The Bouvier des Flandres origin can be traced back to the farms and fields of Belgium and France.
They were used as a farm dog doing various chores such as herding cattle and sheep, pulling milk carts and guarding the farm.
During the war the breed was used to remove the wounded from battle fields and as messenger dogs.
By the end of World War II the breed was all but extinct.
Hitler had put an order out to destroy the Bouvier Kennels.
The breed is with us today thanks to some devoted breeders who smuggled some breeding stock out of harms way.
Today you can find Bouviers performing many of the same tasks.
The modern day Bouvier is used for herding, police work, search and rescue, aiding the blind along with being a loyal, devoted family member.
To welcome a Bouvier into your family can be a very rewarding experience.
Like all breeds the Bouvier is not for everyone so do your research.
But, in the end if you find this is the breed for you, your family will be rewarded with a dog that will love you unconditionally, protect you without question and give you countless hours of laughter and joy.
The Bouvier’s height should be 24 ½” to 27 ½” for dogs and 23 ½” to 26 ½” for bitches.
The breed has a double coat which is made up of a softer thick undercoat and a coarse outer coat.
The Bouvier does not shed like most breeds.
When combing your Bouvier you will remove and break off any loose hair and keep the coat from matting.
To keep a Bouvier in full show coat requires daily brushing along with a trip to your groomers every 8 weeks.
But many people have their Bouvier groomed in what is called a Puppy Cut.
The Bouvier is noted for their expressive eyes which are framed by eyebrows, long fall (the hair that grows between their eyebrows and drapes down over their nose) and full beard.
However, if you find the full beard too much especially when they have had a drink of water and want to place their head on your lap, many people keep the beard cut close.
The one part of the Bouviers head that should not be cut is the “fall”.
The fall has a purpose and that is to keep the Bouvier’s large eyes protected.
Without their fall the eye could be scratched.
The Bouvier is part of the Herding Group.
Their coat color ranges from fawn, grey or silver to the darker brindle and black.
They have a determined spirit and
benefit from early obedience training.
Bouviers are very intelligent and if you do not let them know from the beginning who is in charge they will gladly take over that role.
This is never a good thing.
So start training and socialize your puppy once they have made the adjustment to their new home.
Bouviers are great with children when either raised with children or exposed to children at a young age.
The key to having a wonderful relationship with your Bouvier is training and socializing.
We cannot stress enough how important those two things are with this breed as with many other breeds.
This is why we handle our puppies as soon as they are born.
And as soon as they have had their first set of shots we start getting them out and around others.
They learn so much during those first weeks of life and the more you can expose them to the better.
And their Mom is always around to give them guidance.
Belle and Lola enjoying a Spring day.
(click the picture for a larger view)
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