FCI Bouvier des Flandres Standard Translation: Ms Peggy Davis, in collaboration with Prof. R. Triquet (Click on buttons to see each paragraph)
ORIGIN : Belgium/France.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD : 07.07.1993.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 1 : Sheepdogs and Cattle-Dogs. Section 2 : Cattle-Dogs.
With working trial.
Origin
The Bouvier des Flandres, as his name implies, is native to both the Belgian and the French Flanders, no natural boundary separating the two regions.
Aptitudes
The Bouvier des Flandres was originally used for droving, hauling and churning. Modernization of the farm equipment has put a stop to these uses, and nowadays the Bouvier des Flandres serves principally as the guardian of the farms and the estates, but also as a defense- and policedog. His physical and moral attributes, his keen qualities of scent, initiative and his intelligence warrant his use as a tracking, liaison and game-warden's dog.
General Characteristics
A compact bodied, short coupled and powerfully built dog, with well-boned and strong muscled limbs; the whole giving the impression of great power, but without clumsiness in his general deportment. The Bouvier des Flandres testifies of intelligence, energy and audacity in his looks. He has the calm and reasonable character of a sensible but fearless dog.
Head
The general aspect is one of massiveness, accentuated by beard and mustache; it should be in proportion to his build and stature. The head feels clean cut when handled.
Skull - Well developed and flat, somewhat less wide than long. The upper lines of the skull and of the muzzle should be parallel. The length of the skull in proportion to the length of the muzzle is in the ratio of 3 to 2.
Frontal groove - Barely marked.
Stop - Shallow, more apparent than real through the upstanding eyebrows.
Muzzle - Broad, powerful, well boned, straight in his upperline, sloping slightly toward the nose who should never become snippy. The length is shorter than that of the skull, in the ratio of 2 to 3; his perimeter taken just below the eyes will be approximately equal to the length of the head.
Nose - The nose extends the topline of the muzzle to a slightly convexed tip. It should be well developped, rounded in his outer lines; the color always black. Nostrills wide open.
Cheeks - Lean and flat.
Ears - Cropped to a triangular contour, held very erect, carried high on the skull and very mobile. It is recommended that the cropping should be done in proportion to the size of the head.
Uncropped ears Position : set high, above eye level, ear flaps falling vertically; the fold crease must not got beyond the upper plane of the skull.
Shape and carriage : semi-long, of an equilateral triangle shape; slightly rounded at the tip; falling flat on the cheeks, apart from the slight detachment of the ear-set at its superior point; neither folded nor twisted (curled); proportioned with the size of the head; covered with short hair.
Eyes- Their expression free and alert; neither protruding much, nor sunken in the sockets. They should be slightly oval in shape, with the axes on a horizontal line. The colour should be as dark as possible, in relation to the colour of the coat. Too light eyes, or with a staring eye, should be severely penalized.
Eyelids - Black, without traces of depigmentation. The haw must never be apparent.
Jaws and teeth - The jaws should be powerful and of equal length. The teeth strong, white and healthy. The upper incisors should meet the lower incisors as the blades of a scissor, or repose on each other as in a pair of pincers.
Neck and shoulders - The neck should be carried free and easy; strong, muscled, widening progressively into the shoulders, the length slightly less than that of the head. Nape powerful and slightly arched. No dewlap.
Withers - May project slightly.
Body or Trunk
Powerful, broad-backed and short. The length from sternum to ischium should be approximately equal to the height at the withers. The chest must go down to the level of the elbows, and never be cylindrical in shape, even though the ribs are arched. The length of the chest (that is to say the distance from the sternum to the last rib) should be considerable, about 7/10 of the height at the withers.
Ribs - The first ribs are lightly arched, the others well sprung and slanted backwards, thus giving the desired length of chest. Flat-sided dogs should be severely penalized.
Flanks - The flank, located between the last rib and the haunch, must be very short, especially in the male. The abdomen is only slightly tucked-up.
