Breeds / Large
Bouvier des Ardennes puppies
Hardy, alert and strongly bonded to their family, the Bouvier des Ardennes is a rare Belgian farm dog bred to drive cattle in rough country. They are vocal, watchful and happiest with a job to do.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Belgium
- Adult weight 22 to 35.2 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 49 to 78 lb
- Adult height 52 to 62 cm
- Energy level Very high
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Not published
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 12 to 16 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Bouvier des Ardennes
The Bouvier des Ardennes is a Belgian farm dog from the Ardennes, kept for driving cattle, moving pigs and generally making themselves useful about a smallholding. They nearly vanished after the world wars and are still rare outside their home region. This is a solid, roughly built dog with a shaggy weatherproof coat and a bearded face, made to work outside in poor conditions. The temperament is bold and busy, deeply attached to their own household and watchful about anything arriving on the property.
A walk around the block will not satisfy a Bouvier des Ardennes. They want a job, daily training and long free runs in a safe space, and they will find their own work if none is offered. Grooming is simple, a weekly brush to keep the coat from matting and the occasional bath, with no hand stripping wanted. They learn fast and are quick to bark, so early socialisation and clear rules about what is worth announcing matter. They suit an active rural home far better than a flat.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Bouvier des Ardennes puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, screened by radiographic hip evaluation of breeding stock
- Elbow dysplasia, screened by elbow evaluation of breeding stock
- Spinocerebellar ataxia, detectable by DNA test, though the breed has been little studied
Your Bouvier des Ardennes puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Bouvier des Ardennes.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 22 to 35.2 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 42 inch (42 x 28 x 30 in, 107 x 71 x 76 cm) for an adult of up to 35.2 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
More on the Bouvier des Ardennes
Previous: Boston Terrier · Next: Bouvier des Flandres
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Bouvier des Ardennes breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bouvier-de-ardennes/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
No published figure for coat type, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
Photo: Томасина, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.