Bouvier des Flandres breed guide

Smart and steady, with a sterling character, a huge heart and keen intelligence, the Bouvier des Flandres is strong-willed, courageous and affectionate. The work ethic must be accommodated and the breed's versatility lets it handle myriad tasks.

A Bouvier is happiest with a job, whether babysitting, herding, obedience, guard work or rescue work. It is easily trained to almost any dog sport. A strong prey drive means it needs good socialization from early on.

Bouviers des Flandres live 10 to 12 years. Breeders screen for Bouvier des Flandres myopathy, cataracts, deafness, ectopic ureters, epilepsy, glaucoma, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, laryngeal paralysis, megaesophagus, elbow dysplasia, portosystemic shunt and subaortic stenosis.

Like all large deep-chested breeds, the Bouvier des Flandres may suffer gastric dilatation and bloat, so owners should learn how to identify it.

The coat needs brushing once or twice a week with a good slicker or pin brush and a large comb. The beard may need cleaning at the same time and the toenails should be trimmed every week or two.

A bored Bouvier may be a very destructive one, so an active household with an owner who hikes, jogs or bikes is an excellent fit. AKC says it needs a large enclosed exercise area.

Bouvier des Flandres roughly translates as cowherd of Flanders and in its formative years the dog was called vuilbaard, dirty beard, koehond, cow dog and toucher de boeuf, cattle driver. Belgium once had several bouvier breeds and this is the last to exist in any great numbers.

In medieval times Flanders was a principality covering parts of modern France, Belgium and the Netherlands and both France and Belgium still claim the Bouvier des Flandres as a native breed.