We cannot stress this enough. . . .this is an important subject. It is involved but let us break it down for you. Every dog used to breed should "in our opinion", be health tested to clear the dog of immediate issues. It is essential that the dog is not manifesting anything that is life threatening or that they could hand on in genetics to their offspring. Even though you have a puppy from two health tested parents that is not to say that at some point that puppy could not come down with some illness that is for the most part unexpected.

There are dogs in the breed that notably sent illness forward. Unfortunately, those dogs were extremely beautiful and so the main body of Bouvier des Flandres Breeders, incorporated that pedigree in to their program. Luckily when Bajoron started their program we started with structurally sound dogs that did not hold this pedigree, and we bred to another dog that held the same health cleanliness with the same clean pedigree over all. Our next two litters, NOT so much. While it was unfortunate, it was a blessing, and we were able with the help of our mentors, to unravel the mystery of how Cataracts, Glaucoma, Heart Disease and came forward. Over the years we tracked through our conversations with other breeders, owners of Bouvier, who had Heart Disease, Glaucoma and Cataracts on the same avenue as the pedigree we had used in our second and third litter. Therefore Glaucoma, Cataracts and Heart Disease all share a common set of Bouvier genetics just as our mentors had indicated in our summit meeting that we had over the subject. Sadly, all our mentors are passed away now. Our notes and memories of this enlightenment are still clear and speak volumes as we push forward in our breeding programs.

Our reaction to the illnesses were such that we did not breed those lines we were told and discovered had Glaucoma, Heart Disease and Cataracts, essentially the dogs that were relatives to he sires of our second and third litters. We abandoned those lines and did a 180 degree turn to other lines that helped to strengthen our program. Fortunately, at that point in time there were enough un related dogs to the affected lines for us to save ourselves from having to breed with unhealthy lines.  With selective breeding and use of dogs that carried forward excellent structure, sound temperaments and backing up those choices with health testing that was OFA protocol, we came to realize our choices were sound. It was not a haphazard choice, but it was a plan that saw us keeping copious notes and we made choices based on what we had learned.

We did import a couple of dogs but did not use all of them as our criteria was picky in all areas of temperament, structure and the way they produced. The pedigrees suggested that the lines were clean but European health standards are not the same as our standards in the United States. Hips and elbows are the only testing that is done openly, eyes and heart are not considered an issue, yet our notes indicate that they need to be very concerned about their lines as well. The Europeans carry the same lines as the United States and Canada carry that have produced SAS, Glaucoma and Cataracts. They have the same issues as we do but choose not to be as concerned. To add they have some pretty hefty line bred dogs so this makes the possibility of health issues just as probable as those that do the same line breeding in the United States. The health problems come from the foundation dogs and as such are just prominent in European lines as they are in the other areas of the world. It is through careful selection that a breeder must proceed.

European rules say that the dogs can declare they are health tested and clean but that the club of that country will clear that dog and if you look carefully, they can declare it on their websites but if you check the same dog (and this is as of 2024) that dog has no reference to their club of that country, and no health clearances are mentioned. You couple this with in some cases a language barrier and the health testing declarations that are made are not nearly as careful as the United States and Canada. To date we have checked for health in about 5 prominent and used stud dogs and they only have hips cleared THIS IS NOT ENOUGH!!!!!!!

If you want to use a dog from a foreign country or import it is pedigree first, then you talk to those who you trust implicitly and know will not lie, then you ask to see the health paperwork for Eyes, Hips, Elbows, Heart and Thyroid. YOU then call the vets on the paperwork and check the validity of the health testing. (remember these documents can be altered) Also check with the Local clubs or clubs of Country for the validity of the health checks and ask their process. The language barrier will be difficult, but you will be paying a substantial amount for a puppy or frozen semen and delivery of either that you choose. You will have placed your hopes and dreams in that puppy or that potential litter and that said it is your responsibility to do your homework. A very well-known breeder purchased a puppy from an imported semen dog out of Europe. That puppy and his siblings grew to be the most difficult and poor temperament dogs which eventually had to be put in a home that wanted a dog who bit, and who was difficult. Breeder one used the dog many times and so subsequent whelp did have some character and temperament issues. Dog two was recognized as of poor temperament and was not used. Championships, or any accolade cannot justify using a dog who is not fully vetted for health or temperament NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS!

Never ever fall for Line bred dogs who carry the affected lines. Never assume that the breeder telling you that they health test, actually health tests. If a breeder says that they have OFA clearances, please go to the OFA site and type in the dogs AKC number or whatever number or name the dog holds. Check what the breeder proclaims. Many times, it is a marketing ploy to not be honest with you. Look at the siblings and cousins of the dog in question. If you see they only have one or two areas of health clearances that generally means that they did not pass the missing areas and thus this is suspicious in nature. Remember siblings are closer to one another than parents actually are in genetic makeup. However, if you see many missing areas that is a red flag.

As for longevity in the Breed, a Bouvier will generally live to 10-12 years old comfortably. Just like the human race they get tired, they get arthritis, and it is not unusual to make it to 13 maybe even fourteen but don't let the breeder tell you that they have dogs that make it to 15+. The quality of life and this declaration is just not sound. There is currently one breeder who claims this, and it is a total falsehood to declare this as their dogs have the same sorts of backgrounds as the other dogs produced in many cases.

If you want to learn more about the issues of the bouvier please click on the links above to take you to these areas. Knowledge is power but it is also like opening a book to a novel 1000s of pages long!

EUROPEAN HEALTH FACTORS EXPLAINED IN DEPTH:

To add: We want to explicitly warn you against a European Dog unless YOU SEE AND THEN DOUBLE CHECK WITH THE CLUB IN THE COUNTRY YOU GET THE DOG FROM THAT THESE HEALTH CHECKS YOU ARE LOOKING AT ARE INDEED REAL AND VALID.  Generally when they say they have health exams it is only for hips and elbows NOT MORE!

Let us explain. FCI the governing Kennel Club much like the American Kennel Club explicitly says that The Clubs in the countries the breeder is in and in the Club will certify the breeder if the breeder has indeed passed all the health testing. When you go on a breeders site you either get a translated version or you get a foreign version. However, when you go on the Dutch site for Bouviers or the Belgium site you see NOTHING ABOUT GIVING AND OFFICIAL CLEARANCE ON A BREEDER FOR HEALTH. While that is picky you also have not been in the country and know who has what health issue. You can’t have your ears to the ground and unless you speak the language you will not know. The US market is such that some breeders BOAST that they have European dogs or that they have bred to a European dog. While that sounds GREAT. . . .it means that they took a leap of faith. Ask to see the dogs’ Hips, Elbows, Heart and Eye health checks from a specialist in that area and then call and leave a message or an email and if you can use a language translator to do this checking. Do not fall prey to puppy fever and a breeder who makes these empty claims that their dogs are better due to foreign origin.

The other thing you have not had a chance to do is lay hands on the dogs. Are they of good temperament? Just because they are in the show ring, does not mean that they maintain good behavior outside the ring. We have seen plenty of bad spirited show dogs and did not wish to own them and keep them in our home.

Our point is this. The purchase of a foreign dog or foreign semen or a puppy from this is like rolling the dice and can end well OR it can end poorly. For a breeder to write
HDA clean ( this is hip dysplasia) ED clean (could not / can not find any reference to this claim on the net), ECV clean ( we suspect this is cardiologist) MCL ICCA (Gonio) this is eyes, but until you see a specialists clearance and can double check for the validity of the paper work we advise you to just look in the States or Canada for a good dog. European is not a guarantee for excellence. It could be a heart-breaking experience.