BOUVIER DES FLANDRES
( as written in 19 edition of the complete dog book)
MOST EARLY BREEDERS OF THE BOUVIER DES FLANDRES WERE FARMERS, butchers or cattle merchants to whom a pedigree was less important than good working ability. Consequently, the first Bouviers were not uniform in size, weight or color, but they did share enough characteristics to be recognized as a breed. They were then known as either Vuilbaard (dirty beard), Koehond (cow dog), Toucheur de Boeuf or Pic (cattle driver).
Dr. Adolphie Reul, of the Veterinary School of Brussels, was the first to call attention to the many good qualities of the Bouvier des Flandres. At the time, the Bouvier was a dog of great size (about 26 inches at the shoulder) with a heavy, cylindrical body; rough, dark gray hair; and rough appearance. It was found in southwest Flandres and on the French northern plain. As a rule, the breed was owned by people who occupied themselves with cattle, because the dog's chief aptitude seemed to be cattle driving.
The Societe Poyale St. Hubert recognized the breed when it appeared at the International Dog Show of May 1910 in Brussels. The two Bouvier des Flandres shown were Nelly and Rex, owned by a Mr. Paret of Ghent. However, a breed standard was not adopted until 1912, after a society of Bouvier breeders from Roules (West) Flandres invited many of the most famous Belgian experts to a meeting. The experts drafted the breed's first official standard. From then on, appreciation of the Bouvier des Flandres grew, and the breed was listed in the stud books of the Societe Royale St. Hubert.
Rapid progress was made until the start of World War I, when areas where the Bouvier was actively being bred were entirely destroyed. Many dogs were abandoned and died; others were acquired by German soldiers. However, a few people succeeded in keeping their dogs throughout the war.
The dog whose progeny did much to revive the Bouvier des Flandres in Belgium was Ch. Nic de Sottegem. In 1920, Nic was exhibited at the Olympic show in Antwerp, where judge Charles Huge called him "the ideal type of Bouvier." Huge went on to say," has a short body, with well-developed ribs, short flanks, strong legs, good feet, long and obique shoulders. His head is of a good shape, with somber eyes and an ideal courageous expression. His hair is dry and dark. The tail should not have been cut so short. I hope that dog will have numerous progeny."
Huge's hope was realized. When Nic died in 1926, he left many descendants whose names appear in almost every Bouvier des Flandres pedigree. Among those worthy of mention are Prince D'Or, Ch. Draga, Coralie de Sottegem. Goliath de La Lya, Lyda, Nora and Ch. Dragon de la Lys. From these dogs, who were assembled one day at Ghent, a group of experts, including Huge, established a more comprehensive standard of the breed.
The Bouvier was recognized by the AKC in 1929, and admitted to the AKC Stud Book in 1931. American fanciers imported dogs regularly from Europe until the start of World War II. At the end of the war interest was revived, and the American Bouvier des Flandres Club was esablished in 1963.
Breeders are ever mindful of the fact that the Bouvier des Flandres is a working dog. Although they strive to standardize type, they intend to preserve the early qualities that the first distinguished the breed. Accordingly, a Bouvier des Flandres cannot earn the title Champion in Belguim unless it has also won a prize in a working competition as a police, defence or army dog.