What Kinda Dog Is Hooch

What happens when an uptight and cleanliness-obsessed U.S. Marshal adopts a destructive and very slobbery dog? That’s the premise of Disney+‘s new crime comedy, Turner & Hooch, starring Josh Peck. A reboot of the 1989 Tom Hanks movie, Turner & Hooch features a French Mastiff as main character Scott Turner’s four-legged companion. Here’s more on the dog breed, plus what it was like for Hanks and Peck to work with French Mastiffs.

Dogue De Bordeaux

Dogue de Bordeaux Dog Breed Pictures

Dogue de Bordeaux Dog Breed Information, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts – DogTime

What Kinda Dog Is Hooch

Are you a big ‘Turner and Hooch’ fan? Do you know what type of pup Hooch was?

The Dogue de Bordeaux (a.k.a. French Mastiff) starred alongside Tom Hanks in the 1989 comedy Turner and Hooch. The canine actors name was Beasley, and this was his only film.

Most people had never heard of the breed before this film! After it came out, many fell in love with this strong and stubborn dog breed.

The original ‘Turner & Hooch’ dog was a French Mastiff named Beasley

Both the original and the reboot of Turner & Hooch use a Dogue de Bordeaux, also known as a French Mastiff, in the role of Hooch. The franchise depicts Hooch as a very protective and energetic dog, which isn’t far from reality, according to American Kennel Club.

While not an aggressive breed, French Mastiffs are not afraid to protect their families from any danger. They’re very loyal to the ones they love. As seen in Turner & Hooch, this dog breed does drool a lot. French Mastiffs also tend to be stubborn like Hooch, but they can become well-behaved with proper training.

In the original film, a French Mastiff named Beasley primarily played the role of Hooch alongside Hanks. However, the dog did have a few stunt doubles. During a 2012 appearance on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me, Hanks said he “loved” Beasley and got along well with the film’s French Mastiffs.

“You know, when you make a movie with a dog, you have to work with the dog for weeks prior to shooting it. Otherwise, he won’t take his eye off the trainer. So, I would go off and play with, I think, actually three dogs that portrayed Turner and Hooch. It was a part too big for one dog,” Hanks said.

Unfortunately, Beasley died in 1992, not long after Turner & Hooch‘s release. However, he lived to be 14 years old, far beyond a French Mastiff’s typical life expectancy of five to eight years.

FAQ

How much does a French mastiff cost?

What dog breed is Hooch in Turner and Hooch? The dog featured in Turner & Hooch, both the 1989 original and the 2021 follow-up, is a French Mastiff, a muscular breed known for its strength which first gained popularity in the mid-1800s.