WORKING BOUVIER
BELOW RESCUE BOUVIER ZEUS
with love, determination and work from you, your rescue Bouvier can work.
with love, determination and work from you, your rescue Bouvier can work.
The Bouvier des Flandres dog originated in Belgium. If you would like to know more about their history please go to our page "History of the Bouvier." We are going to talk about the working Bouvier today. There are Bouviers working all over the world. Some are used for cattle herding, sheep herding, agility, carting dogs, service dogs, as IPO sport dogs, and personal protection dogs. They also compete in obedience competitions, working trials. In latter years they were used as police dogs.
Picture left: Dutch Police Dogs 1947
As you can see from the old pictures above the Bouvier was a working dog. Although there have been many arguments about the breed lines of Working Bouviers and Show Bouviers, I am not going to comment on this. My information comes from rescuing Bouviers and having been able to work with them. I do believe that deep down in any Bouvier there is still that inbred desire to work. As with people, some of us are good at sports and some of us not. Some Bouviers are just happy to be a pet and enjoy going for walks, swimming, playing ball and then there are Bouviers that want to work, and enjoy working.
I am not sure how many Bouviers registered in South Africa and are working. If you would like this information you can look it up in the South African KUSA registry.
I am not sure how many Bouviers registered in South Africa and are working. If you would like this information you can look it up in the South African KUSA registry.
Kateřina Berkovcová
Member of Herding Bouviers since October 18, 2015 |
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Above some photographs of Bouviers herding cattle and sheep in overseas countries. I have not seen any of our Bouviers in South Africa herding. If anyone reading my webpage knows of someone using their Bouviers for herding I would love to hear from you.
Only ever having owned rescued Bouviers whose origins are usually unknown I have found that everyone of my rescue Bouviers like to work. The carting discipline is a great, very enjoyable for both the dog and you. Below Cola my Epilepsy Bouvier.
Only ever having owned rescued Bouviers whose origins are usually unknown I have found that everyone of my rescue Bouviers like to work. The carting discipline is a great, very enjoyable for both the dog and you. Below Cola my Epilepsy Bouvier.
Cola above pic, Zeus and Cola in the pic on the right
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Below some photographs of my Bouviers carting. I would say Cola is the best carter, then Zeus and Babushka in that order.
OBEDIENCE
I have to say here that I did basic obedience with my Bouviers and did not move up to more advanced training as I found that my Bouviers became bored with repetition, hence adding more disciplines. Below some photographs of obedience with my dogs.
I have to say here that I did basic obedience with my Bouviers and did not move up to more advanced training as I found that my Bouviers became bored with repetition, hence adding more disciplines. Below some photographs of obedience with my dogs.
AGILITY
Here I have to admit I never really got into the agility scene and when in Cape Town we went for fun and I am convinced that any Bouvier can do agility. Maybe not as fast as other breeds due to their size but they most definitely enjoyed it and we had fun. So agility is something you may consider.
There are other disciplines that are also great fun to do with your Bouvier. If you join a good dog school you may like to do Canine Good Citizen. There are three levels Bronze, Silver and Gold. Great for your dog and fun. Below a video of Cola doing CGC.
Here I have to admit I never really got into the agility scene and when in Cape Town we went for fun and I am convinced that any Bouvier can do agility. Maybe not as fast as other breeds due to their size but they most definitely enjoyed it and we had fun. So agility is something you may consider.
There are other disciplines that are also great fun to do with your Bouvier. If you join a good dog school you may like to do Canine Good Citizen. There are three levels Bronze, Silver and Gold. Great for your dog and fun. Below a video of Cola doing CGC.
COLA CGC
DO JOIN A REPUTABLE DOG SHOOL ITS FUN
When I started with my Bouviers I joined the school in Port Elizabeth called "THE DOG SCHOOl, TRAIN IT DON'T BLAME IT."
That statement so true. You cannot expect your dogs to behave without socialization and training. We had wonderful times at this school, made doggie friends. I will always be thankful to Joan and Mike Dumbris. Never will I forget Jerry Allen, they were the people who taught me the basics of training.
BELOW A VIDEO OF A DEMO AT THE PORT ELIZABETH EXPO
CHOREOGRAPHED BY JERRY ALLEN its a little long but worth the watch.
That statement so true. You cannot expect your dogs to behave without socialization and training. We had wonderful times at this school, made doggie friends. I will always be thankful to Joan and Mike Dumbris. Never will I forget Jerry Allen, they were the people who taught me the basics of training.
BELOW A VIDEO OF A DEMO AT THE PORT ELIZABETH EXPO
CHOREOGRAPHED BY JERRY ALLEN its a little long but worth the watch.
Try to find what your dog enjoys. Cola would never be a protection dog as its just not in her personality. Cola loves people, children and is the best photographic Model you could dream to have. Once you have the camera out she is ready to pose anyway you want HER to lol
BELOW VIDEO OF COLA AT PE PET EXPO
MORE ON WORKING DOGS TO COME KEEP TUNED IN.
