Pet Healthipedia

Other names/Nicknames:

• Belgian Cattle Dog

Country/Date of origin:

• Belgium
• 1600’s

Height:

• Females:  23-1/2 to 26-1/2 inches
• Males:  24-1/2 to 27-1/2 inches

Weight:

• 75 to 95 pounds

Personality:

• Great with children.
• A natural guardian.
• Can be aggressive with other dogs.
• A homebody, this guard dog will not roam from the property.
• Intelligent and docile.
• Wary of strangers.

History:

One of Belgium’s native breeds, the Bouvier (which means cowherd) was developed as a butchers’ dog in Belgium.  It pulled the butchers’ cart and herded the cattle to and from the stock pens.  This gentle drover was almost lost in the destruction of  World Wars I and II that swept across its homeland in the 20th century.   The first Bouviers were imported to the United States in the 1930’s, and this kindly, loyal breed has never gotten the popularity it deserves.

Body Type:

• A large, rough-coated, droving dog that is square in appearance.
• Has a full beard and mustache, as well as very long eyebrows.
• Ears are cropped to a triangular point in the United States and are carried erect.
• Tail is docked to about four-inches in length.

Coat:

• Tousled, with a crisp top coat and thick, protective undercoat that provides a waterproof covering.
• Length should be kept at about two-inches overall.
• Colors may be fawn to black, including brindle, gray, and salt-and-pepper.
• A small white star on the chest is acceptable but any more white than that is heavily penalized, as are chocolate or parti-colors.
• Unlike most breeds, the Bouvier does not have a shiny coat.  The hair has a dull, matte finish.
• Moderate grooming required.

Health and Wellness:

• Hip dysplasia.
• Autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).
• Laryngeal paralysis.
• Metabolic bone disease.
• Lymphoma.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC, digit).

What you should know:

• Intelligent and trainable, the Bouvier is often used as a guide dog for the blind or as a police dog.
• Relative scarcity of the breed may make it hard to find a puppy.