The Bouvier des Flandres: A Complete Guide

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If you’re looking to purchase the right dog, few things can help you more than doing the research that you need to.

There’s a lot to know about various dog breeds, and it’s challenging to be an expert on each one of them, though many people have their preferred dogs.

Today’s guide will concern a purebred dog that is immensely popular in Europe but also has a growing fan base on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

I’m going to be going over the Bouvier des Flandres, one of the more distinguished herding dog breeds, though you might not be able to tell through their thick coat!

I’ll be examining everything there is to know about these dogs, from what you should be feeding them to how you can expect them to act both inside and outside the house.

Of course, the best place to start with a guide on a dog breed is where your journey with your new companion will start off: the puppy phase.

Bouvier des Flandres Puppies – Before You Buy…

Dirty Bouvier des Flandres smiling
The Bouvier des Flandres tend to eat a lot.

As with any dog breed, there are some things that you should know about Bouvier des Flandres puppies before you end up falling in love with this breed and absolutely need to have one.

I’ll be covering how much you can expect to pay for one of these dogs, where and how to find the right breeder and a few facts about the breed.

What Price are Bouvier des Flandres Puppies?

Seeing as the Bouvier des Flandres is a dog breed with a long and storied history, you will find that it is one of the more popular herding dogs on the market.

As with any pet, higher demand will drive up the price, especially in areas where the breed is relatively uncommon,

The Bouvier des Flandres has an average selling price of around 1500 dollars, and the costs can get even higher than that when you consider paperwork and some other matters.

Of course, you can always find a Bouvier des Flandres for a lower price, but there may be deviations from the breed standard, it may be a smaller dog or some other differences.

Where to Find Reputable Bouvier des Flandres Breeders?

While the Bouvier des Flandres is a dog with a widespread following in Europe, it is still gradually gaining popularity in America.

That is not to say that this dog is not well-respected in America, but breeders will be slightly harder to come by then they would be in the breed’s home country.

Other than the challenge of finding a breeder in the first place, you will have to make sure that the puppies are not being abused or taken advantage of in any way.

One of the best ways to ensure that you do not have a breeder who is running a puppy mill is to pay a visit to their home and see exactly how the dogs are raised.

3 Little-Known Facts About Bouvier des Flandres Puppies

  1. The Bouvier des Flandres was more than just a herding dog when it was initially bred. These dogs were meant to accomplish all sorts of tasks around the farm, and they have a strong frame that is much better suited for a varied workload than most herders.
  2. Unlike other herders, the Bouvier des Flandres is capable of a decent amount of aggression, and you should keep an eye on them, even as puppies. Many people would laugh at these dogs due to their appearance, but they have been known to make excellent guard dogs, watchdogs, and police dogs.
  3. While ear cropping and tail docking are gradually falling out of favor, it initially had a purpose when it was done for the Bouvier des Flandres. These procedures helped the dogs avoid any accidental injuries over the course of their work around heavy farming equipment and other dangerous machinery.
Bouvier des Flandres out on patio
The Bouvier des Flandres is not a lazy dog.

Physical Traits of the Bouvier des Flandres

The Bouvier des Flandres is a strong, powerful dog that has a slightly intimidating appearance. If it weren’t for their fluffy fur, they would be quite scary.

They have very muscular, thick, powerful legs that can run long distances. They are built with a strong neck and powerful muscles.

The curly hair around their face gives the appearance of a mustache and beard.

Their eyes are mesmerizing and very expressive. They are dark in color, matching their black nose. The ears of the Bouvier des Flandres is curly as well and hang down along the sides of the head.

Even the paws of this dog breed are made for running and pulling, with rounded, thick paws, strong nails, and arched toes.

Their double coat gives them a rough, coarse outer coat and an undercoat that is more fine and soft.

The texture of their fur is straight and medium in length, so weekly brushing is a must to prevent any tangles and matting that can cause skin issues.

The colors of their coat can be black, gray, brown, red, cream, brindle, white, fawn, silver, and blue.

How Big is a Full-Grown Bouvier des Flandres?

The Bouvier des Flandres is a big dog breed, so be sure that you can provide enough space for them.

The size varies slightly by gender, with females standing at 23 to 26 inches tall and males being 24 to 27 inches.

Either gender can weigh 70 to 90 pounds. A big dog like this may not be very comfortable in apartment spaces, so it is recommended that you get them if you have a backyard for them to run around in.

They are fully grown when they reach the age of 18 months.

What is the Bouvier des Flandres’ Life Expectancy?

The Bouvier des Flandres lives a little shorter than other dog breeds in their size group. It is most likely due to the health issues that they generate as a dog breed.

You can expect your dog to live up to 12 years if you give them the love that they need to stay happy. An unhappy dog can become depressed, shortening their lifespan.

Intelligence, Temperament, and Personality Traits of the Bouvier des Flandres

This dog breed is very intelligent and good-natured when trained and socialized early. They are incredibly loyal to the ones that they love, making them excellent watch and guard dogs.

They are naturally suspicious of strangers, so it is best to socialize them well with humans so that they are not aggressive towards everyone.

The Bouvier des Flandres also is good with kids and other dogs as long as they are socialized.

This step is crucial with these pets as they might develop behavioral problems if not introduced to different people and animals.

They are known to play roughly, so be cautious when they are playing with small children and dogs.

Because they were bred to herd and help with hunting, they may try to herd other animals and are known to chase, so be sure to keep them on a leash when going out.

You will find that you have to be very consistent when training the Bouvier des Flandres since they take a longer time to mature and will need constant reassurance.

Bouvier des Flandres at beach
The Bouvier des Flandres is the perfect companion for large families.

The Bouvier des Flandres’ Diet

Being a huge dog, the Bouvier des Flandres will need a lot of food, especially for the amount of energy they burn off.

To feed this dog, you will need to provide them with 3 to 4 cups of dog food a day to maintain their weight and energy levels.

How Much Exercise Does the Bouvier des Flandres Need?

If you are looking for a lazy dog that will be content with relaxing and watching TV with you all day, the Bouvier des Flandres is not the dog for you.

These pups are hyperactive and need a lot of exercise each day to help them stay happy and fit, or else they may gain extra weight and become bored.

To reach these requirements, you will need to give them 90 minutes of vigorous activity a day and about 15 miles of walking or running if that is the activity you want to do.

You can take your Bouvier des Flandres to dog parks as long as they are socialized, but they really enjoy activities such as hunting, swimming, hiking, and farm work if you can.

Bouvier des Flandres Health and Conditions

These pups have quite a few health risks to be concerned about, especially in old age. If they are caught in time, you may be able to prevent them from worsening. Most of these issues are treatable.

Serious Issues:

  • Hip and Elbow Dysplasia

Minor Issues:

My Final Thoughts on the Bouvier des FlandresBouvier des Flandres guide

The Bouvier des Flandres is the perfect companion for those of you that have a family, live in a house, and like being active every day.

As long as you are patient enough to train and teach them for a long time, give them the love and attention they need, and can handle all of their cuteness, they will make an excellent pet for you.

Thank you for reading!

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