became a sensational promoter of the breed by participating in numerous international shows. As for Mr. and Mrs. Létendart, they had a knack for producing the most magnificent black masks, including the famous Lydia du Domaine des Sources and N’Hems du Domaine des Sources, both French champions.
Germany had many breeders with great reputations at that time, among them Maria Pufahl (Von Der Rombach). At any rate, Mr. Van Cappel was no fool, and he went there many times to look for dogs of great quality, like the champions Amar von der Rombach, Assan Von Der Weidelsburg (bred by Rudiger) and his last, Agor de la Maison des Coqs (bred by Bubacz). All three are behind many pedigrees, especially in the Létendart line and ours, among others.
It was during a show organized by the Létendarts at Lacommande that we were able to admire the beautiful German champion Chango Vom Storchennest (owned and bred by Mr. Storch).
How did you choose your kennel name?
The choice of our kennel name is due solely to Yves.
The presence, way of moving and solemn majesty of the Dogue de Bordeaux evoke for us a type of nobility, and the word “Seigneurie,” which means “Lordship,” matches it well. A true lord exudes an indisputable “quiet force” that all the world recognizes.
To represent the city of Bordeaux, the cradle of the breed, we were looking for a word, a name, and “Chartons” is what we chose. The Quai des Chartrons is part of a famous historic area of the city located along the Garonne. Historically, it is the stronghold of the great wine merchants. The English, Irish and Dutch came there to seek their fortunes, and they built warehouses, storehouses and beautiful mansions. Some sources indicate the presence of Dogues de Bordeaux there, jealousy guarding the treasures stored in those places.
Who were your mentors in the breed? What were the most important lessons they taught you?
Without question our mentors were Mr. Maurice Van Cappel (De Fenelon) and Mr. and Mrs. Létendart (du Domaine des Sources).
Mr. Van Cappel started his kennel in 1946, and produced quality dogs and many champions for the next 50 years, becoming president of the SADB from 1956 to 1972 as well as a qualified judge. His contribution to the saving of the breed after World War II was of paramount importance; he was among a handful of breeders and passionate fanciers, one of the ardent defenders of the Dogue de Bordeaux. We are very proud to have rubbed shoulders with Mr. and Mrs. Van Cappel, people of great, heartfelt generosity. We shared unforgettable times with them, and of course they taught us invaluable lessons.
Mr. Van Cappel always told us that a Dogue Bordeaux should be built close to the ground – that is, stocky and deep chested – and how difficult it is to maintain this typical appearance of the breed. I still keep that advice about this point in the standard in me, like an obsession – he was right to be firm on this. Another subject that was close to his heart was excesses in head type. At the time, in the 1970s, there were many dogs that had long muzzles and were lacking in wrinkle – again, eliminating this fault became an obsession with us. As a reaction to that, our selection was moving toward very typey subjects (too typey), and inevitably the risk of tending toward hypertype became great. The lesson was bitter, but we learned it, and today we continue along this line: Avoid excess in favor of harmony and balance.
Mr. Van Cappel with Agor de la Maison des Coqs, and Élisabeth Coiffard with Nature in 1979.
Pretty soon we became close to the Létendarts of the Du Domaine des Sources kennel. Mutual trust developed between us: That is how we obtained Irun, and that same year we brought home Ima. Then Urko, who became an international champion; Uguette, who was a French champion; Marike, and Thémis. Moreover, the Létendarts’ famous champion Do Hems sired many of our females in the 1980s. Our breeding was based on the tradition of Létendart – that is to say, we are indebted to the du Domaine des Sources kennel.
Mr. and Mme. Létendart and their famous black mask, N’Hems.
Madame Létendart was not stingy about giving advice. She taught me a lot about the basics of breeding. Our phone conversations were lengthy, and she always answered my questions with kindness. Mrs. Létendart provided constant care for her litters. For her, a puppy had to be well “filled.” There was no way she would free-feed, but conversely she recommended splitting meals to whet the puppies’ appetite. I always appreciated the quality of her litters, and I really wanted to reproduce it in my breeding program. Her breeding stock had everything that we were looking for: built close to the ground, of medium height, with a fairly strong frame, a large, deep chest, typical head and a very balanced character.
The “Létendart type” was the reference, and it remains a yardstick for us. We admired their work for the breed, their success at shows, and I haven’t yet talked about their sense of conviviality. All those who experienced that period will remember the banquet cooked by the family during the Lacommande exhibitions organized in their region of Béarn; it was a Dogue de Bordeaux party. What a blessed time we lived in then!
Mr. Triquet and French champion Nara du Domaine des Sources in 1980.
What stud dogs most influenced your breeding program? What brood bitches?
