Bouvier des Flandres Complete Breed Guide

Often weighing in at over 100 lbs., the Bouvier des Flandres may look intimidating, but underneath their massive size and long coat, they're really just gentle giants. These dogs are hard workers with calm personalities who love finding a job to focus on.

The Bouvier des Flandres was bred on the farm, but now, they're calm, hard-working suburbanites. At 70-100 lbs., the Bouvier’s size may scare intruders away, but little do they know that these pups are actually gentle giants. They make good watchdogs because they love having a job to do, but you can count on them to never cross the line between protectiveness and aggression. When the Bouvier des Flandres isn’t keeping an eye on the house, you can find him chowing down and leaving a trail of food and water in his path, playing in the yard, and doing whatever it takes to get your love and attention.

Lifestyle & Living Conditions

Bouvier des Flandres are calm and great with children. They do well with other dogs too as long as they have been well socialized from a young age. However, these pups are naturally hesitant when it comes to strangers and should be socialized to avoid shyness and suspiciousness. Due to their large size, Bouvier des Flandres need plenty of space and aren't a good fit for apartment living.

Exercise & Activity

The Bouvier des Flandres is a fairly energetic dog with moderate exercises needs. These dogs enjoy a good, long walk or run each day and having something to do, like a sport or activity that requires focus. If you have a yard, make sure the fence is at least five feet high to keep the tall and athletic Bouvier from jumping over.

Although their size may be intimidating, the Bouvier des Flandres is quite gentle and loving. They’re typically calm and do just about everything with a smile on their faces. The Bouvier des Flandres are also well known for their steadfast loyalty and fearlessness. They aren't bullies, but they always rise to the occasion if someone or something threatens their families.

The Bouvier des Flandres has a fine, soft undercoat and a very coarse, dense outer coat that is resistant to the elements. Their hair is particularly thick around the beard and eyebrows. Bouvier des Flandres can be found in black, blonde, fawn, salt and pepper, gray, and brindle. They need to be brushed weekly to remove dead hair and prevent matting, as well as trimmed every few weeks to keep their coat from getting too long.