The Bouvier Executive Committee in action

Here is a 24 second example of the Bouvier's executive committee (see below) in action.  The "up" command means get up into the truck.  The command is given at the start of the video, it takes 24 seconds for the executive committee to act on the command.  At this point Espy is 11+ months old.  The executive committee definition is from www.bogartsdaddy.com. 

TWO LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE BOUVIER

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1. Every Bouvier has an internal Executive Committee with whom it must consult before it acts. This of course slows down the processing of your requests (known euphemistically in Human Language as "commands".) Some Bouvs have Executive Committees with members that are very disagreeable with each other and have to argue endlessly over the smallest agenda items, in which case it can take forever for the Bouvier to process its decision. Often the discussion just gets tabled until the next meeting. You can tell when this has happened because your Bouvier just stares at you like you are crazy or he/she is deaf. Other Bouviers have exceptional Executive Committees that get along with each other and can make decisions quickly. These dogs are bred by the Hoyers, Jim Engel, and a few other select people in the country.

There are some trainers out there who have the skill to get inside the Bouvier and oust an entire unsatisfactory Executive Committee and install a new one. These people are called Geniuses.

2. Male Bouviers are born without brains. There is not a single breeder in the country who will admit to this, but if we did the proper xrays or MRIs this would be discovered to be a True Fact. This makes training Male Bouviers especially interesting. Yes, they also have Executive Committees, but they hold their meetings at the other end of the dog. People who have the ability to converse with the Executive Committees of Male Bouviers are called Sandybrockers.

Here is a fact about Bouviers that is well known: every dog needs a different solution. When it comes to the attention issue it's no different. One thing that worked real well for Beaucoup (female) was cheese cubes. That was the treat she'd work for, work enthusiastically for, pay attention for. For Gable (male), the type of treat has no effect. He has an off-on switch. When it's "on", you don't need anything. When it's "off", nothing can turn it on. This has to do with the fact that his E.C. is in his back-end, and the Executive Committee is working on Many Important Agenda Items simultaneously most of the time. We expect this to change in a few months.

Haircut yesterday

Went to groomers, evidently Dad didn't do a good job of brushing while Mom visited Logan, I had matted hair next to the skin.  So I got a buzz cut, looks like I lost a lot of weight and you can now see that I am brindle.

Espy 2 -- Kong 0

Dad bought me a Kong Frisbee today, thinking it would last a few days.  Well it is less than 4 hours after he gave it to me, and I wasn't playing with it full time.

See previous Kong toy in September updates.

Parade For Paws

Parade For Paws today, Central Park to Front Street and back.  Got a honorable mention for my costume.  Walked with Luke (and his cart) and Lucy, my Bouv friends from Jacksonville.

Today I wasn't the most photographed dog in Fernandina, we all were.

After the parade, Mom, Dad, Bev, Don, Ariel and Louis had lunch at The Happy Tomato.

I made a brief stop at dog park, almost nobody there, no one would run and play with me.

Me in my costume, Mom does a better job sewing than taking photos.

Luke & Bev with cart, Don and Lucy walking behind.

Link to NHS official photo here

Farmer's Market, Training, Downtown -- Busy Day

Farmer's Market - Observed the ban on dogs, walked the perimeter, we were there early so I didn't get the chance to meet many people.

Training - Graduated Advanced Obedience, today we did some more of the AKC Rally stations, it was only Reese and I.  PS: Reese won a blue ribbon at Ocala Dog Show.  As we were leaving a car pulled over so they could take my picture.

Downtown - Santa arrived at the docks, big crowd.  Meet lots of people, had several photos taken.  Why do they always say "No Way" when Mom or Dad tell them I am only 10-1/2 months old.

Waiting to go to dog park.

Pajama Shopping Day Downtown

Big crowd, I was on my best behavior.  Several people stopped to take my picture, like always I didn't pose very well.

NAWBA 2010 Schutzhund Confidence Practice

While at NAWBA 2010 I had the opportunity to go on the field with a decoy to demonstrate my courage.  I was a little timid and wouldn't bite the sleeve, so Fred had Justin use a burlap rope.  I did a little better, this was more like playing with my rope tug toy at home.