In chronological order, here are the males:
CHCS N’Hems du Domaine des Sources (CHIB Lutteur de Gorge d’Or x Urelia) Owned and bred by Mr. and Mrs. Létendart
N’Hems du Domaine des Sources.
CHIB Nature (Lord de la Maison des Arbres x Jacotte de la Fontaine aux Amours) Bred by Mr. Baudot, owned by us
CHIB Urko du Domaine des Sources (N’Hems du Domaine des Sources x Rumba du Domaine des Sources) Bred by the Létendarts, owned by us
Valmy Kwan de la S. des Ch. (Sam de Fénelon x Rosalie Kwan de la S. des Ch.) Owned and bred by us
Multi-Champion Idem del Matachin (Anazo de Canchas Ibaken x Arca del Matachin) Bred by Tomas Pinto and owned by us and Ribas
Emilion du Terroir Bordelais (Croux de la S. des Ch. x Criska des Coteaux de l’Autan) Bred by Catherine Ribas and owned by us
Emilion du Terroir Bordelais.
Multi-Champion Lucciano du Domaine des Rauchbruy (Multi-Ch. Gainsbourg Uriel du Domaine des Ormes x Flora) Bred by Mr. Dupont-Druart, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Daniaux
Multi-Champion Nirvana Kwan de la S. des Ch. (Idem del Matachin et Gin de El Siscar) Bred and owned by us
Numéro Six Kwan de la S. des Ch. (Lucciano du Domaine des Rauchbruy x Lieb Kwan de la S. des Ch.) Bred and owned by us
Simon Kwan de la S. des Ch (Numéro Six Kwan de la S. des Ch. x Prudence Kwan de la S. des Ch.) Bred and owned by us
The bitches:
CHIB Lara du Mas des Chênes (Assan von der Weidelsburg x Ilia du Domaine des Sources) Bred by Raymond Delais and owned by us
CHIB Rosalie Kwan de la S. des Ch. (Nature x Lara du Mas des Chênes) Bred and owned by us
CHCS Uguette du Domaine des Sources (N’Hems du Domaine des Sources x Neva du Domaine des Sources) Bred by the Létendarts and owned by us
Lieb Kwan de la S. des Ch. (Emilion du Terroir Bordelais x Gilette Kwan de la S. des Ch.) Bred and owned by us
Navailles Kwan de la S. des Ch. (Lucciano du Domaine des Rauchbruy x Lieb Kwan de la S. des Ch.) Bred and owned by us
Shampagne Kwan de la S. des Ch. (Nirvana de la S. des Ch. x Navailles Kwan de la S. des Ch.) Bred and owned by us
Navailles Kwan de la Seigneurie des Chartrons.
What were some of your most well-known dogs? Tell us a bit about them.
The introduction of Same del Matachin in our breeding program in 1992 was paramount. As luck would have it, our friends Catherine and Jaime Ribas of the Bordeaux Terroir kennel told us that a beautiful young dog was available for sale. During a show we met his breeders, Tomas and Gema Pinto from the Asturias region of Spain. Their enthusiasm convinced us, and we bought the dog together. Idem was the Junior World Winner at the World Dog Show in Valencia in 1992.
Beyond the qualities that made him an exceptional character, Idem was a unique personality of his own. His strong character made him an independent sort, affectionate at times. His charisma attained pinnacles for us. And when I watched him, it brought tears to my eyes.
Multi-Ch. Idem del Matachin.
Idem was in great demand as a stud dog both in France and abroad. The qualities he imparted proved to be significant both in the phenotype and the genotype of his numerous offspring. By examining his pedigree, we see that Do Hems Domaine des Sources appears on both sides in the fourth generation; it was a linebreeding with positive results that we duplicated later with success. Together with Tomas and Gema Pinto, we share an immense gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Létendart. In 1997, we bred Idem del Matachin to our bitch Gin de El Siscar, who was bred by Jesus Sanchez, a specialist judge of the breed. She was a nice bitch with good construction and a balanced body. That breeding produced 10 puppies, and we kept Nirvana Kwan. To our delight, he was very quickly noticed at the dog shows. He became almost as well known as his famous father.
Gin de El Siscar in 1997.
Nirvana was a pretty big dog, at 68 cm (26¾ inches), and he had a particularly well-developed chest that was very deep. His construction was impeccable, and his front and rear limbs were ideal. Without a doubt, he inherited the qualities of his father. He was also in great demand at stud, and produced high-quality offspring: typey dogs without excessiveness, with beautiful construction and excellent movement.
What dogs of your breeding were you the most proud of, and why?
