Bouvier des Ardennes is a rare

dog breed A dog breed is a particular type of dog that was purposefully bred by humans to perform specific tasks, such as herding, hunting, and guarding. Dogs are the most variable mammal on Earth, with artificial selection producing upward of 360 globall ...

from

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

. Originating in the

Ardennes The Ardennes ( ; ; ; ; ), also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, extending into Germany and France. Geological ...

region, these dogs were used as drover's dogs, especially herding and protecting cattle. The loss of farms in the area led to serious decline in the numbers of these dogs until 1985 when some breeders found a few dogs and used the original breed standard as their guide in re-introducing the dog.

History

Herding dogs have been found in the Belgian Ardennes since at least the 19th century. Bred to withstand the region's harsh climate, tough work, and difficult terrain, only the hardiest and most hardworking dogs were selected for tasks like herding cows, sheep, pigs, and horses. During the

World Wars A world war is an international conflict that involves most or all of the world's major powers. Conventionally, the term is reserved for two major international conflicts that occurred during the first half of the 20th century, World War I (19 ...

, these dogs were used as poacher's dogs. By the end of the 19th century, these dogs resembled sheepdogs but were larger, stronger, and more aggressive. Belgian dog shows introduced classes for drover’s dogs to establish their specific type and a breed standard was published in 1923. Designed to be an intermediary in size, the Bouvier des Ardennes was established after 1910 by crossing

Bouvier des Flandres The Bouvier des Flandres is a herding dog dog breed, breed originating in Flanders, Belgium. They were originally used for general farm work including cattle Drover (Australian), droving, Livestock guardian dog, sheep herding, and dogcart (dog-dr ...

with

Belgian Malinois The Belgian Shepherd (), also known as the Belgian Sheepdog () or the Chien de Berger Belge, is a Belgian breed of herding dog of medium size. It is bred in four distinct varieties based on coat type and colour: the long-haired black Groenen ...

and perhaps the Briard. In the 20th century, the decline of farms in the Ardennes and the decrease in milking cattle herds significantly reduced the number of working dogs, including the Bouvier des Ardennes. The Bouvier des Ardennes was thought to have become extinct until a small population was discovered in 1985 and afterwards efforts were made to reestablish the breed. Due to the history of near extinction and a small population size, the breed has a high degree of inbreeding and a compromised genetic diversity.

Appearance

The Bouvier des Ardennes is a robust, medium-sized dog that prioritizes function and strength over elegance. It has a short, stocky build with a heavier bone structure than its size suggests and a powerful head. They should be short, compact, and well-muscled. Its rough, wiry coat, along with its mustache and small beard, give it a formidable look. The breed is judged in its natural stance, without physical contact from the handler and the breed is not stacked in the show ring. The Bouvier De Ardennes can come in any colour except white. It is usually found in brindled or peppered variety. It has medium length, coarse, wiry hair, with a "beard" and "eyebrows". This dog can naturally have short tails or long tails, high ears, and keen eyes. The ideal height for males of , and for females. The ideal weight is for males with females being . Tails are traditionally docked, but ears are not cropped.

References

{{Belgian dogs FCI breeds Herding dogs Ardennes Rare dog breeds Dog breeds originating in Belgium

History

Appearance

See also

References