Simon, I feel your pain. People will never get any common sense, or realize that just because a dog is in public that he/she does not want to be hugged <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />.

Debbie, so true! Why, oh why, can people not IGNORE the dog??? "Ignore" must literally translate into "Please enter a staring contest with my dog," in some language we're not familiar with. Guy speak maybe <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />? Kidding, guys, but it does seem that most dogs who get cranky in staring contests only react this way with men. I actually broke up with a guy b/c he would not listen a/b the dog, would constantly provoke him, intent on "winning" as he called it. He was hell-bent on "showing him who's boss," which was/is ME, not him, and the dog knew this perfectly well. I said "the only thing you'll win is a new face...if that's what you want, have at it." To which the genius replied "He won't really bite me, will he?" <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sorry for the sidetrack; "ignore" is a hot-button for me. Back to Simon and his Bouve <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />.

We are going to france in July , we were going to look up some breeders up there.If you ever hear of any in South of France let me know.I hear in obedience they are a bit stubborn, what was your experience.I have GSDs' quick learners in my opinion.I was offered a Bouvier few years ago from a French friend of my fathers but we passed it up cause I wanted to have it as a puppy , this dog was already 2.

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I hear in obedience they are a bit stubborn, what was your experience.I have GSDs' quick learners in my opinion.

I usually don't like to generalize whole breeds, but there are a few things that stick out for me in regards to bouviers. A few people in the know about the breed warned me that they can be stubborn and like to think for themselves during obedience. My dog does seem to like to look at me for a second before he does something. He'll do it, and usually pretty enthusiastically, just on his terms, lol.

The other thing that I heard about the breed, and I thought; "no way can that be attributed based on the breed of dog!" is that they can be, ummm... gassy. This definitely held true for mine until I found the right food.

But, on the upside, they don't shed, so if you don't mind combing them fairly often, and a clip a few times a year, they're a pleasure to have in the house (gassiness aside). Definitely worth going out, buying a set of proffessional clippers, and cutting them yoursef.

Wish I could recommend a breeder in France, but that's not something I know much about. In the U.S., I hear a ton of great things about Jim Engel.

Only thing to watch out for that can be a little different from looking for a shepherd breeder, even "working" breeders tend to be fairly concerned about conformation shows, which IMO is what's killing the breed. If there was a healthier split like in GSD's, it would be easier to find a work prospect.