American Bouvier des Flandres Club
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Committees
    • Constitution & By-Laws
    • Contact Us
    • Membership Info
    • Officers & Board of Directors
    • Club Officer History
    • Partner Organizations
    • President's Message
  • Bouvier Info
    • Get to Know the Bouvier
    • AKC Breed Standard
    • Articles of Interest >
      • A Farmer's Dog
      • Function and Purpose of the Bouvier
      • Diet Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy
      • Canine Hemangiosarcoma Cells
      • Getting the Edge – The Owner/Handler
      • Makin' It Look Easy - The All-Breed Handler
      • Taking it to the Next Level - The Making of a Special's Dog
      • Losing is Only Fun if You're Dieting
      • Why I Love Herding
    • Find a Bouvier
    • Beginners Guide to the Bouvier >
      • Beginner's Guide to the Bouvier
      • How to Read a Pedigree
      • How to Select a Breeder
      • Selecting Your Bouvier Puppy
      • What About a Rescue Dog?
    • Judges Education
    • Breeder Judges & Mentors
    • Position on cross-breeding bouviers
  • Events & News
    • National Specialty
    • Upcoming Events & News
    • Past National Specialties >
      • 2018 Specialty Results
  • Programs
    • Futurity
    • Multi-Level Performance
    • Outstanding Sportsmanship
    • Owner/Handler and Owner/ Breeder/ Handler
    • Register of Merit (ROM) >
      • ROM: Program Info
      • ROM: Sires and Dams by Rank
      • ROM: Sires and Dams in Alphabetical Order
    • Top 20 Bouviers >
      • Top 20: Annual Celebration
      • Top 20: Breeder Honor Roll
      • Top 20: Conformation Program
      • Top 20: Conformation Winners
      • Top 20: Performance Program
    • Versatile Bouvier >
      • Versatile Bouvier Program Information
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 2015-2024
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 2005-2014
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 1995-2004
    • Volunteer of the Year
  • Statistics
    • Current Statistics >
      • 2023 >
        • Top 20 NOHS 2022-2023
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation 2022-2023
        • Best in Show/Group 2022
        • Best of Breed 2022
        • Top Producers 2022
        • Junior Handler - 2022
    • Performance Statistics Archive >
      • 2022 >
        • Agility 2022
        • Herding 2022
        • Obedience 2022
        • Other Titles Earned 2022
        • Rally 2022
      • 2021 >
        • Agility 2021
        • Herding 2021
        • Obedience 2021
        • Other Titles Earned 2021
        • Rally 2021
        • Top Producers 2021
      • 2020 >
        • Agility 2020
        • Herding 2020
        • Obedience 2020
        • Other Titles Earned 2020
        • Rally 2020
        • Top Producers 2020
      • 2019 >
        • Best in Show/Group 2019
        • Best of Breed 2019
        • Agility 2019
        • Herding 2019
        • Other Titles Earned 2019
        • Rally 2019
        • Top Producers 2019
      • 2018 >
        • Best in Show/Group 2018
        • Best of Breed 2018
        • Agility 2018
        • Herding 2018
        • Obedience 2018
        • Other Titles Earned 2018
        • Rally 2018
        • Top Producers 2018
    • Conformation Statistics Archive >
      • 2021-2022 >
        • Top 20: NOHS 2021-2022
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation 2021-2022
      • 2020-2021 >
        • Top 20: Conformation - 2020-2021
        • Top 20: NOHS -- 2020-2021
        • Top 20: Performance - 2020-2021
      • 2019-2020 >
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation - 2019-2020
        • Natl. Owner-Handled Series 2019-20
        • Top 20 Statistics: Performance - 2019-2020
      • 2018-2019 >
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation - 2018-2019
        • Top 20 Statistics: NOHS - 2018-2019
        • Top 20 Statistics: Performance - 2018-2019
  • A Versatile Breed
    • Work & Play
    • Carting
  • Member Area
    • Member Payments & Donations
    • Member Portal
    • Breed Mentors

What About a Rescue Dog?

By Charlene Berstler
This article is part of the series "Beginner's Guide to a Bouvier des Flandres"

Many individuals would rather not buy a puppy because of house-breaking, chewing, etc., but are interested in an older dog. What about rescue?

Don't get a rescue dog if:
  • You don't have the interest in providing extra large doses of love and attention.
  • You are too specific about color, age, sex, previous training (or lack of), etc. Rescue may never be able to place a dog with you that meets all your specifics.

Rescue makes every attempt to provide the new owner with a sound, healthy dog. Special emphasis is placed on temperament and health. Some dogs have been physically abused and need extra patience to learn that you aren't going to hurt them. Some dogs have been left uncared for and need severe haircuts to clean up their coat and let it grow as it should. Some dogs have other special needs. Some dogs just need a new home and have little or no problems.

All rescue dogs:
  • Must not be left tied out.
  • Must have regular veterinary care.
  • If not trained, should be worked in obedience to enable them to be good citizens in your environment.
  • Must be returned to Rescue if they cannot be kept.

