Bouvier des Flandres

Farmers in Flanders bred the Bouvier to drive cattle to market, pull carts, and guard the farmyard, valuing a rough, weatherproof coat and heavy build over refinement; the name simply means "cowherd" in French. The breed nearly disappeared during the First World War, when much of Flanders became a battlefield, and the modern population descends largely from a small number of survivors, including a dog named Nic de Sottegem who is behind many pedigrees today. It later found further work as a police and military dog owing to its strength and trainability.

Living with a Bouvier means living with a large, calm, watchful dog that takes its guarding role seriously but is generally gentle and patient with its own family, including children. They need a confident, consistent handler and enough exercise and mental work to stay settled, since an under-stimulated Bouvier can become pushy or overprotective. The dense, tousled double coat mats readily and needs proper brushing several times a week, plus regular professional grooming to keep it manageable.

Today the Bouvier is kept as a working farm dog in parts of Belgium and France and, more widely, as a family guardian and show dog. Its size brings the joint and bloat risks common to large breeds, and its heavy facial furnishings need cleaning to avoid skin irritation and eye problems.