Bouvier Des Flandres
Group: Working
Size: Large
Coat length: Medium
Grooming required: Every day
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Large House
Garden size: Large
Lifespan: Over 10 Years
Exercise: Up to 1 hour per day
The Bouvier is a large, muscular dog with a coarse, shaggy coat that comes in a variety of colours. The long coat covers the face too, giving the impression of a beard and moustache.
They were originally bred in Belgium to guard and herd cattle but also helped ambulances in World War 1.
Willing and able to learn, this dog does well with obedience training at an early age. They are a stable breed but their natural instinct is to guard. They are usually good with the family but can be suspicious of strangers. They can be taught to get along with other dogs but care needs to be taken around other animals. They tend to be sedentary indoors so it is necessary to give them enough opportunities for exercise outside.
The long, shaggy coat, needs regular grooming but perhaps not as much as might be imagined. Prone to hip dysplasia and eye problems, it is not always easy to tell if there is something wrong with this breed as they have a high tolerance for pain.