Mary Allen
The Bouvier des Flandres or Flanders Cattle Dog is an old breed of herding dog from the northern areas of today’s Kingdom of Belgium, the Flanders region. The breed was recognized in 1910. The FCI leads the breed standard with the number 191 in group 1: herding dogs and cattle dogs (except Swiss mountain dogs), in section 2: cattle dogs (except Swiss mountain dogs), with a working test.
Bouvier des Flandres Dog Breed Information
Size: Males: 62-68 cm, females: 59-65 cm
Weight: Males: 35-40 kg, females: 27-35 kg
FCI group: 1: herding dogs and cattle dogs
Section: 2. Cattle Dogs
Country of origin: Belgium
Colors: Fawn, brindle, black, grey, black-brown
Life expectancy: 10-12 years
Suitable as: guard, police, tracking, protection, guide, rescue, and family dog
Sports: Draft dog sport
Temperament: Gentle, Intelligent, Loyal, Caring, Rational
Exercise requirements: rather high
Low drool potential
The thickness of hair low
Maintenance effort: rather high
Coat Structure: Slightly shaggy, about 6cm long, dry, lackluster
Child friendly: yes
Family dog: yes
Social: rather no
Origin and Breed History
The genesis of the Bouvier des Flandres is similar to that of our German Rottweiler. This breed of dog was also used for centuries to drive herds of cattle to their pastures, to the market, or to the slaughterhouse. The name “Bouvier” derives from the French word “Boeuf”, which means something like “cattle, ox”. Another name is “Vlaamse Koehond”. This comes from Dutch and means “Flemish Cow Dog”. But the Bouvier was also used to pull barges on the countless canals that flow through its home region. Such so-called tow dogs were harnessed to long ropes in front of a barge and then pulled it from the bank, on the so-called towpath, against the current to its destination.
Spanish mastiffs are probably one of the ancestors of these stately dogs, who came to Flanders with the Spanish occupiers during the Dutch War of Independence as early as the 16th century and mixed with local shepherd dogs such as the French Briard and Picard. Targeted breeding for specific breed characteristics only began at the end of the 19th century. The first Bouviers were shown at a dog show in Hasselt, Belgium, in 1900. Due to industrialization, dogs were hardly ever needed for driving cattle, but the Bouvier des Flandres quickly found new protection dog tasks with the police and military due to its good qualities.
The Bouvier des Flandres was almost extinct due to the long-term trench warfare between Germany, France, and Great Britain in the First World War, which raged mainly in Flanders and destroyed numerous villages and towns there. However, with the few remaining dogs, the breed was back-bred. In this way, a stable breeding base has been established since the 1920s. Today, the Bouvier des Flandres is mainly used as a guard and protection dog, in the police service, but also as a family dog.
Essence and Temperament of the Bouvier des Flandres
This large, strong dog is known for its calm character and good nature within its family. He is very intelligent, watchful and docile and devoted, and loyal to his owner. Especially towards the children of the family, he is very patient and peaceful. Due to its earlier use as a cattle dog, the Bouvier often had to make its own decisions, which has given it a very confident and courageous, but sometimes idiosyncratic appearance to this day. Most of the time he recognizes one person from his pack as a leader. His training, therefore, requires a certain amount of experience on the part of the dog handler, which means that compromises have to be made, since a Bouvier will not subordinate himself as easily as a poodle, for example.
A Bouvier des Flandres is initially suspicious of strangers and willing to defend themselves. Here, the dog owner must proceed very consistently from the start in order to make it clear to the dog that, for example, the postman may enter the property safely, but an unsolicited burglar is not.
Bouvier’s need for exercise is surprisingly high in view of his strong build, so he needs a lot of exercises and daily walks to be satisfied and busy. Alternatively, he can move freely as a house and yard dog on a farm or equestrian center and dutifully takes care of his tasks there.
What is the Temperament of a Bouvier des Flandres?
The Bouvier des Flandres is a very calm, alert, and absolutely loyal dog, but has a certain stubbornness and is therefore often described as stubborn by those who do not know the breed.
The Appearance of the Bouvier des Flandres
The strong, muscular body is about as long as it is tall, with a strong neck and broad, deep chest. The massive head appears even more powerful, especially due to the thick beard on the lips and chin and the strong eyebrows. According to the breed standard, the expression of the dark eyes should be “energetic”, light eyes are undesirable. The high-set, forward-tilting ears were common in the past and are still cropped in a triangular way in the country of origin, which fortunately has been banned in Germany since 1987. The same applies to the rod, which in some countries is still based on the 2nd-3rd caudal vertebrae is shortened. This practice has also been illegal in this country since 1998. However, there are dogs with a congenital bobtail that are still considered suitable for breeding.
