| Country of Origin: Belgium Breed Status: Despite being internationally recognized the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the Bouvier des Ardennes is extremely rare and faces the possibility of extinction. Distribution: The Bouvier des Ardennes is seldom found outside of its native Belgium. Etymology: Bouvier des Ardennes is French for Ardennes Cattle Dog. The Ardennes region includes northern France, part of Belgium, and Luxemburg and it is from this region in Belgium where the breed developed. The rest of the breed’s name was given because of its use as a cattle guard and herder. Other Names: Ardennes Cattle Dog Breed History: The Bouvier des Ardennes is believed to be the result of crossings between the Bouvier des Flandres, the Berger Belge Malinois, and possibly the Berger de Brie, which took place in the Ardennes region of Belgium that includes the provinces of Liège, Namur, and Luxembourg. This area is not an especially wealthy one and only the hardest working dogs were bred from the otherwise restricted population. On April 27, 1903 a cynologist by the name of Professor Reul discovered Tom, the first example of the ideal Bouvier des Ardennes, at a show in Liège. It wasn’t until ten years later however that the first breed club was formed and the first, proposed standard written. In 1923 the Société Royale Saint-Hubert (national kennel club of Belgium) recognized the Bouvier des Ardennes. The future of the breed seemed bright, so much so that during the 1940s, it was felt that the Bouvier des Ardennes would become an international favorite. Due to the loss of so many farms in the Ardennes region and the reduction of milking herds, this future was not to be, despite international recognition by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) on June 6, 1963. The number of Bouvier des Ardennes, always small to begin with, began to decrease even further. In 1985, unknown examples of the breed that were more or less typical were discovered. By 1990, breeders had begun to breed these dogs in an effort to have them conform better to the standard. In 1996, other unknown lines were discovered in northern Belgium, where they had existed since 1930. Despite these discoveries, the Bouvier des Ardennes remains one of the rarest breeds in the world. Appearance: The Bouvier des Ardennes is a well-muscled, compact, rustic breed cattle dog. Males range in height from 22.05 to 24.41 inches (56 to 62 cm) at the withers. Females stand 20.47 to 22.05 inches (52 to 56 cm) tall. There is a tolerance of 0.39 inches (1 cm) above or below the standard height for both sexes. Males range in weight from 61.73 to 77.16 pounds (28 to 35 kg). Females weigh from 48.50 to 61.73 pounds (22 to 28 kg). The head is strong and relatively short. The broad, flat skull is slightly longer than it is wide. The frontal groove and occipital crest are almost invisible. The bushy eyebrows emphasize the superciliary ridges. The stop is pronounced but not excessive. The cheeks are flat but well muscled. The thick, broad muzzle is well filled in under the eyes and noticeably shorter than the skull. The broad nose is always black in color. The thin lips are close fitting and black pigmented. The Bouvier des Ardennes may possess either a scissors or a pincer bite. The medium-sized, slightly oval eyes are set not too widely apart and should be as dark in color as possible. The high-set, rather small ears are triangular in shape. When pulled forward, the tip of the ear should not extend past the outer corner of the eye. Straight, erect, pointed ears are preferred, although half pricked ears that fold outwards or straight ears that have tips that fall forward are also accepted. The ears may never be cropped. The well-muscled, slightly arched neck is reasonably cylindrical in shape, tight, and possesses good reach. The body is powerful, but not heavy and is approximately the same length as the dog is tall. The bone structure is heavier than the breed’s size would suggest. The topline is broad, tight, and horizontal. The withers are slightly pronounced. The back is longer than that of the Bouvier des Flandres. The broad chest descends to the elbows. The well-sprung ribs are rounded. The loin is short, broad, and well muscled. The broad croup may be slightly sloping, but is preferably horizontal. The belly is quite full and has little tuck up. The well-muscled front legs are straight and when viewed from the front, parallel. The powerful, well-muscled hind legs are reasonably angulated and parallel when viewed from behind. The round feet possess tight, arched toes. The thick pads and strong nails are both dark in color. No dewclaws occur on the hind legs. The thick, high-set tail follows the topline. A majority of dogs are born with short tails or even no tails. A natural tail may be docked in countries where this is legal. The coarse, dry topcoat is tousled and about 2.36 inches (6 cm) in length over the entire body except for on the skull where it is shorter and flatter, even with the eyebrows. The very dense undercoat is especially abundant in winter. The undercoat is about half the length of the topcoat and occurs on the limbs as well. The hair on the muzzle is approximately 1.97 to 2.36 inches (5 to 6 cm) in length and should hide the internal corner of the eye as well as form a moustache and small beard. The outer ears are covered with short, soft, straight hair with occasional longer hairs mixed in. The inner ear is protected by longer hair, which blend with those from the neck. The front legs are covered with shorter, shaggy hair on the front and short fringes on the back. The longer hair on the back of the thighs forms breeches. Very short hairs occur between the pads. The Bouvier des Ardennes may be any color except for white. The color of the undercoat varies according to the color of the topcoat. A white mark on the chest or on the tips of the toes is allowed but not preferred. Personality and Uses: The original function of the Bouvier des Ardennes was as a cattle dog capable of both guarding and driving its herd. Even to this day this remains the primary use of the breed. Due to the Bouvier des Ardennes’ adaptability, it has also been employed at various times to herd sheep, pigs, and horses and as a tracker of deer and wild boar. The Bouvier des Ardennes, while affectionate and playful with its family, is suspicious of strangers. When it comes to defending its family, belongings, or property to the breed is extremely courageous. |