Photo by Akemi, Justin is the Decoy and Carla is supervising.  Location is Dutch East Training Ring, Virginia Beach, Va.

11th Annual Parade for Paws Walkathon

I am registered (#107) for the walkathon, a parade of 100+ of my canine friends from downtown Fernandina to Central Park on December 4th.  If you would like to support me you can make a donation (securely) at http://www.nassauhumanesociety.com/events.html, by Nov 30th,  use the "Buy Now" link.  Be sure to mention my name.

NAWBA 2010 Confirmation Puppy Class

I entered the puppy class confirmation to learn how I stacked up against the bred standards.

That's Dad and me on the right.

Judged by: FCI Judge Jean-Yves Reguer, France


First Place: Michelle Jones & Koda (Casa De Mandingos Kodakracker)


Second Place: Dana Long-Terry & Zander (Zander-Dre Casa de Mandingos)


Well, it was an honorary 3rd, since I have been neutered I am not eligible for placement.

Dad got the truck stuck today

The field where we are parking at Dutch East was wet and slick, Dad stopped when he shouldn't have and couldn't get traction to get going again.  Fortunately there was someone with 4WD.  Dad's advanced planning wasn't quite up to par, the nice tow strap was back in Yulee.  He was able to improvise one out of three of the tie down straps.  We got out without any problem, but we didn't slow down going through that area when we left.

Boardwalk Virginia Beach

Four Bouv's, two with carts walking down the Virginia Beach Boardwalk in the rain, what a sight.  Photos at http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=471928510488&set=a.445240660488.208819.580690488

All day in truck

Spent the day in the truck, Yulee to Virginia Beach.  The reward got reunited with mom (Bunny) and a sister.  It looks like I will be entered in the confirmation event at NAWBA championship.

Heading for NAWBA 2010 Tomorrow

North American Working Bouvier Association 2010 Championship is being held at Virginia Beach this year.  They are on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/2010-NAWBA-Championships/286360410714.

We are going to observer the Carting Event, Mon and Dad think this might be fun for me.

Last Saturday at the Fernandina Farmer's Market

Today I made my last trip down the center of the Fernandina Farmer's Market, they have banned dog's.  I will still be going on Saturdays, I will just have to stay on the outside.  If any of my K-9 friends want to protest the ban the Farmer's Market E-mail is info@fernandinafarmersmarket.com.

I did wear my Halloween costume.

2nd Place Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest

No class this week, Petsmart is having a Howl-O-Ween event.  I won 2nd place in the costume contest.

A picture of my costume is at 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1657811523021&set=a.1116529111299.138998.1169107635

My Petsmart photo, I guess I am a little big for their backdrop.

Started Advance Obedience

I started advanced obedience on Saturday.  Jamie brought out a stick with a ball on it, she calls it a target stick, we are going to use it in training, how strange.  I bet I can destroy it in under five minutes, if given a chance.

Class was confusing, we did heel and heel up, I know these commands.  Then Dad suddenly wants me on the other side, and he says side and side up.  Then as I begin to understand that we start walking with the new side command and he says heel and I am supposed to change sides.  Doesn't this MAN know what he wants?

Great day at the dog park.

Met Gus on our walk downtown, we hit it off, playing and getting our leashes tangled.  Gus is an 18 month old Goldendoodle, who's traveling with his family on a sail boat. Mom and Dad invited Gus and his family to join us at the dog park.  At the park we met Pitot, a 7 month old Laberdoodle, we ran, soaked in the pool and ran some more.  Gus ran Pitot and I into the ground.  Evidently he had developed lots of stamina running free on the beachs in the Virgin Islands.

As usual, Dad forgot to take pictures with his cell phone.

Trivia Question: Pitot's Mom named him for a part of an airplane, what is a Pitot?

Outgrew my crate

The 42-in one got a little tight, so Mom bought me a 54-in crate, the box mentioned Great Danes and Bouv's.  Eight months, 82-lbs and growing.

I Graduated

I graduated intermediate obedience, the final exam was the Canine Good Citizen Test.  On to advance obedience.

Espy 1 - Kong Tug Toy 0 -- BOUV'S RULE!!!

Kong makes indestructible chew toy, so they say.  I was able to do this in less than an hour.

 This is what it should look like:

BOUV'S RULE!!!!

