The FCI Breed Standard for
Bouvier des Flandres
Origins: The Bouvier des Flanders, as the name indicates, originated in Flanders,-both France and Belgium, as there are no boundaries separating these two countries
Aptitudes: In the beginning, the Bouvier was used to herd cattle, for draught and butter churning. Modernization has changed farm equipment. Now the Bouvier is used as guard for home or farm, for defense or police work. His great physical and moral aptitudes, his excellent nose, initiative and intelligence make him an excellent tracker, and gamekeeper's aid.
General Characteristics: Cobby, short bodied and thickset on powerful and muscular limbs; gives the impression of power without clumsiness as a whole. The fire in his eyes denotes intelligence, energy and audacity. He is calm, rational and prudently bold.
Head: Massive, appearing more so because of his beard and mustache, it is well proportioned to his body and size. To feel, it is finely chiseled.
Skull: Well developed and flat, longer than its width. The top lines of the skull and muzzle are parallel. The proportion of the skull to the muzzle are three to two.
Stop: Barely perceptible, more apparent than real because of the raised eyebrows.
Frontal Groove: Barely perceivable, more apparent than real because of the raised eyebrows.
Muzzle: Wide, powerful, bony, straight in upper profile, diminishing toward the nose but never pointed. The muzzle is shorter than the skull-in the proportion of 2 to 3 and the circumference just below the eyes is equal to the length of the head.
Nose: This is the continuation of the muzzle; It is slightly convex at its extremity - must be well developed,rounded at its edges-and must always be black with well opened nostrils.
Cheeks: Flat and dry.
Ears: Cropped in a triangle, they are carried well up; attached high and very mobile. It is recommended that the size and shape should match the size of the head.
Eyes: Bold and energetic, neither prominent nor sunken. In shape slightly oval on a horizontal plane. The colour should be as dark as possible in keeping with the color of the coat. Light in colour or haggard in expression should be severely faulted.
Eyelids: Black without a trace of deficient pigmentation. No haw should be visible.
Jaws And Teeth: Jaws should be powerful and of equal length; the teeth strong, white and healthy. The upper incisors must meet the lower ones like the blades of a scissors or fit like a pincers.
Neck: The neck should be free-strong-muscled and widening into the shoulders. Its length should be slightly less than that of the head. The nape should be powerful and slightly arched. There should be no dewlap.
Withers: Slightly prominent.
Body And Trunk: Powerful, cobby and short. The length of the point of the shoulder to ischium should be about equal to the height at the withers. The ischium is the rear point of the rump. The chest should reach to the level of the elbows, and never be cylindrical, though the ribs are well sprung. The depth, i.e., the distance between the sternum and the last rib must be great - about 7/10ths of the height at the withers.
Ribs: The first ribs are slightly curved; the others are well sprung and well inclined to the rear giving the desired depth of the chest. Flat ribs must be greatly penalized.
Flank: The flank between the last rib and the haunch must be very short, especially in males. There is very little tuck up.
Back: Short, wide, muscled and firm - showing no weakness but remaining flexible.
Loin: Short, wide, and well muscled - must remain flexible but without any weakness.
Croup: Must follow as closely as possible the horizontal line of the back and follow smoothly into the curve of the rump. It should be wide without excess in the male, more developed in the female. A descending croup is a serious fault. Front Assembly
Forequarters: The forequarters should have a strong bony structure, well muscled and perfectly straight.
Shoulders And Forearms: The shoulders are relatively long, well muscled, not loaded and moderately oblique. The humerous and shoulder blades are almost the same length.
Elbows: Close to the body and parallel. Elbows out or too close are faults. In action they must remain parallel to the median line of the body.
Forearms: Seen from the profile or front they remain straight, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. They should be well muscled and of powerful bony structure.
Knee: In plumb with forearms, except for the accessory carpus at back. Strong and heavy bone.
Metacarpals: Of strong bony structure, very slightly inclined forward.
Hindlegs: Powerful and pronounced musculature is demanded. Rear legs must move in the same plane as the anterior members.
Thighs: Wide and well muscled. The direction will be parallel to the median plane of the body. The femurs will be neither too straight nor too inclined. The buttock will be well let down with good, firm breeches. The kneecap is situated on an imaginary line from the iliac crest to the ground.
Legs: Moderately long, neither too straight nor too inclined.
Hocks: Rather close to the ground, broad, well muscled and stretched. Seen from back they will be straight and parallel in the "stand" position. In action they remain parallel. (1)
Metatarsi: Strong and dry, rather cylindrical; perpendicular to the ground when in position "stand". No dewclaws.
Posterior Paws: Round, strong, toes close and arched. Strong, black nails and thick, hard soles.
Coat: The coat is very full. The top coat plus the dense under-coat make a perfect wrap adapted to the abrupt climate changes characteristic of the breed's country of origin.
Colors: The coat of the Bouvier des Flanders is generally fawn or gray, often brindle or dark gray. Black is also allowed but is not to be favored. Light-colored coats and washed out colors are not desirable.
Coat: It must be rough to the touch, harsh and dry - neither too long nor too short (about 2 1/2 inches), slightly tousled without ever being woolly or curly. On the head the coat is shorter and almost shaved on the outside of the ear, but the inside is protected by fairly long hair. On the top of the back the coat is harsh or dry; it becomes shorter on the lower legs, while still harsh. A flat coat is to be avoided since it indicates a lack of undercoat.
Undercoat: A wadding made of fine and close hairs grows under the outercoat and forms with it to provide a waterproof mantle.
Mustache And Beard: Fully dry, shorter and harsher on top of muzzle.
The upper lip has a mustache and the chin has a full, harsh beard which gives the gruff expression so characteristic of the breed.
Eyebrows: These are made of upstanding hair which accentuates the arch of the eyebrows without ever hiding the eyes.
Skin: Firm, without excessive laxity; visible mucous membranes are always very dark.
External Sex Organs: Well developed. In the male the testicles must be in place.
Height: Height at the withers for males is 24 3/8 to 26 3/4 inches. Females 23 1/4 to 24 5/8 inches. In each sex the average is between these limits, i.e., 25 1/2 for males and 24 1/2 for females.
Weight: Approximately 77 to 88 pounds for males; 60 to 77 pounds for females.
Gait: The Bouvier des Flanders as a whole must be harmoniously proportioned to permit a gait free, proud and bold. The walk and trot are habitual gaits though ambling and pacing are also employed.
Grave Faults
Conformation: Long in body.
Eyes: Light.
Bite: Overshot or undershot.
Ribs: Flat, too long or overly rounded and short.
Croup: Descending.
Coat: Washed out colors.
Hair: Soft, woolly, silky, too long or too short.
Serious Faults
Build: Sway back.
Coat: Lack of undercoat.
Hair: White star on chest allowed but not desirable.
Disqualifying Faults
Eyes: Wall eyed, haggard expression.
Nose: Spotted or butterfly.
Coat: Chocolate brown - too much white.
Sexual Organs: Monorchid or bilateral cryptorchid.
