Mohr Bouviers

From the time of conception to the time each puppy starts their new lives with their families there are many decisions to be made, anxious hours of waiting, sleepless nights, countless time spent working with each puppy and the list goes on. We take this job to heart and realize how important those five+ months are to each puppy.

It all starts with deciding which male to breed to our female. We know what we are looking for in our puppies and do our best to create that perfect match. The most important being the temperament of the puppies. Your dog can be perfect when it comes to conformation and have champion bloodlines but if it does not have a great temperament is it not a dog we would like coming from Mohr Bouviers. These dogs are too large and powerful not to be even tempered.

Once that decision is made we wait to see if the breeding takes. Even though we do not know for sure if our female is pregnant we start feeding them like they are pregnant. That means they get converted to a good quality puppy food and plain whole milk yogurt is added to their diet. This is not only important to Mom but the probiotics and calcium are good for developing puppies.

All of our Bouviers receive conventional immunizations along with various herbal and holistic supplements to support their immune system and overall wellness. When one of our females is bred we continue with these supplements and add additional products to support the uterus throughout pregnancy and the birthing process. We use products that are not only helpful for Mom but also for the developing puppies. The supplements are continued once the puppies are born and throughout lactating. This is all done in an effort to give each puppy the very best start in life we can give them.

As the time approaches we start watching closely for signs of labor. Usually as the time grows close, Karl starts sleeping on the sofa in our living room. The nights are long with Lola (this year) coming over during the night, wanting to go outside since bladder control is a thing of the past for the time being. Then in and out of the whelping box continually scratching at the paper to make sure it is “just right.” This year this went on for about four days with Lola deciding to have her puppies during the day. That was greatly appreciated since I took the day off thinking “she is not going to make it though another day.”

The entire birthing process is truly a miracle but very nerve wracking for those watching and supporting. Thoughts go through your mind like “did we make the right decision, what if anything happens to either Mom or puppies.” But after many hours the puppies are all born, dried off, weighed, ribbons are tied around their necks for identification and notes taken for our records. The paper has been changed in the whelping box too many times to remember but everyone is fine and nursing happily. Mom is doing great, drinking water and eating a light dinner.

Then starts the raising process… This entails continuing to sleep downstairs to make sure everyone gets to eat during the night and that no one is laid on. This can happen easier then you think. Especially with large litters, it is hard for Mom to keep track of where all the puppies are and they wiggle around and sometimes end up under her. So that becomes Karl’s job to help Mom during the night if he hears any crying or squealing to check and do a puppy count. Needless to say by the time the puppies are two weeks old and Karl thinks the puppies are old enough to get out of harm’s way, the sleepless nights come to an end.

The puppies are handled from the time they are born. We hold each puppy so they get used to human contact. They are touched all over and rubbed which is a technique called Cradle and Massage and is part of Positive Reinforcement Training. Each puppy learns they are safe when being held and come to enjoy this time. We also make notations on each puppy’s reaction to this whole new adventure.

As the puppies start escaping from the whelping box it is time to think about putting up the exercise pen. This allows them to run around in an enclosed safe area. Although by this time the puppies have started on baby rice cereal mixed with water soaked puppy food and plain whole milk yogurt, they still get to be with Mom, if she allows them to nurse. We do not wean the puppies. Instead we let Mom wean the puppies. Believe me when those teeth start coming in Mom makes it very clear she does not want any of the puppies to nurse. But it is important for her to continue to be part of their lives. She starts to play with them and lets them know when they are getting out of control. These are things a puppy can only learn from another dog and who better than Mom. When the puppies have had their shots they can go outside and start exploring the farm with Mom, along with Uncle Houdini, Uncle Jethro and Grandma Belle. They play in the front yard at first then venture into the hay field under the watchful eye of Mom and her back-up.

The farm offers many new experiences and life lessons to be learned. There are all the new smells, sights and sounds on the farm. They get to experience grass under their paws, (for the brave) puddles to splash in, hills to run up and roll down. Then there is the always amusing game of hide in the tall grass and pounce on your littermate, usually ending up with a good chase! This is one of my favorite times with a new litter. Watching them being introduced to the outside world. Some are braver then others but before too long they are all playing and enjoying the farm.

Before too long and much too quickly comes the time we have been preparing for, letting each puppy move onto their new home and new role. This time is met with bittersweet emotions. We are so proud of each and every puppy and happy to see the excitement in the faces of their new families. But this time also brings some sadness in letting go. But in the end, letting go and sharing these wonderful creatures is why we starting breeding Bouviers. With that thought in the back of our minds we give each puppy a huge hug and a kiss and let them start out on their new adventure.

This is why we LOVE hearing from everyone with the latest funny, sweet or curious thing your puppy has done. This is especially easy to do via our website’s contact form or by dropping us an email at linda@mohrbouviers.com.

