A Bouvier, being a long-haired breed, must be kept clean and well groomed for the comfort of both the owner and the dog. Basic maintenance is not done simply for the esthetics but for the overall health and well-being of the dog. A healthy coat is best gained through good nutrition, exercise, and weekly brushing.

The unique qualities of the Bouvier coat keep shedding problems to a minimum. The longer, harsh guard hairs of the outercoat tend to keep the shedding undercoat from falling to the floor or being deposited on furniture or clothes. Instead, the dead hairs become matted in the coat if a weekly procedure of grooming is not observed. Grooming should be a simple and enjoyable matter for the owner and animal. An hour or less a week spent on a thorough brushing will keep the coat from becoming tangled and matted and will also remove all loose hairs. All that is required is a thorough line brushing followed by a combing to the skin. Cut his nails and clean his teeth with a tooth scaler, followed by a scrubbing with baking soda on a damp cloth or toothbrush. Clean his outer ear canal thoroughly with a cotton ball dipped in ear cleaner, then dust with ear powder and pull the long hairs from the canal. Ask your breeder for a demonstration of the basic grooming techniques necessary to keep up with the Bouvier coat.

Grooming is best begun as early as possible and is most easily done with the dog on a raised platform or grooming table. Time spent in grooming can also double as a training session to teach your dog such helpful commands as "stand", "stay", "sit", and "down". Owner and dog will build a greater rapport with one another if grooming remains positive. Patience is the keyword here.

To trim and shape the coat, begin grooming with an efficient brushing. Start at the head with a stiff bristle or pin brush and brush forward toward the head, making sure the coat separates to the skin and that you are not just brushing the surface. Next start at the rear and brush the hair back into place. Legs should also be brushed up and then down. This method insures good stimulation of the skin and removal of loose hair. Trim the top of the skull to 1/2" in length with thinning shears, scissor eyebrows diagonally from the outside corner to the center of the eye -- leaving the fall and eyebrows full. The coat should be left approximately 2 -1/2" long with a level topline. Remove wild hairs. Legs should be full with straight lines. Cut hair from between toes with blunt-nosed scissors and shape the foot to roundness with thinning shears. Try to find a groomer that can help you with your first few groomings until you are comfortable grooming your Bouvier yourself.