Rescue participation can be heart-wrenching, however, it is always very rewarding. Finding a large dog who is matted to the point you have to really know the breed to see what he is, who is afraid of your hand even when you are holding a treat, who doesn't have the vaguest idea what a lead is, and one who is severely underweight can make you want to cry ... But when he looks at you with those big wonderful brown eyes, wags his tail, and gives you a big Bouvier kiss, you know how minor the things are that you see as wrong. With love, care, and time you and this dog will become great friends and he will never feel unloved again (and you won't either)! Experience shows that once you win a rescue dog's trust, they are exceedingly loyal pets who bond very tightly with their new owners. Adopting a rescue dog takes a special person, because these are very special Bouviers.

Articles in this Series

- Beginners Guide to the Bouvier des Flandres
- How to Select a Breeder
- What About a Rescue Dog?
- How to Read a Pedigree
- Selecting Your Bouvier Puppy

Bouvier Rescue

Picture
American Bouvier Rescue League

Related Links

AKC Breed Standard
Find a Bouvier

© Copyright 1994-2001; Rev. 1998. This article is copyrighted by the American Bouvier des Flandres Club (ABdFC) and may not be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the ABdFC.
Questions or feedback? Contact a Committee or the Officers & Board of Directors directly.
All photos, illustrations, charts, articles or content may not be reproduced without the express permission of the ABdFC and the photographer.

Site Map  | Copyright ©2021 The American Bouvier des Flandres Club (ABdFC).

Get Social with Us
Like us on Facebook
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Committees
    • Constitution & By-Laws
    • Contact Us
    • Membership Info
    • Officers & Board of Directors
    • Club Officer History
    • Partner Organizations
    • President's Message
  • Bouvier Info
    • Get to Know the Bouvier
    • AKC Breed Standard
    • Articles of Interest >
      • A Farmer's Dog
      • Function and Purpose of the Bouvier
      • Diet Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy
      • Canine Hemangiosarcoma Cells
      • Getting the Edge – The Owner/Handler
      • Makin' It Look Easy - The All-Breed Handler
      • Taking it to the Next Level - The Making of a Special's Dog
      • Losing is Only Fun if You're Dieting
      • Why I Love Herding
    • Find a Bouvier
    • Beginners Guide to the Bouvier >
      • Beginner's Guide to the Bouvier
      • How to Read a Pedigree
      • How to Select a Breeder
      • Selecting Your Bouvier Puppy
      • What About a Rescue Dog?
    • Judges Education
    • Breeder Judges & Mentors
    • Position on cross-breeding bouviers
  • Events & News
    • National Specialty
    • Upcoming Events & News
    • Past National Specialties >
      • 2018 Specialty Results
  • Programs
    • Futurity
    • Multi-Level Performance
    • Outstanding Sportsmanship
    • Owner/Handler and Owner/ Breeder/ Handler
    • Register of Merit (ROM) >
      • ROM: Program Info
      • ROM: Sires and Dams by Rank
      • ROM: Sires and Dams in Alphabetical Order
    • Top 20 Bouviers >
      • Top 20: Annual Celebration
      • Top 20: Breeder Honor Roll
      • Top 20: Conformation Program
      • Top 20: Conformation Winners
      • Top 20: Performance Program
    • Versatile Bouvier >
      • Versatile Bouvier Program Information
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 2015-2024
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 2005-2014
      • Versatile Bouvier Award Recipients 1995-2004
    • Volunteer of the Year
  • Statistics
    • Current Statistics >
      • 2023 >
        • Top 20 NOHS 2022-2023
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation 2022-2023
        • Best in Show/Group 2022
        • Best of Breed 2022
        • Top Producers 2022
        • Junior Handler - 2022
    • Performance Statistics Archive >
      • 2022 >
        • Agility 2022
        • Herding 2022
        • Obedience 2022
        • Other Titles Earned 2022
        • Rally 2022
      • 2021 >
        • Agility 2021
        • Herding 2021
        • Obedience 2021
        • Other Titles Earned 2021
        • Rally 2021
        • Top Producers 2021
      • 2020 >
        • Agility 2020
        • Herding 2020
        • Obedience 2020
        • Other Titles Earned 2020
        • Rally 2020
        • Top Producers 2020
      • 2019 >
        • Best in Show/Group 2019
        • Best of Breed 2019
        • Agility 2019
        • Herding 2019
        • Other Titles Earned 2019
        • Rally 2019
        • Top Producers 2019
      • 2018 >
        • Best in Show/Group 2018
        • Best of Breed 2018
        • Agility 2018
        • Herding 2018
        • Obedience 2018
        • Other Titles Earned 2018
        • Rally 2018
        • Top Producers 2018
    • Conformation Statistics Archive >
      • 2021-2022 >
        • Top 20: NOHS 2021-2022
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation 2021-2022
      • 2020-2021 >
        • Top 20: Conformation - 2020-2021
        • Top 20: NOHS -- 2020-2021
        • Top 20: Performance - 2020-2021
      • 2019-2020 >
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation - 2019-2020
        • Natl. Owner-Handled Series 2019-20
        • Top 20 Statistics: Performance - 2019-2020
      • 2018-2019 >
        • Top 20 Statistics: Conformation - 2018-2019
        • Top 20 Statistics: NOHS - 2018-2019
        • Top 20 Statistics: Performance - 2018-2019
  • A Versatile Breed
    • Work & Play
    • Carting
  • Member Area
    • Member Payments & Donations
    • Member Portal
    • Breed Mentors