Bouvier des Ardennes Dog Names

The Bouvier des Ardennes is not well-known outside of their native Belgium, however, their cousin the Bouvier des Flandres is making waves throughout the world. Most recently with a victory at the 143^rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on February 11, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Quiche’s Major League, or Lars as he is known at home, took first place in the Herding Group with his owner, handler, and trainer Elaine Paquette or Tecumseh, Michigan. Lars’ victory honored not just the Bouvier des Flandres breed but also the Bouvier des Ardennes. Throughout their history, it is believed the two breeds have been intertwined but this has not been proven through factual findings.

The Bouvier des Ardennes is an ancient breed, originating in the Ardennes region of Belgium before any type of record keeping system was implemented. Historians believe the breed may have first developed sometime during the 17^th century and was used as a working dog to help around the farm, herding and guarding cattle. Later, the Bouvier des Ardennes was used as a hunting dog to track wild boar. During World War I, the Bouvier des Ardennes became a very valuable companion for families. They were used to hunt game of all sizes to provide much needed food for their starving families. After World War I the number of dairies began to decline and with them the number of Bouvier des Ardennes also sharply decreased. Many people claimed the breed became extinct, however, there was a small population found of purebred Bouvier des Ardennes. It is claimed that this small group of Bouvier des Ardennes was found when a group of scientists was visiting a Belgian farm to examine their milk production. The dogs living on this farm were recognized as the thought to be extinct Bouvier des Ardennes. Re-population of the breed began using these dogs as their foundation. But since the population of known Bouvier des Ardennes was so small, the gene pool was very limited until 1996 when another small population of purebred Bouvier des Ardennes was located and the gene pool was widened. Of the five original Bouvier breeds, only the Bouvier des Flandres and the Bouvier des Ardennes have survived. The Bouvier des Roulers, Bouvier de Paret, and Bouvier de Moermon are now completely extinct. The Bouvier des Ardennes is still popular on Belgium farms and is rarely kept as simply a companion dog, but rather a working dog and companion since they have such a desire to be in the fields doing the job they were bred to do.