Originally from Flanders in Belgium, the Bouvier des Flandres was a herding dog, used for herding cattle, sheep etc in farms. It is for this very reason that the dog is called the Cow Herder of Flanders. Today, these dogs are used extensively in the police force or as guard dogs.

These are large dogs, which are absolutely powerful and yet extremely gentle and highly enthusiastic with a wonderful personality. Being a large and powerful dog, the head is its distinctive part, which is framed by a moustache, a heavy beard and long eyebrows. The muzzle is again distinctive, being long and tapered, which ends in a big nose that’s black in color. Long hair covers the head and its dark eyes that are intelligent, alert and lively. Ears can be either left in their natural state that droop down or are cropped to stand upright, depending on the breeder. The neck is arched and is broader at the base rather than at the throat, and culminates into strong shoulders that are well developed.

Coat of the Bouvier des Flandres is double, with a soft, fine and yet dense inner coat, and a dry, harsh outer coat. The outer coat is wavy in nature and not smooth at all, often giving a windblown appearance to the dog. Common coat colors include solid ones like black, fawn, salt and pepper, grey and brindle.

With regard to temperament, it is easy to state that this dog is calm, protective, brave, bold and absolutely fearless. Whilst they are not extremely friendly, they do get along well with people, provided you socialize them early. With strangers, these dogs are often uncomfortable until they meet the person several times, after which they are extremely friendly. Highly intelligent, these dogs are often independent and dominant, which could cause problems while training. However, when trained early, they do respond well and learn easily, memorizing commands faster than any other breed. In fact, their memory is noteworthy, as they tend to remember commands and people, even those who have not been in touch for years.

Given their aggressive and rugged appearance, people tend to get scared of these dogs. In reality, although they make great guard dogs, they are not aggressive in any manner but are extremely reserved. They are not playful but are still great companions for children, and love to go for long walks etc. As mentioned earlier, these are not extremely social breeds. Therefore, it is important to socialize them earlier in life, if you want them to remain friendly.

With their long outer coat, it is obvious that these dogs require regular grooming. If these dogs are not brushed regularly, they tend to shed more hair than when brushed. Moreover, the inner coat is prone to matting and tangling, again requiring frequent brushing to ensure that it is smooth. However, you should avoid bathing the dog unless you believe it is absolutely essential. Given their clean nature, it is easy to avoid bathing. Ears are another area to be cleaned regularly.

When small, this breed cannot handle too much of exercise but when they grow up, they should be exercised properly and for longer periods. Exercise at both stages can include walks but once they grow up, make sure that they have enough space for doing exercises on their own.