Dog Breed

Bouvier des Ardennes

RareFarmhand
Primary image of Bouvier des Ardennes dog breed
Full Name
Bouvier des Ardennes
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Life Span
13 - 15 years
Weight
62 - 77 pounds
Description

The Bouvier des Ardennes is a rare dog breed hailing from the Ardennes region of Belgium and France. This small to medium-sized breed is characterized by its sturdy, compact build, rough and tousled coat, and distinctive beard and mustache. Bouviers des Ardennes were originally bred for herding and guarding livestock, making them hardworking and loyal by nature. They are known for their intelligence and trainability, as well as their affectionate and protective disposition towards their families. Although relatively uncommon outside their region of origin, Bouviers des Ardennes make devoted companions and excel in various dog sports and activities, especially considering their smaller size.

Origin
Belgium
Bred For
Herding and working with livestock
Attachments
    Family Considerations
    Child Friendly

    Is the Bouvier des Ardennes good with children?

    Unfortunately, the Bouvier des Ardennes is not automatically well suited with children and we would not recommend for homes with very small children unless early socialization with children is taken seriously.
    Stranger Friendly

    Is the Bouvier des Ardennes friendly with strangers?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is about average in how friendly they are with strangers. They can be timid or protective, but with proper training and socialization can be fine for any household.
    Dog Friendly

    Is the Bouvier des Ardennes friendly with other dogs?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is about average in how friendly they are with other dogs. They can be timid or defensive, but with proper training and socialization can be fine for dog parks and living with other dogs at home.
    Likes to Cuddle

    Does the Bouvier des Ardennes like to cuddle?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is not a cuddle bug, but it can still appreciate affection. It just has different boundaries with physical affection.
    Playfulness

    Does the Bouvier des Ardennes like to play?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is playful both as a puppy and as an adult dog. As they get older they may appreciate their alone time, and may not be in the mood for constant play, but certainly will have plenty of time for play as well.
    Service Dog Ability

    Does the Bouvier des Ardennes make a good service dog?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes would not be a great fit as a service dog for several reasons.
    Overall Ease of Breed
    Ease for Novice

    Is the Bouvier des Ardennes good for first-time owners?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is not the easiest breed for first-time owners, but can certainly still work out if the owner is willing to put the time into training and exercise.
    Training Potential

    How well can the Bouvier des Ardennes be trained?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is about average when it comes to training potential. The Bouvier des Ardennes can be seen in competitions and can have advanced training, but it would require much dedication and oftentimes professional training.
    Amount of Shedding

    Does the Bouvier des Ardennes shed a lot?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes does shed, but less than average.
    Ease of Grooming

    Is the Bouvier des Ardennes easy to groom?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes requires some grooming, but less than the average dog breed. Typically you will not need to take the Bouvier des Ardennes to the pet salon, and occasional combing at home should be enough.
    Exercise Need

    Does the Bouvier des Ardennes need a lot of exercise?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes has a lot of energy and getting daily exercise is very important, both for their well-being and for their focus, which is important when you train them.
    Personality
    Intelligence

    How smart is the Bouvier des Ardennes?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes has average intelligence. They are smart and witty, but do not need to be constantly challenged mentally, as some other breeds.
    Amount of Barking

    How much does the Bouvier des Ardennes bark? Does the Bouvier des Ardennes bark too much?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes barks an average amount. It can vary widely between Bouvier des Ardenness - some may be much more expressive than others.
    Guard Dog Ability

    Is the Bouvier des Ardennes a good guard dog?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is not a dog breed necessarily known as a guard dog, but they are alert. The Bouvier des Ardennes is protective of its family, and has above average tendencies when it comes to guarding property.
    Tolerates Being Alone

    Is the Bouvier des Ardennes good at staying alone? Is the Bouvier des Ardennes independent?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is not very independent and does not do great when left behind for longer than a couple of hours. This is one of the most important things to consider when getting a new dog.
    Home and Environment Considerations
    Good for Apartment Living

