by Victoria Tiegert

Created on: November 12, 2009

The Bouvier des Ardennes, also known as the Ardennes Cattle Dog, is a dog breed with its roots in the land of Belgium. Breeding began long ago using the ancient rough coated cattle driving breeds. The word, "Bouvier" actually means "cattle herder" and there was a time that all herding dogs were referred to with this one word. Many different breeds began to come about and distinctions were made. Like many of the dogs of that era, the Bouvier des Ardennes were created with the intent of use for herding livestock and guarding farms and the families that lived therein. When the motorized vehicles were invented, a good deal of farmers began to move away from herding and driving with dogs and the breeds began to dwindle rapidly. Today, the Bouvier des Ardennes is still considered a rare breed.

The breed is accepted for registry in the FCI, where they can compete in agility, herding, and obedience contests. They are classified in the "herding dog" category. Although having a registered dog may not mean that much to the average pet owner who is only looking for a loving companion, it does increase the monetary value of the dog for those who want to breed the animal or compete with him or her.

According to breed standards, the Bouvier des Ardennes should be between 26 and 32 centimeters in height, when measured from the ground to the withers. They should weigh between 55 and 65 pounds, with males often being a bit larger than females. The dark eyes are alert and intelligent in expression, coming in a wide range of colors. The nose is black and the muzzle long. The short ears are held in the upright, pricked position and set high on the head. The teeth should meet in the scissor bite. Interestingly, this dog breed is often born with no tail, but it does have bushy eyebrows, a mustache, and a beard of sorts. When a pup is born with a tail, it is usually docked.

The Bouvier des Ardennes is a dog with a wiry or rough coat, which is quite dense. The length of the fur is considered medium, being neither short nor long. It is about two inches in length. The breed can come in any coat color except for white. They are usually brindled or peppered with mixtures of colors throughout the coat. Their grooming is fairly simple, but must be maintained regularly. A weekly brushing with a stiff, rubber-bristled brush and a shampoo if absolutely needed will suffice. Do not shampoo if you can avoid it as this will strip the natural oils that the dog already has to protect the coat. Brushing

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