Bouvier des Flandres is originated from Belgium but Talbot is originated from France. Both Bouvier des Flandres and Talbot are having almost same height. Both Bouvier des Flandres and Talbot are having almost same weight. Both Bouvier des Flandres and Talbot has same life span. Both Bouvier des Flandres and Talbot has same litter size. Bouvier des Flandres requires Moderate Maintenance. But Talbot requires Low Maintenance
These large dogs have descended from Flemish cattle dogs, and in French, the word Bouvier means herdsman or cattle herder. This is because the dog was used for driving cattle. The Bouvier comes from the Flemish region of Belgium where it was bred as a working farm dog. It is believed that the breed may have come from crossing local farm dogs with imported Irish Wolfhounds, Schnauzers, Tibetan Mastiffs, Brabanters, Griffons and Beaucerons.
It was in 1910 that the first Bouviers appeared at the international dog show in Brussels, with a standard for the breed being adopted in 1912.The American Kennel Club recognized the dog in 1929. It was after World War 11 that Bouviers were brought to America and the American Bouvier des Flandres Club was founded in 1963.
Known as the Talbot Hound, nobody really seems to have accurate records as to the origins of the Talbot dog breed but it seems to have originated in France.
It is believed that the Talbot, with his excellent nose, was a hunting dog, but he is now extinct.
It is thought that the dog descends from the beagle and the bloodhound. It came to England in 1066 and vanished towards the end of the 18th century.
The Bouvier is a large compact, well built dog with strong muscled limbs. He stands at roughly 59 to 70 cm high at the withers, weighing between 27 and 52 kg. He has a large head with a thick and abundant coat which is of rough appearance. The coat is mostly black, but you’ll also find a range of other shades such as brindle, grey and fawn.
The back of the dog is level and broad, and is typically wider in female dogs. The back legs are strong and muscular. Some Bouvier des Flandres are born tail-less and this is most attractive. Most Bouvier dog owners used to have the tails docked because of the excellent appearance, but with docking now being banned, the tail is kept long. The muzzle is wide, the nose large, the eyes dark brown and the ears high set and floppy.
The Bouvier is intelligent, energetic and full of confidence while being calm and balanced in temperament. The puppies are vocal and full of antics, but as the Bouvier grows into adulthood, he mellows and becomes a steady family friend who gets on well with each human family member. He loves spending time with his family and becomes both friend and guardian, making a good watchdog too.
The Talbot hound was a large, white purebred dog. He stood at roughly 58 to 69cm and weighed between 36 and 50kg.
He had a large head and a short, smooth, coarse pure white coat. He has a long tail which he held upright and fairly long floppy ears. He was a slow but efficient scenthound.
It is believed that this strong, hard working dog was gentle, loving and loyal and that he would have made an excellent family pet.
They were the kind of dogs that needed lots of social interaction with his human family. His amicable nature would have meant him getting on well with children and other dogs.
Slow, it’s a dog that had low intelligence and he may have taken a long time to learn any simple tricks or commands. If he were around today he wouldn’t have been suited to city living as he was a vocal breed – having quite a selection of barks and howls to voice his opinion.
The Bouvier is such an amicable dog and strong and energetic too. He makes the most marvellous companion and will happily adapt to life in the city or in the country, although, with his big size, he is better suited to a home where there is enough space to run around in.
He is loyal, loving and protective and when you make sure to make him an active part of your family, you’ll find in him all the characteristics of a true friend.
The Talbot is extinct, but he was no doubt a docile, calm kind of dog that would have made a great family pet.
He would have been an ideal dog for first time dog owners too as he was a gentle, affectionate dog.They were tough, protective, stubborn but loving and loyal, and more’s the pity that this dog has disappeared.
The big teddy-bear of a dog is a healthy breed, but as a large dog, you will need to look out for certain health problems with him.
Xrays have been done on many Bouvier des Flandres by the Club and by the Orthopedic Foundation of America and it has been found that a significant percentage of Bouviers were dysplastic. Hip dysplasia is a deformity of the hip joint and many large breed dogs battle with this. It can be very sad for dog lovers as they watch their dog battling to get up after lying down and sometimes lameness in the hind legs.
Dental disease is a common problem in many dogs, and the Bouvier isn’t excluded one bit. If you don’t brush your pet’s teeth with special dog toothpaste and toothbrush, there is tartar build-up which can lead to bad breath and gum infection. Dental disease can lead to pain in the teeth and even the loss of teeth. Bad teeth affect the entire body, and the heart, kidneys and joints can all be negatively affected.
The Bouvier is a large dog prone to obesity. This is a serious disease that can lead to all kinds of digestive disorders, back pain as well as heart disease. It can be easy just to give in to your pet’s pleading eyes, but in the long run, excessive weight can spell a host of health problems.
Nobody can say what the health status of the Talbot dog was, but being a hunting dog, out in the open and getting plenty of exercise, he was no doubt a healthy dog. But all dogs can fall ill at some time or another with any one of the many dog illnesses there are -
Ear infections in dogs are quite common, but more so with dogs that have floppy ears.
You’ll see your pet scratching and pawing at his ears and shaking his head. There will in all likelihood be redness in your pets ears and you may even detect an abnormal odor.
There are quite a few things that can cause these ear infections in dogs such as ear mites, an excess of dirt and wax and bacteria.
Don’t allow your pet to suffer – get him to the vet. Your veterinarian will also show you how you can clean the ear for future times with a gentle cleanser. You have to be so careful not to rupture the ear drum, and some people prefer to get their vet to do this or professional groomers.
The Talbot could have suffered with ectropion – when the lower lids are turned out. Ectropion disrupts the function of the lower lid so that it can't protect the eye, and there is abrasion of the surface of the eye.
This condition can also bring on conjunctivitis. Get your pet to the vet for treatment and relief.
The lifespan of the Talbot was anything from 9 to 12 years of age, and one or two other health problems that could have shortened his life were dermatitis, cancer, hip dysplasia and eye infections.
Your Bouvier is an intelligent, independent dog and you will be doing him a favor by having him socialized and trained. He becomes such a pleasure to have around, being obedient and willing to respond to your commands.
Every dog, and particularly large dogs like the Bouvier, should be able to rely on a daily walk, a run in the park or on the farm and have special games from his owner. Not only does participating in activities together build a strong bond between dog and owner, its important to avoid boredom and frustration with your dog. You bought him so you therefore have a responsibility toward him.
Your Bouvier des Flandres has a thick, medium-length coat that gets a shaggy look to it. The breed needs regular brushing every second day or so to get rid of loose hairs and to prevent the hair matting. He will require some professional grooming to look and feel his best. With his thick coat, he is hypoallergenic which can be a relief for allergy sufferers.
The Bouvier has to be on high-quality dog food, whether you give him home-made food or commercially manufactured food. It has to have the right amount of vitamins and minerals. If you’re unsure about feeding a dog, remember that the amount and type of food you give your pet must be appropriate to your dog’s age, size and energy levels.It can also be wise to know which human foods are bad. Speak to your vet about your dog – they are a minefield of useful information about your pet. Fresh, cool water should be be available at all times.
The Talbot with his short hair would have been looked upon as a low maintenance breed and would have required a brush now and again.
Because of the floppy ears, they would have needed to be checked inside for infection.
The Talbot was a strong, hard-working kind of dog so if commercially manufactured dog food was available in that time, you would have ensured a good quality one for strong, energetic dogs.
At that time, Talbot dog owners tossed their dogs bits of raw meat. Home-made food like boiled chicken, brown rice, spinach, carrots and sweet potatoes without any exotic flavorings would have been an excellent diet.