Back - Short, broad, muscular and with no weakness, yet remaining flexible.
Loins - Short, broad, well muscled; they must be flexible without any appearance of weakness.
Croup - Must follow as closely as possible the horizontal line of the back, and mold imperceptibly in the curve of the buttocks. Wide but not excessively so in the male, more developed in the bitch. A sunken or a slanted croup is a serious fault.
Tail - The puppy should be docked during the first week, leaving 2 or 3 vertebres. The tail must be aligned normally with the spinal column, and is carried gaily in action. Some, born tailless, should not be penalized on that ground.
Forequarters
The forequarters should be heavily boned, well muscled and perfectly straight.
Shoulders and upper-arms - The shoulders are relatively long, muscular but not loaden, and moderately slanting. The shoulderblade and the humerus are of approximately the same length.
Elbows - Tight to the body and parallel. Being out at elbows is a defect. In action, they must remain parallel to the middle-line of the body.
Forearms - Viewed from front or sideways, they must be perfectly straight, parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the ground. They should be well muscled and strong boned.
Carpus - Exactly in line with the forearms. The pisiform bone alone must form a protuberance on the rear-surface of the carpus. Again, a strong bone structure.
Metacarpus - Strong bone structure, quite short, only slightly sloping forward.
Forefeet - Short, round, compact. The toes must be close together and cambered; toe-nails strong and black. Pads thick and though.
Hindquarters
Powerful, with pronounced musculature. They must move in the same planes as the forequarters.
Thighs - Broad, well muscled. Their action must be parallel to the median line of the body. The femur should be neither too straight, nor too sloping. The buttocks are well let down and firm. The patella is situated on an imaginary line starting from the highest part of the haunch ( the iliac crest) to the ground.
Legs - Moderate in length, muscular, neither too straight nor too inclined.
Metatarsi - Robust, lean, rather cylindrical; and perpendicular to the ground when the dog is in the "show" position. No dew-claws.
Hocks - Rather close to the ground, wide, muscular. Seen from the rear they should be straight and perfectly parallel when in a position of "stay". When in motion, they should neither close in nor out, but remain perfectly perpendicular.
Hindfeet - Round, compact, the toes close together and cambered. Toe-nails strong and black. Pads thick and though.
Coat
The coat is abundant. The top coat together with the dense undercoat constitues the protective covering, perfectly adapted to the sudden weather changes in his native country.
Colour - The coat of the Bouvier des Flandres is generally fawn or gray, often brindled or charcoal; a black coat is also admissible, but should not be specially favoured. Light-colored coats, said to be "washed-out", are undesirable.
Topcoat - Should be crisp to the feel, dry and dull, neither too long nor too short (about 6 centimeters = 2 3/8 inches), slightly tousled without ever being wooly nor curly. It is shorter on the skull, and nearly smooth on the outside-part of the ears, but the inner openings are protected by moderately long hair. The top-coat is especially close and harsh on the upper part of the back; it is shorter on the lower limbs always however remaining harsh and dry. A flat lying topcoat is undesirable, as indicative of a lack of undercoat.
Undercoat - A fluffy mass of fine and close hairs grows under the topcoat and with it forms a waterproof covering.
Mustache and beard - Ample; the hairs are crisp; shorter and harsher on the upper part of the jaws. The upper lip must sport a mustache and the chin should be adorned by a fully grown and harsh beard, giving the gruff expression so characteristic of the breed.
Eye-brows - They are made up of erect hairs, accentuating the shape of the brows, without ever veiling the eyes.
Skin - Adhering closely, without excessive looseness. The visible mucous membranes always very dark colored (pigmented).
External Sexual Organs
Well developed.
Height and Weight
Height - The height at the withers is:
- from 62 to 68 centimeter (24,4" to 26,8") for the males;
- from 59 to 65 centimeter (23,2" to 25,6") for the bitches.
In the two sexes, the ideal heights are the media between the measurements given, thus :
- 65 centimeter (25,6") for the males,
- 62 centimeter (24,4") for the bitches.
