Bouvier des Ardennes
阿登牧牛犬
Draft — this profile is still being checked.
At a glance
The Bouvier des Ardennes is the cattle dog of the Belgian Ardennes, shaped by a harsh climate, hard specific work and a poor region: only the hardiest and most hardworking of a deliberately restricted population were kept to round up, guard and drive cattle, and from the nineteenth century the breed was also used on deer and wild boar. Short, thick-set and heavier in bone than its size suggests, it wears a dry, coarse, tousled topcoat about 6 cm long with a moustache and small beard and a very dense undercoat; males stand 56–62 cm and weigh 28–35 kg, females 52–56 cm and 22–28 kg. The FCI standard describes a dog of much endurance and energy — playful, curious, agile and sociable, whose main quality is adaptability — obstinate and extremely courageous when defending its people, its belongings and its territory.
Facts
| Size | Large |
|---|---|
| Height | 52–62cm |
| Weight | 22–35kg |
| Breed group | FCI: 1 |
| Role | Herding |
| Coat | Wire coat |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
The breed standards this profile is built from don't list breed-specific health screening. Ask a vet which checks suit the dog in front of you.
Behaviour
Adaptable and sociable, but a fierce defender
The FCI standard's Behaviour / Temperament section reads: "The Bouvier des Ardennes is a dog which shows much endurance and energy. It is playful, curious, agile and sociable and its main quality is its adaptability, so that it feels at ease in every situation. It is obstinate and extremely courageous when it comes to defending its people, its belongings and its territory." Its stated utilization is a good all-purpose working dog and a specialised guard of stock and property, needing only a minimum of training for maximum efficacy.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
FCI nomenclature — Bouvier des Ardennes (standard no. 171, group 1)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Bouvier des Ardennes — FCI standard no. 171 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]FCI-Standard No. 171 — Bouvier des Ardennes, 22.03.2002 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
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