Bouvier des Flandres's are very strong-willed, given their history of herding and protecting flocks of sheep. For this reason, they are also inherently protective over their families, not in the obvious way like a Lab but they will happily curl up next to you as a sign of love. This also means they can’t be left alone for long periods of time, as it will result in them developing destructive behaviors. Having a strong personality, it’s vital your dog knows their place in the hierarchy. Without showing your dog leadership, they will try to take your place, so need to begin training as young as possible.

Bouvier des Flandres translates from French to ‘cow herder from Flandres’ so it’s really no shock that they were originally bred to herd cattle! However, they were also used for pulling carts and helping the farmers family in whatever way possible, so we can only assume they were developed as a matter of practicality. Although we don’t officially know the ancestry of these dogs, it’s thought the Bouvier des Flandres's ancestors may include Sheepdogs, Dutch Griffons and Barbets. During WW1 and 2 many of these guys were used as messenger and search dogs! They were officially recognized by the Kennel Club in 1929 with a breed standard being put in place in 1912.