Q&A bouvier
7. What previously campaigned Bouvier come close to your ideal? Please explain. This is the toughest question, because I have been so for- tunate to have seen many really beautiful Bouviers over the years. I can name outstanding dogs and bitches from every breeding program that shaped my interpretation of the ideal Bouvier and fear omitting a great dog and expect that a month from now, I will say, “I should have mentioned...” I will also focus on dogs that I have never judged. Each of these dogs presented as compact, mod- erately angled and balanced dogs standing. They moved with equal reach and drive covering ground with ease whether on or off lead. The head proportions and angles met the standard and fit the body. Where they perfect? Close enough for me. I traveled quite a bit and was honored to see these dogs in their homes as well as in the show ring. Ch. Glenmill- er’s Bandit, brought me to Bill Miller for our first show dogs sired by Ch. Quiche’s Gabriel (I loved to watch Gabriel move) out of Bandit’s dam, Angel. This led me to their get; Ch. Glenmiller’s Uranus Voltron (Risk) and Glenmiller’s Uproar (Rory). These dogs trained my eye to beautiful heads, balance, proportion and easy movement. Am Ber Can Du Ch. Dayan Claudia v Hagenbeek, a Dutch import, was at his most impressive free-stacking at the end of a long lead. His front was under him showing equal length of shoulder to upper arm. His rear was bal- anced. The Dutch grooming style focused on a power- ful front leaving more coat on the throat, shoulders and neck. I was thrilled when a dog I co-owned with Kurt and Kitty Reifert of Moondance Bouviers, Ch. Celebrant Gil-Galad de Ceara, “Cowboy” was the other Bouvier standing at the last in the middle of the ring with Dayan Claudia during a European Style completion. Cowboy took the trophy and I knew that was a hard won win with very worthy competition. Both dogs had endur- ance, free movement and the ability to free stack because they were sound with moderate angulation and balance. A Dayan Claudia son, Am. Can. Ch. Moondance Nigel was another dog that would take my breath away. His dam was sired by Ch. Quiche’s Geoffrey, Am. Can. Ch. Laurendell’s Gretel and her sister Ch. Laurendell’s Gidget De Quiche were two of my favorite bitches. Their dam, Ch. Adele’s Kristen kept the same balance and move- ment as a Veteran Bitch as she had as a youngster. Other
great bitches were Ch. Dela Baie’s La Joy, Ch. Angel and the Madrone Ledge’s imported and home bred bitches that remain in my mind’s eye especially a bitch called Val. And that is just the early years of my involvement in the breed. During that time, “Arco” Ch. Zarco Iris vd Cerbrushof, “Arco” was another balanced, free moving dog imported by Quiche Kennels. Breeding programs of Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and the US produced the balance and proportion, reach and drive of easy bold movement with the nuances of breed type including correct head proportions and coats that formed my vision of a great Bouvier. I never saw Ch. Beaucrest Ruffian in person but his photo made me wish I had the chance to go over him. More recently, my favorite dogs include Pat Murray’s Int’l Ch Trust-Dusty V.D. Vanenblikhoeve, CGC, ROM. Watching him own the ring and then seeing him at home playing with his sons illustrated the bold, confident, yet equable temperament of the breed. He covered as much ground in the ring as he did free on his property. Again, I am focusing on dogs that I have not judged and it is only the looming deadline for this article that has me move to the next question. 8. How does the breed in North America compare to other parts of the world? In my opinion, the North American Bouviers definitely hold their own anywhere in the world. I watched the Bouvier males enter the ring at the 2011 World Dog Show in Paris. Two dogs caught my eye, but one made me say, “That’s for me!” As I checked the catalog, I found he is from a US breeding program! I also had the pleasure to meet a great Bouvier in Ireland. I attended the All Ireland Dalmatian Show and they knew the one Bouvier begin shown at that time. They assured me he would be at the Cork show the next weekend. I looked for the Bouvier, praying that there was one feature that I could praise— instead the dog filled my eye and could easily have suc- cessfully competed here in the US. Throughout the years, European, Canadian and American breeders have sought the best on both sides of the ocean to improve their breeding programs and continue to do so today. 9. What sets the Bouvier apart from the Black Russian and Giant Schnauzer? First the origins of the Bouvier are from the Belgian Lak- enois and possibly the “Grey Hound” (Irish Wolfhound)
“THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, EUROPEAN, CANADIAN AND AMERICAN BREEDERS HAVE SOUGHT THE BEST ON BOTH SIDES OF THE OCEAN TO IMPROVE THEIR BREEDING PROGRAMS...”
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