Cropping
the ears of the Bouvier des Flandres has been done since the breed began
to evolve in the early 1800's. As with other cropped breeds, it was a custom
understood and undertaken by the breeder, the farmer, and the owner. Cropped
ears were preferred in many breeds for many reasons. This short essay is
not on the why or the wherefore of cropping, but more to document the history
of the earliest recorded natural eared Bouvier des Flanders winners in
American Kennel Club annals.
It is a fact that until the 1990's, there was absolutely no recognition of the natural ear Bouvier in America at all. As far as the judges were concerned and the breeders/owners who wished to promote the breed, the natural eared Bouvier was regarded as a poorly bred, not so good, perhaps mis-managed dog who happen to be entered on a particular day at a particular show.
Gradually one would see a Boxer or a Giant Schnauzer with natural ears advertised as having finished its championship. In all cases these dogs were finished by a professional handler, and many of them were imported.
If a natural eared Bouvier finished its championship before 1990, no mention has been made in the historical documents available to this writer. In fact, even with e mail and a concerted effort to locate such a dog, there has been silence. Why? Simply because no one in America really took the natural ear seriously, no one seriously thought of showing a natural ear, and if they did, no one expected to win points with such a dog. Before 1990 there is no record of one having earned its championship or its obedience title. Owners were actually advised not to show or breed if their dog had natural ears. They were told they could not win because Judges were unaccustomed to the natural ear and Judges would not give points to them. Breeders who were serious minded about their produce, all cropped their puppies ears.
England, Australia,
New Zealand and a few other countries had long ago outlawed the cropping
of ears on canines. In 1992, the Netherlands outlawed ear cropping
and a few importers brought some of the first natural eared show dogs to
the United States. One of these was imported by Claire D. McLean of the
Deewal Kennels in Lothian Md, who imported a grown bitch named Lady Janis
v.d. Duca Vallei. This particular bitch, sired by American, Canadian, Dutch
Champion Leon Spinks V. CL Overston and whose dam was Bianca, was already
a winner in the Netherlands, and had won at several important shows in
Europe. She was campaigned to her American Championship by Ken Rensink
of Harlan, Iowa. He also put group Placements on her making her the first
natural ear to do. Lady Janis was given a select at the 1992 National Specialty
in Michigan, judged by Anne Rogers Clark. She was the first Natural eared
Bouvier to receive such an honor.
Not only was this bitch the first Bouvier des Flandres with the natural ear to finish in America and the first to place in the groups but also the first natural eared Bouvier to be shown at Madison Square Garden where she was owner handled by Claire McLean in 1993. Lady Janis was subsequently sold to Argentina where she became an Argentine and World Champion in the 1993 FCI event there.
Since that time there have been a few other dogs to earn their championship and at least two or three that have placed in the groups. Presently there is a natural eared Bouvier, Jones Salsa v.d. Duca Vallei, another Holland import, that has three Best In Shows in Mexico and 24 group ones. Jones was a regional specialty (Greater Washington Bouvier des Flandres Club) winners dog with a five point win under breeder judge Richard Gwschwender. At the Phoenix, Arizona Specialty in 1996, judge Patrick Doniere placed a natural eared import, Harras, as Winner dog, first in Stud dog class, and first in the Veteran Class. Harras is the sire of Jones Salsa v.d. Duca Vallei.
Wilbur Reed of Texas has done some nice winning with natural eared imports as well, and there have been a few American breeders who have purposely left their ears uncropped, but to date, no American bred Bouvier with uncropped ears has earned its championship. When one does, it will be another first for the breed.
With the continuing publicity on cropping pure bred dogs, the judges
are becoming more accustomed to natural ears on breeds that have previously
always been cropped such as the Boxer, Doberman, Schnauzers, and Bouviers.
They are making an effort to look at the total dog and not let the lop
ears influence their appraisal of the expression and head of the dog.
