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ORIGIN AND
PURPOSE |
The Bouvier des
Flandres, as the name indicates originated in Flandres -
both France and Belgium, as there are no boundaries
separating these two countries.
In the beginning, the Bouvier was used to herd cattle; for
draught and butter churning. Modernization has changed farm
equipment. Now the Bouvier is used as guard for home or farm,
for defense work or police work. His great physical and
moral aptitudes, his excellent nose, initiative and
intelligence make him an excellent tracker and gamekeeper's
aid. |
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GENERAL
APPEARANCE |
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Cobby, short-bodied
and thickset on powerful and muscular limbs; gives the
impression of power, without clumsiness as a whole. The fire
in his eyes denotes intelligence, energy and audacity. He is
calm, rational and prudently bold. |
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TEMPERAMENT |
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Bouvier is even-tempered,
never shy and not overly aggressive. He is calm, rational
and prudently bold, never 'pretty' in attitude or behavior.
With those he knows well he is outgoing and almost
boisterous. Shy dogs that back away under normal situations
and overly aggressive dogs that show aggression without
reason should be severely penalized. |
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SIZE |
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Dogs 24 ½ inches
to 27 ½ inches (62.2 to 69.8 cm) at the withers. Bitches 23
½ inches to 26 ½ inches (59.7 to 67.3 cm) at the withers.
Slightly larger or smaller size should not be faulted if
other factors are of good to excellent quality. However, the
average size is most desirable. Weight - approximately 77 to
100 pounds for dogs, 60 to 85 pounds for bitches. |
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COAT |
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The coat is very
full. The top coat plus the dense undercoat make a perfect
wrap adapted to abrupt climatic changes characteristic of
the breed's country of origin. It must be rough to the touch,
harsh and dry neither too long nor too short (about 2 ½
inches / 6.3 cm), slightly tousled without being woolly or
curly. On the head the coat is shorter and almost shaven on
the outside of the ear, but the inside is protected by
fairly long hair. On the top of the back, the coat is harsh
and dry; it becomes shorter on the lower legs, while still
harsh. A flat coat is to be avoided since it indicates a
lack of undercoat. Soft, woolly, silky, or too long or short
a coat are considered faults. Undercoat - wadding made of
fine and course hairs grows under the overcoat and forms
with it a waterproof mantle. Lack of undercoat is a fault. |
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COLOURS |
The coat of the
Bouvier des Flandres is fawn or grey often brindle or dark
grey, or black. Light-coloured coats (white, cream) and
washed-out colours or chocolate brown with white spots are
not desirable. A white star on the chest is allowed.
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HEAD |
Massive,
appearing more so because of his beard and mustache, it is
well proportioned to his body and size. To feel, it is
finely chiseled.
Skull - well developed and flat, longer than its
width. The top lines of the skull and muzzle are parallel.
The proportions of the skull to the muzzle are 3 to 2. Stop
is barely perceptible, more apparent than real because of
the raised eyebrows.
Muzzle - wide, powerful, bony, straight in upper
profile, diminishing toward the nose but never pointed. The
muzzle is shorter than the skull - in proportion 2 to 3 and
the circumference just below the eyes is about equal to the
length of the head. |
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Cheeks
- flat and dry.
Nose - This is the continuation of the muzzle, it is slightly
convex at its extremity - must be well opened nostrils. Spotted,
pink, brown or butterfly are faults.
Mouth - Jaws should be powerful and of equal length; teeth
strong, white and healthy. The upper incisors must meet the lower
ones like the blades of scissors. Overshot or undershot are faults.
Mustache and Beard - Fully dry, shorter and harsher on top of
muzzle. The upper lip has a mustache and the chin has a full, harsh
bread which gives the gruff expression so characteristic of the
breed. |
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Eyes
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Bold and energetic, neither prominent nor sunken. In shape
slightly oval on a horizontal plane. The colour should be as
dark as possible in keeping with the colour of the coat.
Light in colour or haggard in expression should be severely
faulted.
Eyelids - Black without a trace of deficient
pigmentation. No haw should be visible.
Eyebrows - These are made of upstanding hair which
accentuate the arch of the eyebrows without ever hiding the
eyes.
Ears - cropped in a triangle, they are carried well up;
attached high and very mobile. It is recommended that the
size and shape should match the size of the head. Uncropped
ears are allowed. |
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FOREARMS |
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Seen from the
profile or front they remain straight, parallel to each
other, perpendicular to the ground. They should be well
muscled and of powerful bone structure. |
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Elbows - Close to the body
and parallel. Elbows out or close are faults. In action they must
remain parallel to median line of the body.
Carpus - (Knee) in plumb with forearms, except for accessory
carpus at back. Strong and heavy bone.
Pastern - (Metacarpal) of strong bony structure, very slightly
inclined forwards.
Feet - Short, round and compact. The toes should be close and
well arched.
Nails - strong and black. Thick and hard soles.
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BODY OR TRUNK |
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Powerful, cobby
and short. The length of the point of the shoulder to
ischium should be about equal to the height at the withers.
The ischium is the rear point of the rump. The chest should
reach to level of elbows and never be cylindrical, though
the ribs are well sprung. The depth, i.e., the distance
between the sternum and the last rib must be great - about
7/10th of the height at the wither. The first ribs are
slightly curved; the others are well sprung and well
inclined to the rear giving the desired depth of the chest.
Flat, too long or overly rounded and short ribs must be
greatly penalized. |
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Flank
- The flank between the last
rib and the haunch must be very short, especially in males. There is
very little tuck-up.
Back -
Short, wide, muscled and firm - showing no weakness but remaining
flexible. Long body or sway-back are faults.
Loin -
Short, wide and well muscled - must remain flexible but without weakness.
Croup or Rump
- Must follow as closely as possible the horizontal line of the back and
follow (merge) smoothly into the curve of the rump. It should be wide
without excess in the male, more developed (wider) in the female. A
descending (steeply tilted) croup is a serious fault.
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HINDQUARTERS |
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Thighs
- Wide and
well muscled. The direction will be parallel to the median
plane of the body. The femurs will be neither too straight
nor too inclined. The buttock will be well let down with
good, firm breeches. The kneecap or patella, is situated on
an imaginary line from the iliac crest to the ground.
Legs - Moderately long, neither too straight nor too
inclined. Powerful and pronounced musculation is demanded.
Rear legs must move in the same plane as front legs. No
dewclaws.
Hocks - Rather close to the ground, broad, well muscled
and stretched. Seen from back they will be straight and
parallel in the "stand" position. In action they remain
parallel.
Feet - Round, strong toes; close and arched. Strong,
black nails and thick, hard soles. |
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TAIL |
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To be docked to
2nd or 3rd vertebrae. The tail should be an extension of the
spine and carried high during movement. Some Bouviers are
born with short tails and should not be faulted for this. |
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GAIT
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The Bouvier des
Flandres as a whole must be harmoniously proportioned to
permit a gait free, proud and bold. The walk and trot are
habitual gaits, though hambling and pacing are also employed.
A Bouvier will single track at a trot.
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NOTE
A male animal should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum. |
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The foregoing
description is that of the ideal Bouvier des Flandres. Any
deviation from the above-described dog
must be penalized to the extent of the deviation, keeping in
mind the origin and purpose of the breed. |
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