Bouvier des Flandres
The Bouvier des Flandres is a herding dog breed originating in Flanders. They were originally used for general farm work including cattle droving, sheep herding, and cart pulling, and nowadays as guard dogs and police dogs, as well as being kept as pets. The French name of the breed means, literally, "Cow Herder of Flanders", referring to the Flemish origin of the breed. Other names for the breed are Toucheur de Boeuf (cattle driver) and Vuilbaard (dirty beard).
Appearance
The Bouvier is a powerfully built compact rough coated dog of rugged appearance. It gives the impression of size and strength without clumsiness or heaviness. Perhaps its most notable feature is the impressive head which is accentuated by a heavy beard and mustache. The ears and tail of the Bouvier are traditionally cropped. The weight of males ranges from 80 to 120 pounds or 36 to 54 kilograms, slightly smaller for females. They are powerfully built, with a thick double coat, which can be fawn, black, grey brindle, or "pepper and salt" in color. Bouviers are sometimes considered non-shedding, but in fact do lose hair, like all dogs. Most of the hair that they lose is caught within the double coat which results in matting. They require weekly brushing and combing to maintain the coat. In addition to weekly brushing, the coat should be trimmed approximately every 3–5 weeks if it is to be a show dog. Trimming requires practice to achieve the proper look.
Temperament
Bouviers des Flandres are rational, gentle, loyal, and protective in nature. The breed's particular blend of characteristics makes them good family pets, as well as keen guard dogs. Unlike some animals bred for aggressive nature and power, the Bouvier possesses sophisticated traits, such as complex control, intelligence, and accountability.
The Bouvier des Flandres is an obedient dog with a pleasant nature. They look intimidating, but are actually calm and gentle. They are enthusiastic, responsible, even-tempered, and fearless, and are excellent guard and watchdogs that are easy to train. This breed learns commands relatively fast. However Bouviers get bored easily and learn best when repetition is limited.
They require well-balanced training that remains consistent in nature. It is important to consistently make the dog aware, without being harsh or rough, that the owner is, and will remain, the boss. This breed needs an experienced owner to prevent dominance and over-protectiveness problems. Dogs poorly trained can become inappropriately dominant towards humans. Dogs not socialized can become fearful and pose a problem when introduced to new situations in which they do not feel comfortable.
Appearance
The Bouvier is a powerfully built compact rough coated dog of rugged appearance. It gives the impression of size and strength without clumsiness or heaviness. Perhaps its most notable feature is the impressive head which is accentuated by a heavy beard and mustache. The ears and tail of the Bouvier are traditionally cropped. The weight of males ranges from 80 to 120 pounds or 36 to 54 kilograms, slightly smaller for females. They are powerfully built, with a thick double coat, which can be fawn, black, grey brindle, or "pepper and salt" in color. Bouviers are sometimes considered non-shedding, but in fact do lose hair, like all dogs. Most of the hair that they lose is caught within the double coat which results in matting. They require weekly brushing and combing to maintain the coat. In addition to weekly brushing, the coat should be trimmed approximately every 3–5 weeks if it is to be a show dog. Trimming requires practice to achieve the proper look.
Temperament
Bouviers des Flandres are rational, gentle, loyal, and protective in nature. The breed's particular blend of characteristics makes them good family pets, as well as keen guard dogs. Unlike some animals bred for aggressive nature and power, the Bouvier possesses sophisticated traits, such as complex control, intelligence, and accountability.
The Bouvier des Flandres is an obedient dog with a pleasant nature. They look intimidating, but are actually calm and gentle. They are enthusiastic, responsible, even-tempered, and fearless, and are excellent guard and watchdogs that are easy to train. This breed learns commands relatively fast. However Bouviers get bored easily and learn best when repetition is limited.
They require well-balanced training that remains consistent in nature. It is important to consistently make the dog aware, without being harsh or rough, that the owner is, and will remain, the boss. This breed needs an experienced owner to prevent dominance and over-protectiveness problems. Dogs poorly trained can become inappropriately dominant towards humans. Dogs not socialized can become fearful and pose a problem when introduced to new situations in which they do not feel comfortable.
Bouviers should be socialized well, preferably starting at an early age, to avoid shyness, suspiciousness, and being overly reserved with strangers (although the breed is naturally aloof with strangers). Protection of the family when danger is present is not something that needs to be taught, nor is it something one can train out of them. The dog will rise to the occasion if needed. A good family dog, the Bouvier likes, and is excellent with, children. The Bouvier is very adaptable and goes about its business quietly and calmly. Obedience training starts at an early age. Their behavior depends on the owner's ability to communicate what is expected, and on the individual dominance level of the dog. They are usually good with other dogs if they are raised with them from puppyhood. Dominant individuals can be dog-aggressive if the owners are not assertive and do not communicate to the dog that fighting is unwanted. Slow to mature both in body and mind, the Bouvier does not fully mature until the age of 2–3 years.
