Bouvier des Ardennes

The Bouvier des Ardennes is a rough-coated Belgian cattle dog from the Ardennes — a small, hardy drover that came within a few dogs of extinction.

History

It drove cattle in the Ardennes and was recognised in the 1920s, then almost disappeared through two wars and the mechanisation of farming. It was rebuilt from the 1980s from a handful of dogs found still working on Belgian farms.

Temperament

The breed is known for being tough, willing and closely bonded to its handler, wary of strangers and possessed of considerable stamina for its size.

Care and training

It needs substantial exercise and a job. The harsh coat needs occasional brushing and no trimming. It is intelligent and trains readily for work it understands.

Health

A very small founding population is the standing caution; nothing else is widely documented. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.