Weight - The weights are approximately :
- from 35 to 40 kg (77 to 88 lbs) for the males;
- from 27 to 35 kg (60 to 77 lbs) for the bitches.
Gait
The Bouvier des Flandres must be of harmonious proportions, to allow a free, easy and proud gait. The walk and the trot are the usual movements, although one does also encounter amblers.
Serious Faults
Structure - Long-bodied individuals
Eyes - Light
Ears - Low
Prognathism - Upper or lower (overshot or undershot)
Ribs - Flat, too long, or barreled and short
Croup - Falling off
Coat - Washed-out color
Coat texture - Soft, wooly, silky; too long; too short
Eyes - Wall eyes, staring eye
Nose - Flecked
Coat colour - Chocolate brown, too much white
Cryptorchidism - Monorchidism; bilateral cryptorchidism. Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
AKC Bouvier des Flandres Standard (Click on buttons to see each paragraph)
General Appearance
The Bouvier des Flandres is a powerfully built, compact, short-coupled, rough-coated dog of notably rugged appearance. He gives the impression of great strength without any sign of heaviness or clumsiness in his overall makeup. He is agile, spirited and bold, yet his serene, well behaved disposition denotes his steady, resolute and fearless character. His gaze is alert and brilliant, depicting his intelligence, vigor and daring. By nature he is an equable dog. His origin is that of a cattle herder and general farmer's helper, including cart pulling. He is an ideal farm dog. His harsh double coat protects him in all weather, enabling him to perform the most arduous tasks. He has been used as an ambulance and messenger dog. Modern times find him as a watch and guard dog as well as a family friend, guardian and protector. His physical and mental characteristics and deportment, coupled with his olfactory abilities, his intelligence and initiative enable him to also perform as a tracking dog and a guide dog for the blind. The following description is that of the ideal Bouvier des Flandres. Any deviation from this is to be penalized to the extent of the deviation.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size--The height as measured at the withers: Dogs, from 24½ to 27½ inches; bitches, from 23½ to 26½ inches. In each sex, the ideal height is the median of the two limits, i.e., 26 inches for a dog and 25 inches for a bitch. Any dog or bitch deviating from the minimum or maximum limits mentioned shall be severely penalized. Proportion--The length from the point of the shoulder to the tip of the buttocks is equal to the height from the ground to the highest point of the withers. A long-bodied dog should be seriously faulted. Substance--Powerfully built, strong boned, well muscled, without any sign of heaviness or clumsiness.
Head
The head is impressive in scale, accentuated by beard and mustache. It is in proportion to body and build. The expression is bold and alert. Eyes neither protrude nor are sunken in the sockets. Their shape is oval with the axis on the horizontal plane, when viewed from the front. Their color is a dark brown. The eye rims are black without lack of pigment and the haw is barely visible. Yellow or light eyes are to be strongly penalized, along with a walleyed or staring expression. Ears placed high and alert. If cropped, they are to be a triangular contour and in proportion to the size of the head. The inner corner of the ear should be in line with the outer corner of the eye. Ears that are too low or too closely set are serious faults. Skull well developed and flat, slightly less wide than long. When viewed from the side, the top lines of the skull and the muzzle are parallel. It is wide between the ears, with the frontal groove barely marked. The stop is more apparent than real, due to upstanding eyebrows. The proportions of length of skull to length of muzzle are 3 to 2. Muzzle broad, strong, well filled out, tapering gradually toward the nose without ever becoming snipy or pointed. A narrow, snipy muzzle is faulty. Nose large, black, well developed, round at the edges, with flared nostrils. A brown, pink or spotted nose is a serious fault. The cheeks are flat and lean, with the lips being dry and tight fitting. The jaws are powerful and of equal length. The teeth are strong, white and healthy, with the incisors meeting in a scissors bite. Overshot or undershot bites are to be severely penalized.