What a day!

Mom and Dad went to an estate sale first thing this morning, since they were going to the Farmer's Market afterwards, they took me along.  But, they left me in the car, until I jumped out the window.  It was the back window, the one that only goes half way down.  Freedom was short lived, Dad told  me to sit, then put me back in the car, and raised the windows more.

I had a good time at the Farmer's Market, met people and other dogs.  Apple from Project Chance was there.  Ms. Christine, was there and Mom bought me some of her yummy treats.  She gave one to Apple's Foster Mom to give to Apple.

Ms. Christine's All Naturals Dog Treats

Woodbine, GA

After the Farmer's Market we drove by main beach where the inaugural Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off was being held.  Boy, did it smell good.

Then on to the dog park, boy was I a klutz today, but I had fun, Brinkley and I ran and played.  Brinkley's picture was in the dog park newsletter this month.  Brinkley is not in this photo.  I did go into the pool to cool off.

Then home to dry out, before going to class, today was the practice test for Canine Good Citizen test, I did OK, got a little mouthy in the Appearance and Grooming test and completely failed Staying In Place.  I have been rebellious with my stays all week.

At Groomer's today

Going to visit Ms. Laurie at Passion-4-Pouches, getting shampoo, hair cut, pedicure, and ears cleaned.  Will post pictures this afternoon.

Bouv's on Facebook

Check out Bouvier Des Flanders Appreciation on Facebook.

Dog Park this morning

Dad remembered that the cell phone has a camera, so I only got my feet wet, didn't want to look like a drowned rat. In the photo below you can see a little of the "chicken legs".

Ran with a 10 month old Weimaraner, until I couldn't run any more.  I did manage to look a little foolish when I ran through the temporary fence around a muddy spot and knocked the fence down.  Thankfully, nobody got upset and Dad and the Weimie's dad were able to fix it.

Espy's Car Mobbed By Fans

OK, one lady came up to the car, as we were making the turn onto 3rd street, and asked if she could take my picture.  I posed nicely, with my head out the window, but I look much more impressive at 50-mph.  Later a couple of nice young ladies posed  with me, for their mother to take a picture.

Mom and Dad met the owners of the 1-yr old Red Doberman, from the Amelia Island Dog Park, they were out walking off the dinner they had at 29 South Eats.   They have a neighbor who has a Bouv, maybe I will get to meet a cousin.

Amelia Island Dog Park, what fun.

Mom and Dad took me to the dog park this morning.  I was a little timid at first, but after spending a little time running along the fence separating the small dogs from us big guys, with the little guys running and barking at me I  decided to try running with the big boys.  I did OK until I tripped over my own feet and went head over heels.  I then went into the pool, fortunately Dad forgets that the cell phone has a camera, so you don't get to see my chicken legs.  I had some people worried when I went into the deep water, my head was barely above water, but I made it.  One lady threw a toy for me, Dad had to explain that I don't retrieve, I herd.

Today's command was HEEL

Today was training day (PetSmart, River City Marketplace), the new command was Heel.  I did OK.  This evening when we were downtown Mom and Dad met Mervyn & Brenda who wanted to know all about me.  They own a 1-1/2 yr old Wheaten Terrier, who was home in Jacksonville.  Dad invited them to join us at the Amelia Island Dog Park sometime, and told them about Dogwood Park.  Now that I am neutered, I get to go to the dog park next week.   Here is a picture of a Wheaten Terrier.  Dogs 101 video on Wheaten Terrier is here.

Mom had lunch with the teachers she assist.

Mom met Ms. Solis & Ms. Christianson for lunch at the Surf, Dad picked me up there and we went downtown to the Happy Tomato where we had lunch.  The Surf wouldn't allow me on their patio deck, the boys at the Happy Tomato brought me a bowl of water.

I'm going under the knife!

It's 8:00 AM Monday morning, Mom and Dad are dropping me off at the Vet's office.  They are having me NEUTERED, and having a micro-chip inserted.  They promise that, after recovery, I will get to go to the dog park frequently.

