Ch Olympus Zarro

Standing not more than 27.5 inches tall at the shoulder, the Bouvier is a strong, powerfully built, rugged dog with a thick, harsh, weather-resistant double coat. His coat may be any color from fawn through black and requires regular brushing. Not a breed for the neat freak, the Bouvier's Dutch nickname is "Vuilbaard" which means "dirty beard". Seen a Bouvier in the show ring? Don't be fooled! Unless you want to spend hours grooming, be prepared to live with a shaggy farm dog.

The Bouvier is alert, responsive, agile, and spirited. He projects a calm, laid-back, and steady manner and loves the company of people. The Bouvier makes an excellent guard and watch dog as he is very protective of his family. Although he makes a gentle companion for children, especially when socialized early, he may be intolerant of children outside the family. This dog is not one for the kennel. He is devoted to his people and will be miserable if left alone for long periods.

Early training and socialization is important. Puppies take well to training as they are eager to please and have a relatively good attention span. The Bouvier will grow into a large, assertive, confident, and intelligent dog. He needs a firm, strong leader. An active dog, the Bouvier needs lots of space, plenty of exercise (whether he wants to or not!), and prefers to be put to work. He does best in a rural environment. Due to his size, he is not suited to cramped quarters and should have a fenced backyard.