Bouvier des Flandres

Patellar Luxation

Legg-Perthes Disease

Hip Dysplasia

Heart murmurs

Extra special care is needed if you are raising a Bouvier puppy. They develop quickly between four and seven months, making them susceptible to bone disorders. Feed your puppy a high-quality, low-calorie diet to keep them from growing too fast (22 to 24 percent protein and 12 to 15 percent fat). It is recommended to serve them 3 to 5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. Maintain proper weight and be careful not to overfeed.

Bouvier sheds lightly but still needs a brushing routine to help keep their coat in tip-top condition. Their undercoat is soft and dense, weather-resistant, and waterproof. The outer coat is straight and harder than the inner coat.

Bathing them once every six weeks with weekly brushing with a horsehair mitt or de-shedding glove to pull away dead hair will keep them happy and looking good.

The Bouvier has heavy bones and powerful muscles beneath a weatherproof coat and an impressive head accented by beard and moustache. They require moderate grooming to help keep their coat clean and healthy. Like all dogs with fuzzy coat, they can get dirty easily.

The frequency of bath time will depend on your dog's daily activity. Every few months, their coat may need a trim. Many Bouvier owners visit a professional groomer and do their bit to help keep them clean at home by using a large comb or pin brush. The beard may also need cleaning once in a while.

Providing your dog with raw, meaty bones can help to prevent plaque and tartar build-up. If your dog's nails don't wear down naturally, trim them once or twice a month to avoid painful tears and other issues. Make grooming a positive experience filled with praise and rewards.

The Bouvier Des Flandres is an energetic dog and are happiest when they have a job to do. They will require a good long daily walk or run to keep healthy. They need about 70 to 90 minutes of active exercise daily.

They are highly intelligent and require plenty of mental stimulation and enrichment activities. This breed also enjoys playing with a ball and retrieving objects. Keeping them active will prevent them from becoming overweight, restless, bored and develop destructive habits.

It is important to schedule a vet visit every six months to ensure your Bouvier is healthy and happy throughout all life stages. In these bi-annual visits, your vet will complete a physical examination, take your dog's temperature and check his heartbeat, among other things.

Routine maintenance for your dog gives you a chance to track your dog's growth and development, discuss any concerns with your vet.

The Bouvier is a wonderful family dog who is devoted and protective of his family, including children. They are known for being affectionate to family members and can be a good playmate to children. They play well with children, but interactions with toddlers and smaller children should be closely supervised. Early exposure and socialization with kids will help teach them how to behave around them.

The Bouvier's sterling character, huge heart, and keen intelligence endear them to dog lovers the world over.

The Bouvier is a fast learner and responds well to training. Though first-time owners might be challenged to train them because they can be strong-willed and sometimes stubborn. With a little persistence and reward strategy training, this breed's dominating personality can be tamed.

Bouviers are easily trained to do almost any type of dog sport or activity, and they usually excel at it. They have a strong prey drive so should be well socialized from the start.

Training should start as soon as you get the Bouvier puppy at home. Repetition, proper socialization, and exercise are good tools for training. It's worth noting that, considering its stubbornness and tendency to be dominant, this breed is a fast learner.

The Bouvier should be raised with other dogs and animals for the best chance at getting along with them when they grow up. Bouviers have a high prey drive and will chase other animals, but they can learn to live peaceably with indoor cats if they are brought up with them.

If they are socialized and trained properly, they usually just ignore other animals in their household.