Border Collie Bouvier des Flandres Mix

The Border Collie Bouvier des Flandres Mix, is a mixed breed dog resulting from breeding the Border Collie and the Bouvier des Flandres. Both of these dogs can be friendly but personalities differ, so you never know. The Border Collie is known for being very intelligent. All dogs need proper socialization and that will be a big factor in how they interact with others. What does this mixed breed look and act like? Is it more like the Border Collie or the Bouvier des Flandres? Those are the questions we will try and answer below. Continue reading below to see pictures, videos, and learn more about the beautiful Border Collie Bouvier des Flandres Mix.

While we really recommend that you acquire all animals through a rescue, we understand that some people might go through a breeder to get their Border Collie Bouvier des Flandres Mix puppy. That is, if they have any Border Collie Bouvier des Flandres Mix puppies for sale.

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Border Collie Bouvier des Flandres Mix History

All hybrid or designer dogs are tough to get a good read on as there isn’t much history to them. Breeding specific dogs like this has become common in the last twenty years or so even though I am sure that this mixed breed found it’s share of dogs to the shelter due to accidental breeding. We will take a closer look at the history of both parent breeds below. If you are looking at breeders for new, designer dogs please beware of Puppy Mills. These are places that mass produce puppies, specifically for profit and don’t care at all about the dogs. If you have a few minutes, please sign our petition to stop puppy mills.

Border Collie History

Here’s another collie dog that looks nothing like Lassie! The term collie is a generic one used to describe any number of shepherding dogs, not simply one dog of one appearance. The border collie is a graceful and natural herder for farmers worldwide, but prospective pet owners should be aware of their energy level, which is one of the highest among all canines. Border Collies have a sweet temperament and are one of the most intelligent breeds in all of dogdom, but please do not adopt one unless you have both a medium-to-large back yard and ample time for training and exercise. Neither you nor the dog will be happy. But if you’re looking for an athletic, medium-sized dog with easy grooming requirements and wits to match your own, the Border Collie might be for you! The Border Collie was bred for herding and hails from the border region between England and Scotland. Her ancestors were the Landrace Collies common to the British Isles. Besides herding she was also bred for intelligence, a trait she retains to this day. It is believed that the word “collie” comes from the Celtic word for “useful.”

In 1915, Britain’s International Sheep Dog Society coined the term “border collie” to distinguish its collies from the Kennel Club’s collie. The two dogs were bred from the same stock but exhibited certain differences in appearance. All purebred Border Collies today can trace their ancestry back to one of two dogs who exemplified the breed. They were introduced to Australia and New Zealand in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Some breeders today oppose the use of Border Collies as show dogs, fearing the herding instinct will be bred away. So, to this day, the breeding quality of a Border Collie is judged on one of two bases: herding ability, as determined by the International Sheep Dog Society; or purely by conformation and appearance. Border Collie registries exist in the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Turkey.

Bouvier des Flandres History

This shaggy dog was first bred by a group of monks in Flanders, which today is the Dutch-speaking upper region of Belgium. The monks bred a formidable farm dog who possibly has her roots in the Irish Wolfhound, the Scottish Deerhound, and a host of working farm dogs found in Flanders. The result down through the centuries has been the Bouvier des Flanders, a large, tireless, rough-coated breed able to deftly perform nearly any task on a farm: cattle droving, sheep herding, cart pulling, and guarding the family. They are also well suited to police work. The Bouvier des Flandres is a herding dog that needs defined responsibilities and vigorous exercise to be happy. That’s good, because Flanders boasts a fertile agriculture where there’s always something for a dog to do.

Initially both Belgium and France claimed the breed as their own; Belgium somehow won out. Belgian merchants and farmers prized the breed for his ability to drive cattle over long distances. In fact, the French word bouvier means “bovine herder.” The first two show Bouviers appeared at an international event in 1910; a breed standard was established in 1912. That standard was revised over the years, and the breed’s popularity grew. World War II was hard on the breed, with many working as messengers, pack dogs and ambulance dogs; it was fortunate that a few breeders kept their dogs at home, or the breed might have faced extinction. A Bouvier belonging to a Belgian army veterinarian was shown in 1920, was deemed an ideal example of the breed, and along with his descendents became the prime breeding stock for Bouviers.


The AKC first recognized the Bouvier des Flandres in 1929; however, by that time, the breed was still close to extinction. A few Americans brought Bouviers back when they returned, having acquired the Europeans’ knowledge of the breed.

Bouviers did much better in the 1950s and 1960s; it is hypothesized that the First Lady’s maiden name, Jacqueline Bouvier, might have enhanced the breed’s cachet, even though the Kennedy family did not own one. Years later, a Bouvier named Lucky would become a companion to President Ronald Reagan.

Border Collie Bouvier des Flandres Mix Size and Weight

Border Collie
Height: 18 - 22 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 30 - 45 lb.
Lifespan: 10 - 17 years

Bouvier des Flandres
Height: 23 - 27 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 80 - 200 lb.
Lifespan: 10 - 12 years

Border Collie Bouvier des Flandres Mix Personality

The Border Collie and the Bouvier des Flandres are both loyal and affectionate. They are also very charming, so watch out! This dog will require a good training regimen as they can get excited. They are very loyal to their family. One of the best things you can do for any breed is to socialize it as much as possible. Please use positive reinforcement, it goes a long way! She should be rather affectionate and love being with you, she can also be stubborn so keep that in mind.

Border Collie Bouvier des Flandres Mix Health

All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems as all breeds are susceptible to some things more than others. However, the one positive thing about getting a puppy is that you can avoid this as much as possible. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies. If they won’t do this, then look no more and don’t consider that breeder at all. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur. We obviously recommend that you look for a reputable animal rescue in your area to find your new mixed breed. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition.

The Border Collie mixed with the Bouvier des Flandres might be prone to joint dysplasia, seizures, progressive retinal atrophy, collie eye anomaly, among others.

Note that these are just common problems in both breeds.

Border Collie Bouvier des Flandres Mix Care

What are the grooming requirements?

Even if you know the breed, sometimes it is hard to tell if it will be a heavy shedder or a light shedder. Either way, Get ready to invest in a good vacuum if you want to keep your floors clean! Give them baths as needed, but not so much that you dry out their skin.

What are the exercise requirements?

Plan on taking them for extremely long walks and hikes to keep their energy level down. This mix will more than likely have a high energy level. This exercise will keep them from being destructive. A tired dog is a good dog. A tired dog is a good dog though. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him.

What are the training requirements?

This is an intelligent dog that will be a little bit challenging to train. They are going to want to take the alpha position and need someone with a firm, strong, hand that can let them know their place. The best thing you can do is break the sessions into shorter daily sessions to keep their attention span higher. It might have a prey drive and be disposed to running for and chasing small prey, but if handled properly this can be managed. All dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So make sure to praise her when she does well. She is an intelligent dog who loves to please, and loves a physical challenge. The more exercise she gets the easier she will be to train. Proper socialization is imperative to all dogs and puppies. Make sure to take her to the park and doggy day care to get her around as many people and dogs as possible.

Border Collie Bouvier des Flandres Mix Feeding

"A lot of times diet is done on a per-dog basis. Each one is unique and has different dietary requirements. Most dogs in the U.S. are overweight. A mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia should really be on fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible. A good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background.

Overfeeding any dog is not a good idea as that can really exacerbate health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia.

I good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background."

Border Collie Links

Links to other breeds you might be interested in