Bouviers in their original state in the farmyards of Northern Europe needed little grooming, as their coat was harsh. Today, Bouviers’ coats are much softer and, in South Africa, the finer undercoat is shed in the hotter weather. The most important aim of brushing your Bouvier is to brush out this undercoat as the hairs die off.

Bouviers do not shed as other long haired dogs do. This is an advantage from a housecleaning point of view, but if you only give the dog a superficial brushing this will not suffice and your Bouvier will develop a matted undercoat which will have to be cut out in chunks. A good heavy duty wire hook brush is needed, plus probably a rake and a fine comb. Brush your dog thoroughly once, or preferably, twice a week.

IF YOUR BOUVIER HAS BECOME BADLY MATTED, DO NOT TRY TO BRUSH OUT THE TANGLES, YOU WILL HURT THE DOG. RATHER SHAVE THE COAT DOWN TO THE SKIN AND START AGAIN.

If you don’t want a smelly beard, you will most probably have to wash the beard weekly and comb it through. Otherwise, don’t bath your Bouvier too often or you will soften the coat too much. A CD showing in detail how to groom your Bouvier is available from the Club Secretary for R75.

Here are some pictures to show the proper way to groom a Bouvier.

A winter cut (also used for a show cut). Coat should be approximately the same length all over. Head and ears are shaved smooth, leaving eyebrows and beard long. Feet should be trimmed closely round the foot.

A summer cut (docked tail). Body should be shaved all round, graduating over the shoulders and hips to leg hair approximately 2 – 3 cm long. The beard should NOT be cut short for summer.

A summer cut with undocked tail. The tail hair should be left approximately 5 cm long.

Close-up of the head, showing the head closely shaved on top and on the ears, graduating to the 5 cm coat on the neck. Eyebrows and beard left long.

Close-up of the head on a summer cut, showing the hair left long over the eyes and down the front of the nose, shaved close behind the beard.

Recommended grooming parlours

Many grooming parlours do not know how to present a Bouvier properly and sometimes use a poodle or schnautzer cut. This is incorrect. You are welcome to print out the pictures above and take them to your grooming parlour to show them how it should be done. Parlours that our members can recommend to give a correct cut are listed below. These listings are not paid advertisements. If you would like to send in a recommendation, please do so.

Johannesburg North

Dog Studio

Irene McKenzie-Fraser

083 659 3727

Johannesburg West

Johannesburg East

Ronel Stone

Edenvale

082 771 9190

Pretoria

Dogs Boutique

012 9970112 / 084 556 4120

615 Christoller Street, Morela Park

Cape Town

Barks & Bubbles Dog & Cat Parlour

4 Naguil Close, Durbanville

021 9795660

Tip Top Dog Groomers

Gardens, Cape Town

021 4625544