From: emily@azariah.tamu.edu (Emily Glass)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Bouviers
Date: 15 Sep 92 17:41:58 GMT
Organization: Texas A&M University, Dept. of Electrical Engineering

In article <13SEP199220044610@aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu> kathy@aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu  writes:
>Hi!
>	Anyone out there have Bouviers?  I would like some personal information
>on them, specifically what is there temperament like?  Are they good in 
>obedience?  Are they good with other dogs?  At what age are their ears
>cropped?  How difficult would it be to find one that could do it all, 
>ie. obedience, conformation, shutzhund (spelling?) and family pet?
>	Any information would be appreciated.
>			THANKS!
>............................................................................
>Kathy Greenwood                | Mom to 
>Math Major (believe it or not!)|   Loucha and Landry (Belgian Sheepdogs)
>University of Oklahoma         |   Ruger (English Springer Spaniel)
>                               |   Elsa (German Wirehair Pointer)
>.............................................................................


I have a 15 month old male Bouvier, Sherlock.  This is my first Bouvier, 
so I am by no means an expert on the breed.  I think that for temperment 
you need to meet the parents and find talk to different breeders, because
although Bouviers are generally very good natured, like in any breed
there are disreputable breeders who do not breed for temperment.

I got Sherlock last fall when he was 13 weeks old.  After he got his shots,
I made a point to socialize him, by walking him in the park, etc... ( this
is a good idea for any of the large "protective" type breeds.)  He enjoys 
meeting people, but is not "pushy" for attention.  As a puppy he had *little*
tendancy towards destructive chewing, when given access to nylabones and 
other chew toys (unlike my other dog when she was a puppy).  

Sherlock gets along very well with other dogs, too.  He has not exhibited any
agression problems towards any animal (or people), except cats.  He has
been exposed to dogs, and sheep.  As far as cats, ... I thinks he just wants
to chase them, because the neighbor cat sits just out of reach of our fence,
and it drives both  of my dogs nuts.  On the other hand, I think that he 
could be easily trained to accept a cat, because when he was a puppy, I took
him to visit a friend who had indoor cats, and he just lay there and watched
them.  He didn't even seem to mind when one of them came up and sniffed him.

I don't have kids, but he has socialized with the neighbor kids and with
my sister's kids and has always been extremely good with them, even when
he was little.

His activity level in the house is very low, but outside he likes to play chase
with my other dog.  Sherlock has relatively low vigor (so I don't know how
he would do in protection work). For example, when he takes food out of my hand
he barely grasps it. On the other hand, he does show more vigor with my other
dog.  He has also had no inclination to play-bite at me as most puppies do; although, he does with my other dog.  I do not know if this is 
typical in Bouvier or not.  Bouviers are supposed to be naturally protective 
(but not viscious), but it is too early to tell if mine will turn out to have
protective instincts.  

I originally bought Sherlock with Obedience training in mind.  In obedience
terms he has a "soft" to medium temperment, as opposed to "hard."  Because
of this he has done well with his stays and comes, but I have had to proceed 
a little slower with the heels.   The correctie jerk so commonly used in
obedience does not frighten him, but it tends to discourage him. He also
gets bored with long heeling sessions, so I have had to use very short
heel sessions with lots of positive reenforcement.   However, I think he
might do well with other types of work, such as herding.  I ran him through
an unofficial herding instinct test done with sheep, and he responded 
beautifully.

As far as informal obedience goes (like around the house) he learns very 
quickly and loves to please.

Sherlock is very attached to me and my other dog, so I have had to deal
with some minor separation anxiety attacks when he was little.  (like him
crying continuously from when I left until I returned.)  With a little work, 
he has become more secure and can now be left alone, when necessary.

I live in Bryan, Texas, and the summer heat does bother him.  I do not have any
shade to speak of in my back yard, so I left him inside during the day 
this summer.  This also affects his interest (or lack of) in *heeling*,
because even the evenings around here in the summer are muggy and hot.


On the ear cropping, Sherlocks were already cropped and healed over when I 
got him.  I had to continue to tape them for about 1-2 months. 


I hope this helps.

Good luck in your decision,

Emily Glass