So if you decide to add a Mohr Bouvier to your family, know that each puppy is raised with a lot of love, dedication and joy.

We are all aware of how harmful fleas and ticks are to our dogs. But exactly how potentially harmful are the products we use to rid our dogs of fleas and ticks? Below is a Special Advisory from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the use of these products?

Please take a few moments to read the article and decide for yourself if these product’s potential hazards are outweighed by their benefits.

I know Karl and I have decided not to use these products to manage fleas and ticks on our dogs and have had great success with an all natural product. But that was our decision after much thought and discussion.

Each dog owner must make up their own mind and feel comfortable and confident in their decision. If you ever want to discuss this and want to give us a call or contact us through our website, please do not hesitate. We are always willing to share our experiences and how things have worked for us.  Kory’s also started a thread in our discussion forum if anyone would like to offer their own experiences and input.

So take some time to read the article below and form your own opinion.

Special Advisory On Flea and Tick Control Products: Exercise Caution For Your Pet’s Sake

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an advisory on the use of topical spot-on flea and tick treatments sold by pet retailers, including PSP. This advisory is due to increased incidents of adverse reactions in pets treated with these products. These reactions range from mild skin irritations to far more serious and, in some cases, fatal complications.

The EPA has acknowledged that spot-on products “can be appropriate treatments for protecting your pet’s and your family’s health because fleas and ticks can transmit disease.” The EPA notes that it is “not advising pet owners to stop using spot-ons, but is asking them to exercise caution and make informed decisions when selecting treatment methods.”

While many people use spot-on flea and tick treatments with no harmful effects to their pets, the EPA recommends that pet owners take precautions with these products. Please read all product label directions carefully and follow them “to the letter” when using spot-on flea and tick control treatments. Be sure to use spot-on products only on the animal specified by the label. NEVER use dog products on a cat, or cat products on a dog. Also, use only the amount of product specified in the instructions, based on the weight/size of your dog or cat.

Monitor your pet closely after applying spot-on products and consult your veterinarian if you have any questions about the use of these products, or your pet shows any signs of an adverse reaction. Consult a veterinarian before using these products if your pet is sick, aged, pregnant, nursing, is on medication or is exposed to other pesticide treatments.

Pet Supplies “Plus” will continue to offer spot-on treatments to help reduce the health risk posed by flea and tick infestation. However, we want to notify you about the EPA’s advisory so you can make the most informed decision possible for the sake of your pet’s health and safety.

For a link to the EPA’s advisory, click on this link: http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/health/flea-tick-control.html

Yes, it is if you happen to be around when 3 year old Houdini ventures out to show off his new cart! Karl has always wanted to get a cart and have our Bouviers pull it, well he is a man of his word. We are now the proud owners of a used Goat Cart and Custom Made Harness.

We took Houdini with us to check out the cart and see what his reaction would be. We pulled the cart up behind Houdini placing the shafts on either side of the dog. So far everything was fine so with that we asked Houdini to walk and we pulled the cart along behind him. Still, no reaction from Houdini, it was as if he had done it all his life. So the cart came home with us along with Houdini of course.

The next step was getting a harness. Karl found a gentleman who makes harnesses. We met with him to get the proper measurements for both the cart and Houdini. Once the harness was complete all we had left to do was put it all together.

Back at our farm we put the harness on Houdini and brought the cart up behind him and fastened the harness to the cart. The moment of truth, would Houdini mind actually pulling the cart on his own? We asked Houdini to heel and off he went. No hesitation; just what appeared to be a smile on his face!

We have taken Houdini out to a local outdoor antique show and he proudly pulled his cart around. He also allowed Jethro (1 year old puppy) to give it a try. And yes, we have another natural. Jethro seemed to take to it like his big brother did.

Houdini has also surprised our Granddaughter’s Sara and Lindsey by pulling them, one at a time, around Trexler Park and the Promenade (a local outdoor shopping center).

I encourage those of you who have a Bouvier to look into getting a cart and harness and let your Bouvier have some fun. Remember this breed was developed to be used for many different jobs one of which was as a draft dog, whether it was to pull a milk cart to market or a wounded soldier off the battlefield. So let them do what they were bred to do and watch them shine!

If anyone has any questions please feel free to give us a call (610-285-4682) or contact us through our website and we will try to answer any questions. We purchased our cart from Roy Martin (610-682-6445) who builds carts and the harness from Mervin Martin (717-656-4792) who makes harnesses.

Houdini w/ Sara & Lindsey at The Promenade.
(click the picture for a larger view)

As most of you know Mohr Bouviers is anxiously waiting to meet Mohr About Me’s (aka Lola) first litter. Over the past week we have been reviewing our current list of potential owners and refreshing our memory of what each individual or family is looking for in a puppy. Finding the best match of human and dog is our responsibility. Lola’s responsibility is creating and nurturing wonderful puppies but she relies on Karl and me to find the loving homes for each of her puppies. It is a job we take very seriously.