The Bouvier’s coat consists of a harsh, lackluster topcoat and very dense undercoat, giving it a rather shaggy appearance. This fur coat perfectly protects the dog from the elements, but it also requires some care. Gray brindle and black-toned are the most desirable coat colors. But deep black dogs are also allowed. Light coat colors such as fawn and even white do occur, but are undesirable and lead to exclusion from breeding.
Males reach a shoulder height of between 62 and 68 centimeters with a weight of 35-40 kilograms. Females are smaller and lighter at 59-65 cm and 27-35 kg.
Upbringing and Husbandry of the Bouvier des Flandres – This is Important to Note
When it comes to training, a Bouvier des Flandres demands compromises from its owner. Unconditional obedience and total subordination are not for the self-confident and sovereign Belgian. This becomes understandable when you consider how this breed of dog was originally used: Like a herding dog for cattle, these strong four-legged friends often had to make decisions at lightning speed on their own responsibility and also had to take on the well-fortified and much larger stubborn heads like the heavy oxen. What was desired at the time is now quickly interpreted as stubbornness or stubbornness – a beginner in dog ownership quickly feels overwhelmed here.
However, if you treat your Flanders Cattle Dog with the appropriate understanding and affectionate, but straightforward consistency, the dog will see the meaning of the given commands and will also learn and follow them docilely. As with all other dogs, with the Bouvier des Flandres, it is particularly true that you will not get any further with harshness or even violence. Training with positive reinforcement through praise and, especially in the young dog phase, through rewards in the form of food is the key to success.
In order to familiarize the young dog with other dogs and as many environmental situations as possible, it is advisable to visit a dog school with puppy playgroups, in which the first basic commands are learned in a playful way right from the start, thus laying the foundation for good training. Such a well-socialized and trained Bouvier des Flandres will make a confident and agreeable companion as an adult.
A Bouvier can also be kept in an apartment if it is used daily in the form of exercise, walks, or dog sports – but in view of its stately size, a house with a garden seems more suitable, at best a large property or a yard where it can roam freely. He absolutely needs a direct connection to his family, which excludes a separate kennel for the Bouvier as for other dog breeds.
How Much Does a Bouvier des Flandres Puppy Cost?
A good breeder who keeps their dogs in a species-appropriate manner and feeds them high-quality food has the parent animals tested for their suitability for breeding and gives the puppies all the necessary veterinary treatment incurs high costs even before they sell their puppies. The price for a puppy from such a breed is therefore not less than $1000, usually significantly more.
Nutrition of the Bouvier des Flandres
Large dogs like the Bouvier grow more slowly and longer than small ones and therefore need food specially tailored to their needs, especially during the growth phase. Excessive energy intake or an incorrect composition of nutrients and minerals can lead to irreparable damage to bones and muscles, which constantly causes problems for adult dogs and significantly shortens their life expectancy. In specialist shops, you will find various high-quality, meat-based ready-to-eat foods that are tailored to the needs of these large dog breeds depending on their phase of life and provide them with all the important ingredients in the right combination. It doesn’t matter whether you choose dry or wet food.
For adult dogs, the amount of food and energy required depends on the individual level of activity, age, and state of health, so the dog’s diet must be adjusted over the lifespan of the dog. If the daily ration for puppies and young dogs is divided into several small portions over the day, adult dogs should be fed twice a day, ideally in the morning and evening after an activity phase. After eating, there is a resting phase in which the food is digested in order to prevent dangerous torsion of the stomach. The dog must have access to fresh drinking water at all times.
Healthy – Life Expectancy & Common Diseases
Since the Bouvier des Flandres is not a fashionable breed, the breed is still very original and the dog breed has been spared serious hereditary diseases. As with many other large dog breeds, however, bone and joint diseases such as hip dysplasia (HD) or elbow dysplasia (ED) must also be expected with the Bouvier. Eye problems such as cataracts (= gray star) also occur in this breed. The various breeding associations try to avoid these diseases as far as possible through appropriate medical examinations of the potential parents.
A well-bred puppy with healthy parents has a life expectancy of around 10-12 years if cared for appropriately, but 14 and 15 years are also possible.
