Bouvier des Flandres

History/Origin
Bouvies des Flandres”, which also denotes Cattle Driver from Flanders, has its roots in the northern part of Europe, specifically in Belgium. This breed was considered to be part of the animal working force, as it served as a cattle driver and milk cart puller to farmers and rural people.

Even during the early times, the dog already proved its worth to human beings. Aside from being a farm and herding dog, it also acted as home guardian and companion dog. In fact, Bouvies des Flandres” had a large role in Belgian history, as the breed aided Belgians in escaping the Germans during the First World War.

Description
Bouvies des Flandres (pronounced as ”boov-yae dae fluhn-druh) is another fluffy type of dog that one would want to keep around the house because of its looks. Its’ coating is usually jet black in color, but in some cases, the fur coat may come in dark, patchy shades of gray or brown.

What makes this dog stand out from all other fluffy dog breeds is its very thick and hairy beard and long eyebrows, and its unique dual-layer fur coat. The outer fur coat is composed of a very thick wool texture which usually feels rough and dry. On the other hand, its inner fur coat layer is dense. With its thick and hairy appearance, this dog needs to be properly groomed and cared for more regularly than the other types of poodle-like dogs.

Bouvies des Flandres is considered to be more alert and may even look fierce to some people. Aside from the fact that it has ears which are triangular in shape and always erect, the body type of a Bouvies des Flandres ranges from medium to large, with estimated length of 23 to 28 inches. Thus, it is among those heavy types of dogs, which usually weigh 78 to 90 pounds.

Temperament
Bouvies des Flandres dog may seem as the fierce and the not-so-playful type to most people because of its size. But actually, this dog is very obedient, pleasant, and calm in nature. However, the obedience comes hand in hand with rigorous and regular training by its owner. This type of dog is easily trained, but doesn't learn quickly, compared to other breeds like German Shepherd or Dobermans.

Owners and those interested of getting this breed should take note of the importance of training this dog. This dog has a carefree nature, and if it is not properly trained, it would become stubborn and disobedient. Moreover, with the lack of proper training, this dog might cause harm to people or other dogs around. So upon getting a Bouvies des Flandres, it is imperative that the owner trains the dog with the standard house rules without being harsh on the animal. Owners should also make it a point to have this dog socialize with other people and other dogs as well, to keep the dog familiar with its environment.