The Bouvier Des Flandres: A Profile

The Bouvier des Flandres is a large, rugged herding dog developed in Belgium primarily by farmers and cattle drovers. They wanted a working dog large enough to herd and protect cattle, pull milk carts, and protect a farmstead, and they got it in the Bouvier. In 1931 the Bouvier des Flandres was recognized as a herding breed by the American Kennel Club. Although he still herds, today's Bouvier may work with police and military, both as a protector and as a drug or bomb sniffer, as an assistance dog for people who are blind or disabled, and often as a therapy dog. In the right home, the Bouvier is an excellent family dog.

Bouvier males are between 24 ½ to 27 ½ inches tall at the withers, with females about an inch shorter, and they weigh between 80 and 110 pounds. The Bouvier, or Bouv as he's known to admirers, is a sturdy dog with a thick double coat of hair; the outer coat is coarse and wiry, about 2 inches long, and the inner coat is much shorter and denser, and prone to shedding and matting. The most notable thing about the Bouv is his head: it's large, and accented by thick eyebrows and a dense beard. The color of the Bouvier can be fawn, salt and pepper, gray, brindle, or black.

The large Bouvier prefers open fields, or at least a fenced yard, although he can adapt to apartment life if given enough exercise. His temperament is calm; he won't greet you exuberantly when you walk through the door, but his affection and loyalty are seen as he follows you from room to room and lies at your feet. Bouvs are people-dogs; they shouldn't be left outside alone, or they will become lonely, unhappy, and possibly destructive. A Bouvier needs to feel that he's part of the family; you are his "pack." Although he'll protect his family, a Bouvier has excellent instincts about who poses a threat and who doesn't, and he barks only when he feels it's necessary.

Because the Bouvier was bred to work, he has a high energy level and great intelligence. Spending a few hours lazing around a fenced yard isn't enough exercise for him; he'd prefer an hour long walk or jog daily. Early obedience training is a must, and his owner has to have enough self-confidence and assertiveness to be the pack leader. Bouviers respond much better to praise than to correction, and when young, require a patient owner who won't lose his temper. Pursuing obedience trials, participating in herding or agility trials, or even just chasing a Frisbee in the park are all good ways to focus your Bouvier's energy.

Regular grooming is essential for Bouviers. At least once a week, he needs an hour of brushing the outer coat, which will bring out the loose hair of the undercoat and keep it from matting. The brushing also brings good blood flow to his skin, preventing potential skin problems. His nails should be trimmed, his ears cleaned, his eyebrows and beard shaped, and his teeth brushed. Grooming is a good time both for bonding and for reinforcing obedience commands like "sit," "down," and "stay." Grooming should begin in your puppy's first days in his new home, and continue throughout his life, and it should be a pleasant experience for both of you, not a chore.

Never buy a Bouvier from a pet store, or from a backyard breeder. Choose a good kennel (you can find a list here of breeders recognized by the American Bouvier des Flandres Club); you'll know it's good if they check you out even more thoroughly than you check them. A pup from a good kennel will cost between $700 and $1000, and while you might pay less up front at a pet store, you're likely to spend far more down the road in vet bills. Kennels stand behind their puppies for the life of the dog, which for a Bouvier is 10 to 15 years. (You can also consider a rescue Bouvier; for more info and photos go to this link .) The biggest health problems with Bouviers are bloat and heartworm. In bloat, the stomach swells up from gas, fluids, or a combination of both; if your Bouvier refuses to eat, and begins vomiting, take him to a vet immediately, as bloat can be life-threatening. Heartworm disease can be prevented by regular monthly use of a heartworm preventative, for your dog's entire life. Bouviers may have hip dysplasia, a common genetic condition among large dogs, but a good breeder won't breed animals that have the condition, making it far less likely that your Bouvier will need to cope with it.

If you're thinking that the Bouvier sounds like the perfect dog for you, consider the following. You need to train the Bouvier daily, and you have to do it patiently and lovingly. You also need to socialize your Bouvier from day one with other dogs and all kinds of people, so he won't eat the neighbor's Chihuahua or fear the mailman. You need to groom the Bouvier for at least an hour a week, and sometimes more. The Bouvier sheds very little, but his coat is a magnet for dirt and plant debris each time he goes out, and when he comes back in, his coat will deposit those things on your floors, furniture, and clothing. If you love a spotless house, don't get a Bouvier. One of the nicknames of the Bouvier is "dirty beard," and it is apt; the Bouv always drinks from the bottom of the bowl, soaking his beard so you'll enjoy wet dog smell all day, and he gets crumbs in his beard each time he eats anything; no matter how often or carefully you comb it you'll miss some, and they'll smell too. They are huge dogs, and besides taking up all your floor space, that means big vet bills because they need more and bigger pills, shots, etc. They also eat a lot, and what goes in comes out, and you're the one who'll be cleaning that up. Every day. If that weren't enough, they are probably the most flatulent breed in existence. And considering how big they are, well, you get the idea. And your Bouvier will need all of this for the next 10 to15 years.

If nothing in the above paragraph makes you change your mind about Bouviers des Flandres, then you're probably well-suited to own one. They are truly wonderful companions, loving and loyal for life, good with children, and protective of their home and of you.

(Sources: http://www.akc.org/breeds/bouvier_des_flandres/,http://www.bouvier.org/,http://www.bouvier.org/publications/beginner_guide.html, http://www.bouvierhealthfoundation.org/genetic_health_issues.htm, http://www.bouviers.net/info/dontbuy.html , http://www.justdogbreeds.com/bouvier-des-flandres.html , http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bouvierdesflandres.htm , http://www.bogartsdaddy.com/bouvier/BuyersGuide/The_Costs.htm )