Grooming
Bouvier shedding is minimal. However, this breed has a double coat that’s water-resistant and their coat gets dirty fast, leaving the Bouvier with a unique set of grooming needs. This is not a wash-and-wear type of dog: Bouvier des Flandres grooming often takes much more time than grooming other dog breeds. Here are some grooming tips for your Bouvier:
Brushing: Your Bouvier will need to be brushed at least once a week. This will help work out any tangles or mats in their long fur. You’ll likely end up brushing your Bouvier multiple times a week as they pick up dirt, burrs and other debris while running and playing outside. Use a slicker brush and a metal dematting dog comb to get the job done. Many parents also choose to give their Bouvier a haircut, trimming their entire coat to make those regular grooming sessions quicker and easier.
Bathing: Bouviers need to be given a bath a minimum of once a month. Again, this number will likely go up based on how much time the dog spends outside.
Nail trimming: You should also trim your dog’s toenails after bath time so your Bouvier doesn’t experience pain while walking.
Ear cleaning: Check your Bouvier’s ears each week when you groom them to make sure their ears stay clean and dry. Check their ears for debris and any redness or swelling. If you notice anything, speak to your vet. If your vet recommends at-home cleaning, follow this step-by-step guide on how to clean dog ears.
Dental care: Daily teeth brushing is important, too. Regular teeth brushing will prevent plaque buildup, which might cause tooth decay or infection. Your vet can show you how to brush your dog’s teeth and can also give your dog a professional teeth cleaning once a year.
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Training
When training your Bouviers des Flandres, don’t be surprised if you utter the phrase, “Too smart for their own good,” on more than one occasion. They are extremely intelligent dogs who can pick up commands in moments. Potty training and other basic commands are no problem for Bouviers. Their strong personality, however, can sometimes make them difficult to train. A mixture of firm corrections and positive reinforcement is ideal to help them learn. A new dog parent might feel out of their depth with Bouvier des Flandres training, but a more experienced dog parent should be fine.
Leash training is extremely important for Bouviers. They’re large dogs with strong herding instincts and an assertive personality—if your Bouvier isn’t leash trained, that’s a recipe for disaster… and a lot of running amok around your neighborhood.
Avoiding boredom is also key for Bouviers, so many Bouvier parents choose to continue into advanced training with their dog. While it’s important to practice basic obedience training commands, like sit and stay, make sure you aren’t too repetitive or your Bouvier will make their boredom known, acting out with undesirable behaviors. Learning new things is key to keeping the Bouvier des Flandres physically and mentally engaged. Herding, dock jumping and agility are just a few of the areas where Bouviers excel. Because Bouviers are used to working in some capacity, training is extremely important for this breed.
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Diet
All Bouvier des Flandres need a balanced diet consisting of high-quality commercial dog food that’s tailored to their age and stage in life (puppy, adult, senior). Bouviers are big and highly active, so they need plenty of fuel to keep them on the go. Three to five cups per day over two servings should suffice, but speak with your veterinarian to select the best amount of food based on your dog’s specific needs. Bouviers are also prone to obesity—so as hard as it may be to resist that scruffy face, limit the treats.
Experts recommend that Bouvier puppies are fed a large-breed puppy food that has modified protein and calcium/phosphorus levels. This kind of food will help avoid juvenile bone disorders that can occur in some rapidly-growing puppies.
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Exercise
The Bouvier des Flandres’ exercise needs are high. Experts recommend 60-90 minutes of physical activity daily. This will ensure your Bouvier stays both happy and healthy—Bouviers can easily become overweight, so plenty of exercise helps keep them trim.
As working dogs, Bouviers des Flandres have lots of energy and stamina. You’ll want to put on comfortable shoes if you’re heading out for a walk—your Bouvier will be willing to walk much farther than you, and frankly, a basic walk isn’t going to suffice for their daily exercise needs. Try going for a run or a hike to up the game. Because Bouviers thrive when they have a job to do, you can also incorporate games and activities into your dog’s daily exercise routine. Tug of war, Frisbee or an agility course will stimulate your pet both physically and mentally and put that Bouvier intelligence to work. Some Bouvier parents even participate in herding trials or a dog show. This breed also loves water, so if you have access to a lake or other body of water, swimming can provide a great way to burn off some energy. It’s important to provide plenty of mental stimulation so your Bouvier doesn’t get bored and turn destructive.
As your dog ages, you can decrease the amount of daily exercise based on their needs. However, gentle exercise is still important to keep them in good physical shape and keep the Bouviers’ energy level satisfied. If you have a Bouvier puppy, you’ll also want to be mindful of your dog’s daily activity. It’s important that the Bouvier breed is not overworked while they’re young. This allows young Bouviers to develop properly.
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Environment
The Bouvier des Flandres needs plenty of outdoor space to run. A rural or country setting is ideal for this large dog, as is a home with a large yard in which they can speed around. While a Bouvier might be able to adjust to living in a small home or apartment, this isn’t ideal—its essential they have ample exercise every day.
Bouviers are good with kids, although it’s better if they grow up along with those kids so they view the children as part of their “pack.” Keep an eye on a Bouvier around kids, and be cautious with small children—while Bouviers don’t mean to cause harm, their large stature and herding instinct may cause them to nip at a child’s heels while playing or accidentally knock over a toddler. It’s also important to teach kids how to interact with dogs. Bouviers can be strong-willed with other dogs and might not be a good fit for households with additional pets. Because Bouviers can be protective, they also tend to be aloof when strangers or company are around (at least, until you give them the go-ahead).
Bouviers will thrive living with an experienced dog parent. Their high level of intelligence and energy requires you to stay ahead of them, or else they’ll get ahead of you. The ideal Bouvier parent would live in the country with lots of space for exercise. He or she should also be prepared to set strong boundaries and provide the grooming the dog will need.
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