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Bouvier des Flandres History

The Bouvier des Flandres is a herding dog that originated in Flanders. They were first bred by the monks at the Ter Duinen monastery. The name literally translates in english to "Herder of Flanders" Bouviers were originally used for general farm work including cattle droving, sheep herding, and cart pulling, they are more commonly used as guard dogs and police dogs in modern day. During World War One, Bouviers were used as military dogs and were almost made extinct. Those who survived were taken into a selective breeding program, set up by the Club National Belge du Bouvier des Flanders, that created the breed that you see today. The Bouvier des Flanders were officially recognized as a breed in 1931.

Bouvier des Flandres Temperament

The Bouvier is a spirited, intelligent, powerful dog. They are alert and attentive and make very excellent watchdogs and guardians, but they can be suspicious around strangers. Bouviers excel at such dog sports like Schutzhund and Ring Sport where they can maximize their inbred abilities. They are also socially dominant dogs that can be aggressive towards other animals, so a confident owner is best for this breed. Bouviers have high prey drives, due to their herding heritage, and may display this behavior by trying to "herd" small children or other animals. As a protection dog, Bouviers tend to use their large bodies to move aggressors around, rather than bite them.

Bouvier des Flandres Appearance

Bouviers are large, sturdy dogs that usually weigh between 80 to 120 pounds and stand 23 to 28 inches at the withers. The most notable characteristic of these dogs is their very large head and the beard around their mouths. Their ears are traditionally cropped, but some breeders prefer the natural look. They have a thick double coat, which can be fawn, black, grey brindle, or "pepper and salt" in color.

Bouvier des Flandres Grooming

These dogs are considered low shedding, but do need a regular weekly brushing to keep their fur from getting matted. To keep their coats looking presentable, they need to be shaved every few months. If you are unwilling to do this, they must be taken to a professional groomer. The Bouvier also has a beard that must be cleaned daily to remove trapped food.

Bouvier des Flandres Life Expectancy and Health Problems

The common health problems of Bouviers are Hip and Elbow Displaysia, Hypothyroidism, Cataracts and heart problems. Since this is a deep chested breed, Bloat, or twisitng of the stomach, is also a problem. The average lifespan of this breed is 10 to 12 years.

Bouvier des Flandres Pros and Cons

This simplified list may help you decide if a Bouvier des Flanders might be a good fit for your lifestyle.

Do You Want

• a very big dog?
• a natural watchdog?
• a dog with a very imposing appearance?
• a low shedding dog?

Do You NOT Want

• a socially dominant dog that needs a confident owner?
• a dog that can be aggressive around other dogs?
• a dog that can be suspicious of strangers?
• a dog that can display it's herding ability by trying to "herd" small children?
• a dog that needs a considerable amount of grooming to look neat?
• a dog that barks a lot?

Useful Bouvier des Flandres Links

The American Bouvier des Flandres Club

The Bouvier des Flandres Club of Canada

The Bouvier des Flandres Club of Great Britian