The dog that we bred that we are most proud of is the undisputed Multi-Champion Signore Kwan S. Ch (Nirvana Kwan Kwan x Navailles), owned by Carole and Renatio Cnudde. He won many prestigious titles, including the coveted “Raymond Triquet Trophy,” which was presented for the first time at the National Specialty in St. Tropez in 2005 by Mr. Triquet himself. That day his stud-dog entry was made up of seven adult dogs, all bred in different countries. Signore Kwan produced many champions in many foreign countries, and was one of the best producers of his time. He was descended from a line of multiple prizewinners: Like him, his grandfather Idem del Matachin and his father Matachin del Nirvana Kwan S. des Ch. were French champions and national-specialty winners. Those three prize-winning generations set a unique record in the history of the Dogue de Bordeaux.
Multi-Ch. Signore Kwan de la Seigneurie des Chartrons.
What dogs of your breeding do you think had the most impact on the breed?
We first think Idem del Matachin, his son Nirvana Kwan and of course his little son Signore Kwan.
The commonalities among these three dogs are superb construction, excellent front and rear legs, deep, voluminous chest and beautiful movement.
A young Nirvana Kwan.
How do the dogs of 40 years ago, when you started, compare to today? What has improved? What has changed for the worse?
In the 1970s, the whole breed was quite heterogeneous. Comparing a dog of that time to today shows that the breed’s evolution has been gradual, but certainly effective. We remember that the relationship between the circumference of the head, circumference of the chest and the height at the withers wasn’t always there. Indeed, the standard stipulates that the circumference of the head should be equal to the height at the shoulder, and the circumference of the chest must be equal to the height at the withers plus 25 to 30 centimeters. There were still issues with muzzles that were too long without enough wrinkle, and bodies that were too light and lacked bone.
It was not uncommon for the Toulouse, Paris and Bordeaux types that are at the root of our modern dogs to reappear at that time.
Urko du Domaine des Sources, one of the early dogs the Coiffards acquired from their mentors the Létendarts.
In the 1980s, just a decade later, things had changed very quickly. The breed was experiencing a constantly growing success and dogs that were very representative of the breed were increasingly numerous; it was a big step forward. In the 1990s, the club focused its attention on dysplasia of both the hips and elbows, and soon enough the number of Dogues de Bordeaux with functional gaits increased undeniably. The breeding stock became increasingly more homozygous; the work breeders did in selecting their stock in close partnership with the breed club was rewarded.
Since the beginning of the 21st Century, the Dogue de Bordeaux in France and the rest of the world has maintained its growth. It is a very popular breed, and the quality of the breeding stock continues to improve. We are in awe of the work done in France and around the world. With the Internet, there is a torrent of information, we can see various and diverse dogs on the social networks. However in contrast we can see in the many photos circulating in cyberspace a large number of dogs that would be classified as hypertypical, because they are overweight, have overly large heads compared to the height at the withers, muzzles that are too wrinkled, a surplus of wrinkles on the head and long side folds that cover the jowls. Skin is too loose, creating folds on the back and forearms; bone is excessively heavy, and forearms are too short, evoking the construction of the English Bulldog.
For many years the breed club warned against the excesses of type, which concerns me. It really upsets me that these hypertypical dogs are given wins at shows in France and in many other foreign countries, despite recommendations that the club regularly makes to judges. The inconsistency of some judges is depressing: On the one hand, they denounce hypertype, and on the other they put up dogs that have these very characteristics ... This paradoxical behavior creates confusion throughout the ranks, whether among knowledgeable fanciers or neophytes.
French champion Nirvana.
What do you think is the most difficult thing about breeding Dogues?
For us, the most difficult thing in breeding the Dogue de Bordeaux is basically maintaining breed type: Creating consistency in the breed is the goal. Of course, over the years the breed has progressed considerably, but its progress can be fragile in a kennel, as we have seen repeatedly. Each breeder has his or her own preferences, and we all have different failures, but we must remain objective and be critical about what we produce, admitting our mistakes and correcting them, even if it pains us. This obligation, this steadfastness, is not always easy to live up to, but learning from the past is what moves us forward. The breed club is there to guide us in this task, so we can fulfill the requirements of the standard and health-related recommendations.
If you could give new breeders one piece of advice, what would it be?
The best way to get to know a breed is to first attend shows. Meet the breeders and owners there, watch the dogs being presented, and pay attention to how the judge places them. Then I would suggest that would-be fanciers visit as many kennels as possible to see the Dogues in their home environment, and also to interact with the breeders, because their experiences are crucial. Passionate breeders are happy to pass on their knowledge, and freely share their love of the breed.
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned in more than four decades of Dogue breeding?
We have learned that in breeding dogs, you can’t rest on your laurels; you must be tireless in your vigilance, patience and rigor, along with a good dose of humility. The goal is to improve our breeding skills, and meet the goals we have set for ourselves.
De la Seigneurie des Chartrons males Numero Six and Rackham.