How Old Does a Bouvier des Flandres Get?
A dog that is well-bred with healthy parents has an average life expectancy of 10-12 years if kept and fed appropriately.
Care of the Bouvier des Flandres
Although the very dense, lush coat hardly sheds, the Bouvier des Flandres still needs some care in order not to become matted. The dog should therefore be thoroughly brushed several times a week, and the hair coat is trimmed to a length of about six centimeters about every three months. The hair between the toes in particular can quickly become matted and then prevent the dog from walking, so checking the paws is an essential part of regular grooming. Even the dense beard often has to be cleaned of uneaten food and dirt. The sooner the puppy becomes accustomed to these regular grooming routines, the calmer and more stoic the adult dog will endure. To protect your own back, it is advisable to teach the dog directly to stand still on a table.
Since the tipped ears are also densely hairy, especially on the inside, it must be checked regularly whether the auditory canal is clean and healthy. A lack of ventilation of the inside of the ear in connection with penetrating dirt or parasites can easily cause an ear infection, which can be very uncomfortable and painful for the dog and should be treated as soon as possible. Signs of such inflammation include an unpleasant odor coming from the ear, the dog shaking its head violently and frequently, or scratching one or both ears. Then it’s time to go to the vet and have the cause clarified.
Bouvier des Flandres – Activities and Training
The strong Belgian is a workhorse and likes to be kept busy and exercised. If he cannot move freely all day on a large farm or riding stable, this means that he must at least be taken for a long walk every day. Its stamina also allows it to be used, for example, on a bicycle or as a companion when riding alongside a horse, always provided that the speed is adapted to the dog and not vice versa.
Despite its strong physique, the Bouvier des Flandres is surprisingly agile and light-footed, which also makes it suitable for numerous dog sports such as agility, obedience, or tracking. The breed has even proven itself many times as a guide dog or rescue dog. However, training as a protection dog should be reserved for dogs actually used in police or protection services, since a Bouvier in a private household is already very alert and defensive and this behavior should not be reinforced.
Good to Know: Peculiarities of the Bouvier des Flandres
Since the Bouvier des Flandres used to be used as a draft dog, whether it was harnessed to the farmer’s cart to transport milk and cheese to market or used as a draft dog in front of a barge on the countless waterways of his homeland, he has a very high pulling power and can pull up to 8 times its body weight.
The fans of the breed praise his very special nature, his relaxed charm, and his humor, which means that living with this four-legged friend never gets boring.
How Big Does a Bouvier des Flandres Get?
Males of this dog breed reach a shoulder height of between 62 and 68 centimeters and weigh 35-40 kilograms, females are smaller and lighter at 59-65 cm and 27-35 kg.
Cons of the Bouvier des Flandres
A Bouvier des Flandres has retained a certain autonomy and sovereignty, which often makes it appear idiosyncratic and stubborn to those who do not know this breed. However, this assessment does not do him justice, because exactly this self-determined nature in connection with his vigilance and the innate protective instinct was one of the most important breeding goals at a time when the Bouvier was still supposed to be a working animal to herd and drive the herds of cattle. As the owner of this breed, you should therefore have a certain amount of experience in dog training or get help from experienced professionals in a good dog training school right from the start.
Is the Bouvier des Flandres Right for Me?
If you are thinking about getting a dog for the first time, then it should not necessarily be a Bouvier des Flandres. This active four-legged friend is also less suitable for seniors who are no longer quite as sprightly and mobile themselves. This breed requires some experience in dog training and keeping so that the self-confident dog becomes a well-behaved and pleasant companion. However, if you are already familiar with dogs and are looking for a challenge with the aim of having a very special, unusual, and absolutely loyal four-legged friend at your side who will go through thick and thin with you, then this breed is the right choice for you!
Of course, before purchasing a living being, there is always sufficient preparation and planning. After all, you bind yourself to an animal for the next 10-12 years or even longer, which is absolutely dependent on you and your goodwill, wants to be kept busy every day and, last but not least, costs a lot of money. Not only the purchase price for the puppy (from reputable breeding this is over $1000), but also the maintenance has to be calculated here, and that quickly amounts to between $50 and $100 a month.
A good breeder, whose primary goal is to find a good home for his puppies, will certainly be willing to answer your questions about keeping a Bouvier des Flandres and will also be available as a contact person after you have bought the puppy.