    Is the Bouvier des Ardennes a good apartment dog?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is not a good dog for apartment living for several reasons. It is still possible to make it work if the owner is dedicated to plenty of training and daily exercise, but it may be challenging.
    Size

    How big is the Bouvier des Ardennes?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is below average when it comes to size. They are not a "toy" breed, but it is still significantly easier to travel with them.
    Tolerates Heat

    How much does the Bouvier des Ardennes tolerate hot weather? When is it too hot for a Bouvier des Ardennes?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes can tolerate some heat, but should not be over-exposed to hot weather. In general, they can live in hot weather climates, but would do best with air conditioning or at least a fan in their home, especially where they sleep.
    Tolerates Cold

    How much does the Bouvier des Ardennes tolerate cold weather? When is it too cold for a Bouvier des Ardennes?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes can tolerate some cold, but should not be over-exposed to cold weather. In general, they can live in cold weather climates, but may need clothing on particularly cold evenings or in snow.
    Potential to Run Away

    Does the Bouvier des Ardennes try to run away?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes does not have a large drive to run away. They can still be distracted and run, so precautions should be taken, but overall they have a less than average urge to run away.
    Physical Characteristics
    General Health

    Is the Bouvier des Ardennes a healthy dog? The health of a Bouvier des Ardennes should be measured not just by how many years they live, but also by how many health issues they've had. It is important to know which health conditions your breed is prone to- hip problems, eye problems, bloating, and arthritis are all common dog health problems.

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is very healthy, but it is still important to feed the Bouvier des Ardennes high-quality food and to live a healthy lifestyle.
    Energy Level

    How energetic is the Bouvier des Ardennes?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes has a lot of energy and this needs to be considered before bringing the Bouvier des Ardennes into your home. Can you give your Bouvier des Ardennes enough exercise? They will need several small daily walks, or a large dog park trip to get all of the energy out.
    Amount of Drooling

    How much does the Bouvier des Ardennes drool?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes does not drool at all.
    Prey Drive

    Does the Bouvier des Ardennes have a large prey drive? Does the Bouvier des Ardennes like to chase birds, cats, and other small animals?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes has average prey drive. They will probably enjoy chasing after birds and other small animals at the park, and it may be an issue at the home if you have small animals, but with some training and introduction can usually learn to live with them.
    Athleticism

    Is the Bouvier des Ardennes atheltic?

    The Bouvier des Ardennes is very athletic and would be well suited for a family that frequently works out or goes on adventures.
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  1. Herding
  2. Shepherd / Sheepdog
  3. Bouvier des Ardennes
The Bouvier des Ardennes is a purebred dog that belongs to the Shepherd / Sheepdog sub group, which falls under the larger Herding dog breed group.
Herding group: The Herding group dogs all share an instinctual ability to control the movement of other animals. They have traditionally been raised on farms to help herd and protect valuable livestock. They are intelligent, and have been bred to treat each day like they have a "job" they must do. Their innate herding ability is such a big part of who they are, that they are known to even "herd" their owners, children, or other small dogs. Some can seem stubborn and even obsessed with their herding, since they take it seriously! They have high expectations, and must be stimulated mentally just as much as physically. The reward to these "high expectations" is that they can be trained very well, and are oftentimes used in competitions. Certain breeds such as the well known German Shepard are also used by Police forces, because of their discipline, intelligence, and ability to be trained.
Shepherd / Sheepdog sub-group: Shepherd dogs are the super performers of the dog world. For many generations they have served their owners by performing their job of helping in the farm- guarding, protecting, and herding. Shepherds were bred based off intelligence and temperament, and willingness to serve their families. Today they are excellent family dogs, but also excel as military service animals, emotional therapy dogs, and in competitive obedience competitions. They are highly trainable and intelligent, but that does not necessarily mean they are an easy dog or optimal for first time owners. With this potential comes greater responsibility from the owner. They need a firm owner who is willing to stimulate them both physically and mentally from an early age. They need a leader. If they have one, you will be rewarded with one of the friendliest and most intelligent dogs in the World.

Bouvier des Ardenness for adoption

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