Content
- Origin of the Flanders Cattleman
- Physical Characteristics of the Flanders Cattle Farmer
- Temperament of the tin cowherd
- Care of the herder in tin
- Flanders cattleman education
- Flanders Cattle Health
O Bouvier des Flanders, or tin cowherd, is a large and stout dog, with a very peculiar rustic appearance. With a stable temperament, protective and loyal, it is a great sheepdog, herdsman and guard dog, but it can also be an excellent pet. Thanks to their great intelligence and magnificent memory, these dogs tend to learn all sorts of commands quickly. Due to their large size, it is recommended that they live in large spaces, as they need a lot of physical and mental activity on a daily basis.
If you are interested in adopting a dog of this breed, continue reading this PeritoAnimal sheet in which we bring all the necessary information about the breed. Flanders herdsman, so you can take good care of your furry companion.
Source
- Europe
- Belgium
- France
- Group I
- Rustic
- muscular
- provided
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Balanced
- Intelligent
- Active
- floors
- hiking
- Shepherd
- Surveillance
- harness
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Medium
- Hard
- Dry
Origin of the Flanders Cattleman
the herders of tin are from the Flemish region, also called Flanders, shared by Belgium and France. That's why the FCI considers them to be of Franco-Belgian origin. The name Bouvier des Flanders is French and in Portuguese it means Shepherd of Flanders, which denotes its origin and its function as a guide dog for cattle.
The first breed standard was drawn up in 1912, and the Flanders herdsman's popularity increased until World War I, however, after that the breed came to the brink of extinction. One of the few surviving cattlemen from the war was used as a founder to reclaim the breed, and his name can now be found on almost every pedigree of the flander cattleman. That dog was Ch. Nic de Sottegem. In 1922, the racial pattern was redefined to obtain a more homogeneous race. Today, the tin cowherd is a dog easily seen at exhibitions and herding events, but it is not very popular as a pet.
Physical Characteristics of the Flanders Cattle Farmer
this dog's body is compact, strong and muscular, but without looking heavy. Its profile is square, as the length of the buttocks and shoulders is equal to the height at the withers. This height varies between 62 and 68 centimeters in males and between 59 and 65 centimeters in females. The approximate weight varies from 30 to 40 kilos in males and 27 to 35 kilos in females. The legs are muscular and with strong bones.
The head of the tin cowherd is massive, well proportioned to the body and well delineated, but these features may not be visible to the naked eye due to the abundant coat that covers them. Has a well-developed beard and its nose is round and black. The eyes, slightly oval and very dark, are arranged horizontally. The ears are set high and fall over the cheeks. Unfortunately, the FCI breed standard accepts and recommends amputation of triangular-shaped ears.
Likewise, the breed standard published by the FCI indicates that the tail must be clipped above the second or third vertebrae, except in countries where this barbaric practice is prohibited.
The coat of this dog is thick and has two layers.. The outer layer is of medium length (about six centimeters), rough, dry and slightly disheveled. The inner layer is composed of fine, tight hairs. The coat can be gray, mottled or charcoal, but the pattern also accepts a black-brown coat.
Temperament of the tin cowherd
are dogs smart, energetic and of a stable temperament. Due to their past as multipurpose dogs on Belgian farms, they tend to be excellent guardians and protectors, but they need company for much of the day.
They tend to be reserved with strangers and can be aggressive with dogs of the same sex. However, with proper socialization, they can make excellent pets and get along with people, dogs and other animals. It is important to start the socialization of the tin herder while it is still a puppy, as otherwise it can become an aggressive or fearful animal.
Care of the herder in tin
Coat care is complicated and requires dog brushing and combing between two and three times a week, in addition to the manual removal of dead hair (stripping) every three months. Obviously, coat care is more intense for show dogs than for show dogs, but in general the coat of a tin herder requires more care than that of other herding and herding dogs.
These dogs also require lots of exercise and company. They are not content with short walks, but need long walks or jogs every day. Care must be taken, however, not to demand great efforts from them when they are very young, as this can damage their joints. They are not dogs that should be isolated in the yard either, but they should spend most of their time with their families. So they can adapt to apartment living if they get enough exercise outdoors, but they live better in houses with large yards. If they don't receive constant encouragement and proper obedience training, they can get bored.
Flanders cattleman education
In addition to their great intelligence, the herders of Flanders have an excellent memory, which is why they surprise everyone with their cognitive abilities. When well trained, these dogs are true gems of the animal world, because learn very quickly. They respond well to different training techniques, but it is through clicker training that the most impressive and lasting results can be achieved.
These dogs can show behavior problems when they don't get enough exercise, the attention they require, or the training they need. In these cases, they can become destructive, aggressive or shy dogs. However, when the flander cattlemen receive the necessary care and education, make excellent pets that leave nothing to be desired for other breeds.
Flanders Cattle Health
The herdsman from Flanders tends to be a healthy dog and to have fewer health problems than many other dog breeds. However, it is prone to suffer from some hereditary diseases, such as:
- hip dysplasia
- gastric torsion
- entropion
- Cataract