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Bogey
often wasn't the best-looking actor in his movies, nor did
he have the muscular body of today's leading man, but he was
always the guy you turned to when the going got rough, and
the going often got rough, for Bogart played men operating
at the edge of society's boundaries - smugglers and soldiers,
detectives and thieves. His characters knew what it took to
get the job done, even if that sometimes meant crossing the
line.
The bouvier
des Flandres is the Humphrey Bogart of the dog world, for
although this shaggy, sometimes ornery herding dog doesn't
have the dashing looks of today's more popular breeds, the
bouvier has a can-do demeanor and a bold, resolute courage
that has enabled it to survive brutal, often violent environments.
Like Bogey, the bouvier has played some of this century's
toughest roles, including that of smuggler and spy, police
officer and soldier.
A Mysterious
Past
Bogey's
characters often had mysterious pasts, just like the bouvier
des Flandres. Documentation of the breed doesn't begin until
the late 19th century, when veterinarians in Flanders - a
region of Belgium and northeastern France - noted that many
of the region's farm dogs were breeding loosely to type.
Breed
historian Miranda Lucas notes that early in the breed's development
there were three separate types of bouviers des Flandres.
The original bouvier was found primarily in the Ypres and
Warrenton region of northern France. This was a harsh-coated
dog, standing approximately 25 inches high, used primarily
by shepherds. Lucas writes that this dog was probably a cross
between the Matin - a large, smooth-coated breed often used
as a draft dog - and the Berger Picard, a smaller, rough-coated
dog. The smallest type was the bouvier d' Ardennes, which
had prick ears and a short tail. The third breed prototype
was the bouvier de Roulers, a large dog that also exhibited
a strong Matin influence found primarily in the French city
Roulers. The modern bouvier des Flandres is most likely a
combination of these three earlier types, with a healthy dash
of the region's generic, harsh-coated sheepdogs in the mix.
The breed
first gained popularity in the beef trade, as the dog showed
a unique aptitude for cattle driving. Bouvier means cowherd
or oxherd in French, and the breed often went by the names
koehond (cow dog) or toucheur de boeuf (cattle driver). Although
not as large as other cattle dogs in the region, the bouvier
was more adept at intimidating cattle and also possessed greater
speed, agility and endurance.
Others
soon recognized the talents of the bouvier and adopted it
for several tasks, including general livestock work, turning
milk churns and work as a draft dog. Horses were rare in this
part of Europe, owned primarily by the privileged classes,
and dogs were often employed to pull carts full of produce,
milk, people and practically everything else.
The breed
made its first dog show appearance in 1900, but the four dogs
exhibited as bouviers at that show in Hasselt, Belgium, differed
wildly in appearance. Development occurred slowly during the
next 15 years but came to a halt with World War I, when the
bouvier's Belgium home was turned into a battlefield.
Resistance
Fighter
During
the war, most large herding dogs such as the bouvier were
either slaughtered or used as stretcher bearers and messengers
- the kind of tough, unheralded roles Bogey would've admired.
Not surprisingly, few bouviers survived the brutal conflict.
Fanciers re-established the breed, however, and on January
15th, 1922, the Club National Belge du Bouvier des Flandres
approved the first breed standard in the Belgium city of Ghent.
Even this document did not end the debate about the breed's
appearance, and although the bouvier continued to find a following
throughout northern Europe during the '20s and '30s, there
was still considerable variation in type.
Smugglers
and poachers were among the many who used the dog. The bouvier's
dark color, combined with its speed, endurance and intelligence,
made it an excellent means of transporting illegal contraband
or cutting out stock in the dead of night. Police officers
and customs agents, impressed by the bouvier's courage and
tracking abilities, also began using the breed during this
period.
War intervened
in the bouvier's development again in the late '30s, as the
forces of Nazi Germany swept through the dog's homeland. It
was during this period when many bouviers accepted their most
dangerous task yet, serving as couriers for the Nazi resistance
movement in Holland and other areas of northern Europe. The
dogs proved so successful at this treacherous role that sometimes
a whole street would contribute scraps of valuable food for
their upkeep so that they could continue their resistance
efforts. The Nazis were aware of the bouviers' use in covert
operations, however, and often shot the dogs on sight.
