The bouvier was bred
prior to WWI for the
sole purpose of
protecting the
Belgium cattle herdswhich were being
decimated by roving
bands of Gypsies
going cross country
stealing entire
herds of dairy and
beef cattle.
The Belgium
farmers wanted a
hardy dog, with
natural herding and
guarding instincts
that could still
bond with their
family. The long
shaggy black dog of
Flanders became the
national symbol of
Belgium. Their
bravery became
legendary, their
work ethic unmatched
by any breed.
Between WWI
and WWII the bouvier
was trained and used
extensively by the
police and military,
proving yet another
venue they could
succeed at. Then
came WWII.
Hitler and his
henchmen knew the
exact locations of
the kennels in
Belgium for their
beautiful bouviers.
In a move set to
break the hearts of
the Belgium people,
he had the Luftwaffe
bomb all the
kennels. Very few
bouviers in the
kennels survived.
The remaining
bouvs scattered to
the countryside.
Those in the
military performed
their tasks with
bravery above and
beyond the call of
duty. Trained to go
behind enemy lines
and track the allied
servicemen, they
would find the
wounded allied
soldiers and drag
(Yes drag an
unconscious fully
grown man) for 20
miles to safety.
Their fearless
courage and tireless
determination saved
many an allied
soldier.
When the war
was finally over,
the country in ruins
it's citizens raised
the cry where are
our beloved
bouviers? One
veterinarian scoured
the countryside
collecting the
scattered handfuls
of the remaining
breeding stock.
They were gathered
up and the bitches
bred then sent them
to surviving kennels
in safe places
around the world
with one plea. Save
our Bouviers. Some
bouv lines in
France, Holland and
Belgium were lost
forever.(per Engels
book listed below)
A handful of
breeders like the
astute and somewhat
clairvoyant Miss
Edmee Bowles slipped
her top stud dog and
his son out from
under the Germans
noses when her
kennel was
destroyed. She fled
her homeland to
preserve the lines
her family had
carefully and
thoughtfully bred
for generations.
It is from
these divergent
handfuls of dogs
that the present day
bouvier has evolved
from. The sheer
valor of the WWII
era breeders in war
torn Europe, who
eluded German
soldiers to cross
enemy lines to get
their dogs to safety
put modern breeders
in a pale light.
These founding
fathers laid their
lives on the line to
save the heritage of
the bouvier des
flanders dog.
The Belgium
bouviers can do a
field trial, finish
a schzthund test,
breed a litter of
pups and still go
out in the field and
do his job as
herdsman and
guardian.
The AKC has a
two word statement
for the temperament
of the Bouvier.
Utterly fearless. I
concur.
I highly
recommend the book,
Bouvier Des
Flanders, The Dogs
of Flanders Fields
by James R.Engels.
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