Owning a Bouvier can be a wonderful experience but as with any breed there are breed traits that must be considered and addressed from day one. Being part of the “Herding Group” this breed has an extremely intelligent mind that should never be allowed to rule the household. Now I know what you are thinking, how can this cute, bouncy puppy ever be a challenge to control? When that cute little puppy grows up to be a 70 lb. to 95 lb. dog and wants to rule the house you will definitely understand that limits need to be set and the fact that the human is in charge needs to be established. This is true with all dogs but I cannot stress enough the importance of this being done when you have a Bouvier in your house.

Now there may be those of you reading this thinking this sounds difficult and I don’t want to be mean to my Bouvier. And that could not be further from the truth. Just like their Mom when they were a little puppy, she would swiftly correct them when they needed discipline and let them know that the behavior was not acceptable. And that was the end of it. She did not hold a grudge, it was dealt with immediately. When you take your puppy home and they are all settled in, you need to step into the role of being in charge not the other way around. Let the puppy know what type of behavior is allowed and what is not allowed. Keep in the back of your mind, this puppy will grow up to big much larger and what may be cute now may not be very cute when they are full grown. So set the ground rules from the beginning.

Any sign of aggression, whether it be growling, snapping or lunging at a human or animal is NOT acceptable behavior. This does not mean the dog has an aggressive personality it may just mean they are trying new things out. If allowed to get away with that behavior or even given attention when they exhibit that behavior, they will continue down that path. No one wants a dog people are afraid of or a dog that is out of control. Usually this is a clear sign that the owner has allowed this dog to be “in charge”.

If you ever find yourself in this position don’t stick your head in the sand and hope it goes away. It won’t and in fact it most likely will get worse. Ask for help from a reputable dog obedience trainer. Explain what is happening and talk about a plan to get you and your dog back on the right path. If you are in the Lehigh Valley area I would recommend the trainer we use, Bill Balch 404-433-4874. He has worked with many of our Bouviers and in fact owns one of our Bouviers from our 2007 litter. So he is very familiar with the breed.

Owning a dog, whether it is a Bouvier or another breed, can be a very rewarding experience. But, as everything else in life, you only get out what you are willing to put into the experience. And asking for help should be viewed as strength not as weakness or a sign of failure. We all need help from time to time so stop and ask. You and your dog will be very glad you did.

Obedience training is not only extremely beneficial but it can be fun for both dog and owner. It is a good way to brush up on old skills and learn some new ones. And if any of you have ever attended any group class you know the pride you feel when you and your dog learn something new and can demonstrate your new skill.

I encourage everyone to get out there and start working with your dog. Whether it is in a group setting or just one on one, teach your dog and yourself something new. Challenge that very intelligent Bouvier mind and watch them shine!!! And above all have fun and enjoy the companionship your Bouvier can provide.

The following YouTube video of Nobel, a highly-trained Bouvier from Portugal, depicts the intelligence and “eager to please” training factor of this incredible breed.  Enjoy!

This time of the year brings a longing for beautiful spring days. Here in the Northeast we are imagining leaves taking bud on the trees and bulbs pushing through the ground to deliver a beautiful array of color. Now reality breaks through and we realize we have another few weeks of winter before our hopes for spring can be realized.

But I have a few suggestions that you can do with your Bouvier to help clear your head and give you something to focus on besides waiting for Spring.

• Look into getting your Bouvier involved in “Canine Good Citizen Program.” You can find out further information on this program by visiting www.akc.org.
• For those who are admitted “Geeks” try your hand at Geocaching with your Bouvier. I know you are all familiar with Hussi and Kory (feel free to visit their Geocaching profile page) well I am told Hussi has become quite good at Geocaching. The fun thing is it is free, and who doesn’t love free. It gets you out of the house and gives you some bonding time with your Bouvier.
• Bouviers make wonderful Therapy Dogs and there are Therapy Groups in every town. You will need to show proof of vaccination, negative heart worm test, the dog must be clean and well groomed and be able to sit, down and stay on command to pass the test. To find a Therapy Group in your area check with the local Kennel Club or Vet’s Office. Therapy Dogs can work in Hospitals, Schools, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Homes and Hospice to name a few. It is a special bonding time with your Bouvier and is a way of giving back to the community by making a difference in someone’s life.
• For those of you who have a competitive streak check out Agility and Herding Competitions. Bouviers are natural herders and can be very quick on their feet. Here’s a short video of Hussi jumping an agility-type fence on command. Then there is the undeniable fact, the Bouvier is very smart. So put that brain to use by figuring out the quickest way around the agility course or getting the geese to move in the right direction.