In many
ways, the breed owes its American presence to these resistance
efforts. The first recorded bouviers arrived in the United
States in 1927, and the breed was formerly recognized by the
American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1929, but aside from the work
of a few dedicated breeders, the dog remained relatively obscure
outside of northern Europe. That changed in 1942 with the
arrival of Edmee Bowles and her bouvier, Belco. The owner
of a prestigious bouvier kennel, Bowles was driven from her
family estate near Antwerp, Belgium, by the Nazis for establishing
a resistance communication network by sending information
fastened inside the collars of her bouviers. Bowles and Belco
escaped by working their way through France and Spain to Portugal,
where they found passage to New York.
Once in
the United States, Bowles worked for the "Dogs for Defense"
program training American-bred bouviers, and many of these
dogs went on to make a contribution to the war effort. In
1946, Bowles founded Belco Farms near Collegeville, Pennsylvania,
where she became an influential breeder and well-known personality
at dog shows.
Tough
Love
After
the war, bouvier breeders on both sides of the Atlantic restored
the breed from war-time devastation. The American Bouvier
de Flandres Club was established in 1963. Of the 148 breeds
registered the bouvier is the 77th most popular dog in the
United States, in terms of new AKC registrations for the year
2000. Although the majority of bouviers are now household
companions, breeders diligently maintain the dog's working
heritage, both here and abroad - a bouvier cannot win the
title of champion in Belgium unless it has also won a prize
in a work competition as a police, defense or army dog.
The modern
bouvier de Flandres is a powerful but compact dog. Height,
measured at the withers, ranges from 241/2 to 271/2 inches
for males and from 23 1/2 to 261/2 inches for females. Weight
varies from 65 to 95 pounds for adults. The bouvier possesses
great agility and speed, which complements an alert, bold
disposition.
Like Bogart,
the bouvier often appears disheveled, but this appearance
is by design, creating a "tough-guy" image that has served
the breed well in its many difficult occupations. The dog's
thick, waterproof coat helped guard it against northern Europe's
damp, cold winters. The outer hairs are rough and harsh, with
the undercoat being fine, soft and dense. The breed's characteristic
gruff expression is created, in large part, by the heavy mustache
and beard on the upper lip and chin. Like the rest of the
coat, this facial hair should be trimmed only lightly so that
the rugged appearance is preserved. This does not relieve
the owner of grooming responsibilities - the coat needs combing
one or twice weekly, as well as an occasional bath.
Where
the bouvier most resembles Bogey is in its disposition, for
like the great film star, the typical bouvier is no choir
boy. Untrained, they can be domineering, independent and reserved,
especially when bred from working bloodlines - show lines
tend to be calmer and more subdued. Even a properly socialized
bouvier might not get along with other dogs. Any faults, however,
are made up for by the breed's intense devotion and loyalty
to its family. Naturally protective, they take the job of
guardian - or any other job - very seriously.
Because
the bouviers' natural intelligence and vigor can lead to behavioral
problems if improperly trained and socialized, it is probably
not a good choice for the casual or first-time dog owner.
Give your bouvier training and attention, particularly when
young, and chances are you will be rewarded with a loving
family companion. Without that attention, you may have your
hands full.
Exercise
should be an important component of the bouvier's life. Natural
athletes, they require plenty of exercise for happy, healthy
lives. As with many large breeds, the bouvier is prone to
hip dysplasia. Stock should be purchased from a reputable
breeders with excellent health records. A healthy bouvier
des Flandres has a typical lifespan of 10 to 12 years.
Being
the tough guy was never easy for Bogey - his characters came
out on the losing end as often as they won - and it hasn't
been a piece of cake for the bouvier either. The breed has
endured unimaginable war and devastation, but through it all,
the bouvier des Flandres has retained its courage, work ethic
and zest for life, allowing it to emerge from a difficult
past into a future filled with promise. Although this strong-willed,
scruffy dog might not be for everyone, it's the kind of loyal
and courageous pooch a tough guy like Bogart would've loved.
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