History The monks at the Ter Duinen monastery, in Flanders, were among the earliest known breeders of Flanders. The bouviers bred by them are recorded as having been bred from imports such as Irish wolfhounds and Scottish Deerhounds with local farm dogs, until a breed considered to be the predecessor of the modern Bouvier des Flandres was obtained. This became a working dog able to perform tirelessly, herding and guarding cattle and even pulling cargo carts, thanks to its strength and temperament, and to withstand the local weather conditions due to its thick coat. Historically, the ear cropping and tail docking could have been done for practical reasons, avoiding accidental amputations in the course of work, or to indicate the dog was working stock and not a pet subject to taxation. Up until the early 20th century, the breed was not completely defined, with three variants: Paret, Moerman or Roeselare, and Briard. Conflict between the proponents of these three variants held the breed's development back. In 1912 and 1913, several local kennel clubs recognized standards for Bouviers; however they usually had different standards for the Roeselare and other variants. World War I nearly caused the breed to completely disappear, due to the devastation that came over its region of origin and the fact that the dogs were used for military purposes. Indeed, Nic, a male trained as a trench dog who served during the war and was a perennial winner at dog shows after the war, is considered to be the founder of the early Bouvier des Flandres breed. A unified Bouvier des Flandres standard was created in 1936 by a joint French-Belgian committee. However, World War II again endangered the breed's existence. Due to these setbacks, progress was slowed, and it was not until 1965 that the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) breed standard, as agreed to by several minor kennel clubs, was adopted. Activities Bouviers des Flandres can compete in dog agility trials, carting, obedience, dog showmanship, Schutzhund, tracking, and herding events. Herding instincts and trainability can be measured at noncompetitive herding tests. Bouviers exhibiting basic herding instincts can then be trained to compete in herding trials. Shedding The Bouvier des Flandres sheds practically no hair at all. You'll virtually never find a hair in your home! Grooming Bouviers des Flandres are sometimes considered non-shedding, but in fact do lose hair, like all dogs. Most of the hair that they lose is caught within the double coat which results in matting. They require regular grooming and in many cases a brushing every few days to minimize matting or entangled debris in the thick coat. The bearded snout can also be a catch-all for the Bouvier’s meals, so some owners recommend a daily rinse with perhaps some mild soap and warm water in your hand to clean things up a little. Depending on your Bouvier’s role, whether working dog, show dog or just family pet, may determine the amount of grooming you choose. In addition to weekly brushing, the coat should be trimmed approximately every 3-5 weeks if it is to be a show-dog. If you aren’t planning to show your Bouvier des Flandres, you may even consider taking up home grooming to keep your dog cooler in the warm months, the coat is thick and grows back quickly – though the double coat may also make it more tricky to groom for the inexperienced groomer – so do get some advice and use the proper tools. Training Training is essential for this breed. Basic obedience and household rules training both need to be given serious attention early if you want this dog to live under your rules. As an absolute minimum, you must teach him to unquestioningly respond to basic commands to come, to lie down, to stay, and to walk at your side, on or off leash and ignore distractions. You MUST also teach him to follow your household rules, if you plan to have this dog spend any time inside the house. Is he allowed to get on the furniture? If he allowed to beg at the table – he will do so regularly. This dog is both intelligent and very self-assured and will not hesitate to challenge soft leadership of his pack. What you allow or forbid is unimportant; but it is critical that you, not the dog, make these choices and that you enforce your rules consistently. You must commit yourself to take the training seriously as this is not a dog that can be trained for you by another person. Perhaps attending an 9 to 10 week series of weekly lessons at a local obedience club or professional trainer and to doing one or two short (20 minutes) homework sessions per day. Failure to properly train the dog can lead to any number of difficult or embarrassing situations. This powerful breed was used to control cattle and oxen and will find little trouble in dominating your home or your guests or pulling the leash out of your hands should he decide to chase something. Exercise Needs
The Bouvier des Flandres requires regular exercise. Bred to run with the flocks and herds – these dogs can get bored if not given something to do regularly. A minimum of a daily walk is a good starting point. Room to run would be great for these dogs, if you have a dog park or a place to let the dog play. Health Concerns As with most large breeds, hip dysplasia can be a problem. That is the malformation of the ball and socket of the hip joint. As it can be passed on to puppies from the parents, responsible breeders screen for this by x-raying their breeding stock and certifying them “clear” with either the Orthopedic Foundation of Animals (OFA) or PennHip, or in part of Canada – Ontario Veterinary College(OVC), to prove each dog is clear of this problem. Elbow dysplasia, heart conditions and thyroid problems are more common. The only way to prevent them is by genetic testing BOTH parents. Many of these problems can be tested for and certified clear with different organizations. Ask to see health certificates. Bloat and gastric torsion involves a twisting of the stomach. It is seen in large deep bodied breeds of dogs, and the Bouvier des Flandres is no exception. There are many guidelines to feeding you dog, but to date there is no known cause or solution for the problem. Hereditary eye problems such as cataracts, entropion and glaucoma are known to appear in the breed. Eye checks are used to screen for these problems and yearly clearance and certification from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation(CERF) at Purdue University. Despite the fact that most breeders will perform genetic health tests to help minimize the risk of passing on any problems,sometimes something unforeseen will happen in a puppy. When it comes to buying a Bouvier des Flandres from a breeder, take the extra care to check the health certificates and ask for copies of those that you feel may be missing or hard to read. Be sure that your contact with the breeder covers genetic problems that may occur and what the breeder is willing to do in terms of guarantee. Most reputable breeders will take great care to ensure that they provide screened healthy dogs and lots of good advice should you encounter problems. Right For Me? With the demands of grooming, good outdoor space for running, and the great importance of dedicated training early, the Bouvier des Flandres is not a dog for every situation or every owner. Additionally, they demand attention and form a close bond with their families, so they are not well suited to being yard dogs or guard dogs that are kept outside. It is recommended that new owners of these dogs be fully aware of the amount of training needed and be experienced dog owners before undertaking the role of Owner/Pack leader for one of these dogs. If you have the space, the time and the dedication to put in the extra time training your puppy, the Bouvier des Flandres can be a very special dog. Anything less than a serious effort on your part though and you may find yourself with a bored, unhappy dog with bad habits that will disrupt your home and perhaps force you to find a better situation for the dog. The dedication that these dogs show to a master and family, may make it difficult to leave them home, so keep that in mind if you travel often. The needs of the dog are not exceptional, but being a good owner for a Bouvier des Flandres can be very demanding for a time. |