Got to Play with Ms. Layla

It's Bouvier, not Labradoodle, not Portuguese Water Dog

Here is my Sire, Surge is a full grown Bouv, he has cropped ears, I don't:

Surge

Here is a Australian Labradoodle, OK the breeds do look a little alike:

Labradoodle

Finally, here is a Portuguese Water Dog, I go to class with two of them, they are smaller:

Portuguese Water Dog

Rescuing a damsel in distress

Today Mom, Dad, and I drove to Tifton, Ga to rescue Dorrie.  See Krispy's Kapers for the background on the aborted trip out west.  The need to rescue arose after they drove by of the Atlanta bus station and confirmed that they were not going to get out of the car, thus, a bus trip home was out of the question, the train was via D.C. (a little out of the way) and last minute air fare was just to high.

Why didn't Dorrie just exchange her SFO to JAX airline ticket for a ATL to JAX ticket, lets see; $150.00 cancellation fee, $50 ticket re-issue fee (for an e-ticket) + plus the difference in airfare.

Thus, Kris drove her to Tifton and headed back to Atlanta to pick up his friend's car and head to California, for Xuan's wedding, then Seattle to deliver the car.  His plan is to make St. Louis tonight.

So my trip was -- Yulee to Tifton via Waycross, down I-75 to I-10 to Atlantic Beach, then up A1A to Fernandina, via the Mayport Ferry.  Got my evening walk downtown Fernandina and now we are back home in Yulee.

Blitz, my cat, was glad to see me, let's play, I have been in the truck most of the day and Blitz has been in the house.

Oh yes, I almost forgot -- Mom's cell phone did a perfect swan dive from the dash of the truck into her glass of iced tea on the center console, may it RIP.

Did our evening walk downtown - Why won't people believe I only 6-1/2 months old?

Had a pleasant walk downtown with Mom & Dad, they stopped at Amelia Island Coffee shop for a Coke and cheese danish.  I got a little of the crust, they hogged all of the cheese part.

Had the rare experience of meeting two people who recognized my breed, and as usual several who thought I was a labradoodle (not even close!).

Dad wanted a picture of me and the Pirate

He wanted me to sit and hold (my command to stay - since I decided stay meant "let's play"), but I didn't want to sit or hold, Mom managed to grab this just before I jumped down.

Location: Centre and Front Street, downtown Fernandina Beach, FL.

Rescue Bouviers & Breeders

If interested in a Bouv check out either American Bouvier Rescue League or American Bouvier des Flandres Club's breeders list .


Espy's breeder is Nancy Valaske at Valkin Kennels in Pine Mountain, GA.

Bouvier Video from Animal Planet

Learn about the breed, the Animal Planet Video provides a good introduction to the breed.

Espy's Pedigree

Espy is from Valkin Kennels in Pine Mountain, GA.  His Dam is Bunny (Obvious Energizer Bunny, CGC, HIC, TT) and the Sire is Surge (CH Obvious Storm Surge).  

Bunny

Surge

Bunny delivered the litter on January 12th, 2010.

Bunny and 5 day old puppies

CGC - Canine Good Citizen Certificate

HIC - Herding Instinct Certificate

TT - Temperament Tested by American Temperament Testing Society

NOBODY TOUCHES ME WITH IMPUNITY -- 1971 Article about Bouv's from Sports Illustrated

That is the warning, in Latin, that is posted over Robert Abady's kennel. It refers to the fierce Bouvier des Flandres guard dogs he raises, but the motto might well be Abady's own.


This is a long article about Robert Abady and his Bouv's.  The article is available at Sports Illustrated archives.


Some excerpts: 
[1]

The bouvier des Flandres, native to Belgium, the Netherlands and northern France, is a shaggy, bearlike dog with cropped ears and tail and a heavy beard. In Belgium a show 

championship cannot be awarded to a bouvier unless it has won a prize for tracking or as an army, police or guard dog. The male is big, up to 140 pounds, very strong and agile. It is a good jumping breed. A bouvier holds the world record for scaling a wall: 16 feet. Originally bred in Flanders to herd cattle -bouvier literally means cattle dog -the dog is supposed to be of calm temperament. "The bouvier does not have a chip on his shoulder," says Abady's wife, Isabel, an assistant professor of French at Vassar. "He does not want to be nasty. He is gentle and friendly and marvelous with children. He is only aggressive when someone threatens his people or his property. Our kennel motto is Nemo me impune lacessit [Nobody touches me with impunity] The bouvier protects not because he’s vicious, but because he is your dog. He does what is needed."