Neck, Topline, and Body
The neck is strong and muscular, widening gradually into the shoulders. When viewed from the side, it is gracefully arched with proud carriage. A short, squatty neck is faulty. No dewlap. Back short, broad, well muscled with firm level topline. It is supple and flexible with no sign of weakness. Body or trunk powerful, broad and short. The chest is broad, with the brisket extending to the elbow in depth. The ribs are deep and well sprung. The first ribs are slightly curved, the others well sprung and very well sloped nearing the rear, giving proper depth to the chest. Flat ribs or slabsidedness is to be strongly penalized. Flanks and loins short, wide and well muscled, without weakness. The abdomen is only slightly tucked up. The horizontal line of the back should mold unnoticeably into the curve of the rump, which is characteristically wide. A sunken or slanted croup is a serious fault. Tail is to be docked, leaving 2 or 3 vertebrae. It must be set high and align normally with the spinal column. Preferably carried upright in motion. Dogs born tailless should not be penalized.
Forequarters
Strong boned, well muscled and straight. The shoulders are relatively long, muscular but not loaded, with good layback. The shoulder blade and humerus are approximately the same length, forming an angle slightly greater than 90 degrees when standing. Steep shoulders are faulty. Elbows close to the body and parallel. Elbows which are too far out or in are faults. Forearms viewed either in profile or from the front are perfectly straight, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. They are well muscled and strong boned. Carpus exactly in line with the forearms. Strong boned. Pasterns quite short, slightly sloped. Dewclaws may be removed. Both forefeet and hind feet are rounded and compact turning neither in nor out; the toes close and well arched; strong black nails; thick tough pads.
Hindquarters
Firm, well muscled with large, powerful hams. They should be parallel with the front legs when viewed from either front or rear. Legs moderately long, well muscled, neither too straight nor too inclined. Thighs wide and muscular. The upper thigh must be neither too straight nor too sloping. There is moderate angulation at the stifle. Hocks strong, rather close to the ground. When standing and seen from the rear, they will be straight and perfectly parallel to each other. In motion, they must turn neither in nor out. There is a slight angulation at the hock joint. Sickle or cow-hocks are serious faults. Metatarsi hardy and lean, rather cylindrical and perpendicular to the ground when standing. If born with dewclaws, they are to be removed.Feet as in front.
Coat
A tousled, double coat capable of withstanding the hardest work in the most inclement weather. The outer hairs are rough and harsh, with the undercoat being fine, soft and dense. The coat may be trimmed slightly only to accent the body line. Overtrimming which alters the natural rugged appearance is to be avoided. Topcoat must be harsh to the touch, dry, trimmed, if necessary, to a length of approximately 2½ inches. A coat too long or too short is a fault, as is a silky or woolly coat. It is tousled without being curly. On the skull, it is short, and on the upper part of the back, it is particularly close and harsh always, however, remaining rough. Ears are rough-coated. Undercoat a dense mass of fine, close hair, thicker in winter. Together with the topcoat, it will form a water-resistant covering. A flat coat, denoting lack of undercoat is a serious fault. Mustache and beard very thick, with the hair being shorter and rougher on the upper side of the muzzle. The upper lip with its heavy mustache and the chin with its heavy and rough beard gives that gruff expression so characteristic of the breed. Eyebrows, erect hairs accentuating the shape of the eyes without ever veiling them.
Color
From fawn to black, passing through salt and pepper, gray and brindle. A small white star on the chest is allowed. Other than chocolate brown, white, or parti-color, which are to be severely penalized, no one color is to be favored.
Gait
The whole of the Bouvier des Flandres must be harmoniously proportioned to allow for a free, bold and proud gait. The reach of the forequarters must compensate for and be in balance with the driving power of the hindquarters. The back, while moving in a trot, will remain firm and flat. In general, the gait is the logical demonstration of the structure and build of the dog. It is to be noted that while moving at a fast trot, the properly built Bouvier will tend to single-track.
Temperament
The Bouvier is an equable dog, steady, resolute and fearless. Viciousness or shyness is undesirable.