If none of these suggestions fit your lifestyle you can also just enjoy the company of a warm soul who is happy just to be near you. And who of us could ask for anything more.

(Note: Please click the pictures for larger images.)

As humans we have long realized the benefits of having a dog as a member of our families. Dogs are used in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and rehabilitation facilities to aid in healing the spirit and soul of the humans they come in contact with. Whether it be sitting by the side of a patient battling a disease who needs that unconditional love or a child who lacks confidence in reading and needs a non-judgmental buddy to read aloud to, dogs are willing and able to lend a paw.

This is especially true with Bouviers. I don’t know if it is due to the herding instinct that causes the Bouvier to be one of the most intuitive breeds I have ever come in contact with but once you have had a Bouvier as a family member you will find this to be true. They instinctively know when they are needed by their humans.

As many of you know by meeting her, Belle can be one tough girl. I have seen her cause strangers who come onto our farm unannounced take a step back and wait for me to let her know it is ok. But I have also seen this same dog go up to a complete stranger and sit down next to them and offer comfort. This past year a couple came to look at our puppies. The woman sat on the floor to visit with the puppies. Prior to giving “the boys” the run of the living room this woman shared how much she missed her Bouvier that she had lost a couple of months ago. With this a tear rolled down her check and Belle walked over to her and sat right next to her and gave her a kiss. The same dog that would make a stranger stop in their tracks and wait for me to tell her ok was sitting there snuggling with this woman who missed her Bouvier so very much. Belle had never met this woman before but knew she needed to offer comfort and unconditional love to this stranger.

Living with a Bouvier means:

• You will never be alone in your home. I am surrounded by what I refer to as my entourage of Bouviers. If I am in the kitchen I have at least 2 of them lying near me but if I move, a sigh can be heard as they get up and follow me.
• You will never have cold feet. Bouviers make great foot warmers. They love to sit or lay down on your feet.
• You will not have to worry about home security. We have a large yellow street sign on our farm that says “This Farm is Protected by Bouvier, Inc.” Truer words have never been spoken.
• Your children or grandchildren will always have someone to snuggle up with at nap time or to watch a good movie or read a book.

You will come to find out that once you have a Bouvier in your life, you will never want to be without one.

So you have done your research and decided that the Bouvier des Flandres is the dog for you. You have even selected the perfect puppy. The steps you take in the transition from the security of Mom and littermates to a brand new loving environment are extremely important. Below is a list of ideas we have suggested in the past and used ourselves to make the transition as stress free as possible.

• Bring a small blanket or towel with you when you pick up your puppy. That blanket or towel can be rubbed on Mom and littermates so their smell goes with your puppy.
• Plan on picking your puppy up either during the beginning of a weekend or when you will be home for a couple of days.
• Do not have company over for a couple of weeks. It is very important to allow the puppy time to not only bond with you but also get used to his new surroundings and explore. It is always very tempting to invite people over to meet the newest member of your family but try to wait and give the puppy some time to adjust.
• Have a crate ready for your puppy. Many people feel that putting a puppy in a crate is cruel but if you think of that puppy as a toddler, you would not allow a toddler to roam unattended throughout your home. Think of the danger they would be in with electrical cords to chew on and items they could ingest. When you cannot give your puppy your undivided attention you need to put him in his crate. This stage only lasts for little while, it won’t be forever but it is important to keep your puppy safe. The puppy will come to view their crate as their little den.
• Feeding time is best done in his crate. Again stressing that his crate is a safe, comfortable place.
• Housebreaking 101: when your puppy wakes up, pick him up and take him right outside. When he stops playing, pick him up and take him outside. And if the above 2 things have not happened and it has been 30 minutes, pick him up and take him outside. If he goes immediately praise him but don’t take him in right away. Puppies get distracted easily and he may have to go some more. Walk him around for awhile and give him some time to see if he needs to go any more.
• We have always had great success with getting down to our puppy’s level. Sit on the floor and encourage your puppy to climb in your lap and snuggling with you. This snuggle time may only last a few minutes but it will help form that bond that he will be longing for. Remember he had littermates to cuddle with and Mom to curl up with and he will miss that and look to you to provide that for him. This will in no way make your courageous Bouvier any less of a guard dog. On the contrary he will be more attached and ready to protect you.
• If you have small children have them sit quietly on the floor and let the puppy get used to them and their quick movements.

Realize that each situation is unique. These are just some ideas we have found to work well for us. If you ever have any questions always feel free to contact us.

We are committed to helping our beloved Bouviers have a rewarding and loving life with their families.

Little Sara and Houdini enjoying some bonding time.

Hello everyone! We’ve put together a new section on our website, “Paw Prints From Belle,” we hope our visitors will enjoy. The column-type section will periodically include tips and advice related to Bouviers, etc. If you have suggestions on upcoming articles, please contact us and let us know! Thanks for visiting!