Bouvier Des Flandres Grooming

Bouviers will need a fairly high amount of upkeep, even if you get them professionally groomed/clipped every 2-4 months. Some grooming maintenance will be easy to do at home while others, like cutting and trimming, are not; many Bouvier owners opt to take their pet to a professional. One thing you must be comfortable doing at home is brushing your pet. This breed can get tangles and mats pretty easily which can be painful and irritate the skin. The following is a list of what your pet will require:

• Bathing every 2-4 months
• Brushing several times per week
• Trimming on bathing days (or as necessary)
• Nail trimming once per month
• Ear cleaning every two weeks
• Teeth cleaning weekly

Keep in mind the frequencies listed above are guidelines. If you want to brush his/her teeth every day great. If the ears don't need cleaning after 2 weeks, don't feel pressured to over-clean.

Grooming a Bouvier Des Flandres requires a lot of attention to the coat. It is prone to tangling which can lead to stubborn mats that may have to be cut or shaved. In general, each Bouvier will need brushing a few times per week to keep the coat in good shape. They should be brushed and combed before a bath; not doing so will make any tangles worse! After drying, if you clip at home, you can trim them up (beard, eyebrows, etc.). Here's a list of the minimum grooming tools and products you'll probably need-- you can always add things like shedding blades as needed:

• Pair of clippers
• Canine trimming scissors
• Steel tooth comb (preferably a 2-in-1)
• Metal pin brush
• Tearless dog shampoo
• Detangling/conditioner spray for removing tangles

Bouvier des Flandres haircuts may be difficult to perfect at home; many owners don't have the time for this so they prefer to have them professionally groomed every 2-4 months. You can trim the beard and eyebrows between groomings, if necessary. You may see a shaved Bouvier des Flandres (often called "puppy cut") with an all over short style to reduce the amount of maintenance necessary. If you decide to style your Bouvier at home, here are a few tips:

1. The top of the head should be trimmed to 1/2 inch length.
2. Trim the eyebrows and beard but still leave them noticeable and "full".
3. Clip the coat to 2"-2.5" inches long.
4. Scissor the feet and between the toes.