Bouvier des Flandres Breed Focus
Originally from Belgium, the Bouvier des Flandres is a versatile working dog. These large, powerful and imposing dogs were created by crossing the Beauceron to various Griffon breeds. They were commonly used in the cattle trade to herd livestock to market and to guard butcher's establishments. In fact, the name "Bouvier" means "butcher."
In the early days the dogs were bred exclusively for their working abilities. No attention at all was paid to appearance and Bouviers came in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, distinguishable only by their attitude and willingness to work.
During World War I they were used extensively for delivering messages, and as a result their numbers declined to a point where the breed almost became extinct.Fortunately, a group of breeders took it on themselves to save the breed, at the same time defining a breed standard and developing the dog we know today. The Bouvier is a multi-talented dog, and excels at all kinds of work, including guarding, search and rescue, police and military work.
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The Bouvier is a heavy, well-muscled dog that gives the impression of power. The build is squarish, with a strong muzzle and a bushy eyebrows. The coat is rugged and can be a number of colors including black, blonde, brindle, fawn, grey, and salt-and-pepper.
The Bouvier looks intimidating, but is actually a friendly, balanced dog. However, this is not a dog to be trifled with, the Bouvier has strong guarding instincts and is fiercely protective of its family. In general though, they are obedient and well-behaved with a playfulness that extends well into adulthood. They are intelligent dogs, and take well to training.
A Bouvier that has been trained and socialized makes an excellent pet, that gets on well with children, other dogs and non canine pets. And training is most definitely required. Not that this is an aggressive breed, but any dog this big will be difficult to control if it hasn't been trained.
This is a generally robust and healthy breed although they are prone to hip dysplasia and various eye problems. These dogs have a very pain tolerance, and will actually hide symptoms from you, so you'll have to be alert for any sign that all is not well.
Grooming is a serious consideration with this breed. The rough, heavy coat requires daily brushing, and cutting at least three times a year.
If you've decided to adopt a Bouvier, be prepared for a lot of exercise. Remember that, these are working dogs so they need plenty of exercise. You'll need to give your dog a long walk every day, plus games and other activities to keep him happy. While a Bouvier can adapt to an apartment, a house with garden is a much better option.
If you’re looking for a name for your Bouvier des Flandres, the best advice is to visit a dog names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of boy dog names.
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