As an example of the dog's measured response to a situation, Abady cites the time a plumber came to his house a day late when no one was at home. "There were seven dogs in the house," Abady recalls, "and the plumber was pinned to the living-room wall for eight or nine hours. When we came in, he was ashen. The dogs didn’t hurt him, they just wouldn’t let him move even though he was only a foot and a half away from the door. Of course, he should have come the day he said he would."

[2]

Then there was the time Abady went into Manhattan with Picot, an untrained year-old male.  "I took him into the Figaro, a coffeehouse in Greenwich Village," Abady says. "You could take a dog in there, eat, drink coffee and play chess in a relaxed atmosphere.  A guy who seemed about eight feet tall and wearing an orange motorcycle suit came in and sat at the next table. He ordered a hamburger and French fries.  Picot was, curled up at my feet. When this guy's order came, he got up and leaned across me to get the ketchup.  It was a very irritating and insolent gesture, as though he wanted to pick a fight.  I did nothing.  Shortly after that, he came back for the pepper and salt.  I did nothing.

As he was eating, he dropped one or his French fries on the floor and kicked it toward Picot.  I kicked it back.  He kicked again.  I picked it up and said, "Don't feed the dog without the owner's permission."  I threw the French fry back at him and, by accident, it landed on his plate.  Get the picture?  He stands up and pushes the table aside.  I stand, and suddenly I hear this high-pitched shriek from this huge guy.  I didn't know what was going on.  The place was absolutely still, and all I wondered was how a big guy, an enormous guy like this, could scream in such a high voice.

"What had happened was Picot had grabbed the guy by the hand. The guy fell over a banister, his hand bleeding, rushed into the bathroom and then shot out of the Figaro.  There wasn't a sound in the restaurant.  Not a sound.  It was eerie.  I didn't know what to say.  Should I offer to pay his check?  The waitress comes over, silently gives me my check, I pay and I leave with Picot.  I didn't know whether I could ever go back, but a few weeks later a friend of mine went in there and he told me, "Hey, there's this legend about this guy who went into the Figaro with a bear!  And the bear tore this motorcyclist guy apart!  The guy was all covered with blood after the bear chewed him up, and they had to carry him on a stretcher to an ambulance."  It tuned out the manager was delighted, because motorcyclists had made the place a hangout and annoyed his customers.

[3]

Although Abady has a poor opinion of the showing, he regards attack training as superb sport.  His only difficulty is finding a steady supply of "villains."  A villain is the fellow who serves as the bouvier's object of attack.  He should weigh at least 200 pounds, because a hurtling bouvier can easily knock down a lighter man.  Once the villain is knocked flat, the dog can burrow underneath the protective suit and do severe. damage.  "You find villains anywhere you can get them," Abady says, "Anyone who talks big and thinks he has guts.  We pay $4 an hour, but when a villain sees an enraged dog coming at him for the first time, he wants to raise the price." 

North American Working Bouvier Association Championships - November 3 - 7, 2010

We are planning to attend the NAWBA championships in November, as spectators.  The carting events will be held in Elizabeth City, NC, on November 3. Schutzhund, conformation, and character testing will be held at Dutch East Training Facility in Virginia Beach, VA, on November 4-7.

Link to Pam Green's 2007 Revision of "DON'T BUY A BOUVIER"

The following link is to Pam Green's classic article, first published in 1992,

DON'T BUY A BOUVIER !

Anyone considering buying a Bouv must read this article.

Some awesome Bouvier photos

Photos by Bill Hollinger see more at

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/594798

Espen van Valkin - Bouvier des Flanders

Espy was 10-weeks old in the photo at the top of the page, he is currently (7/30/2010) 6-1/2 months old, weighs in at 67-lbs, 26-in tall and 45-in nose to tail.

Espy taking a swim in the Lake at Dogwood Park in Jacksonville

Espy is our second Bouv.  Our first, Bailey, was a Bouv/Australian Cattle Dog mix, adopted from the Ojai Animal Shelter, in 1996.  He was with us until Nov. 2009.

Bailey on the beach in Fernandina