Our Breeding Goals

Drawing Out Traditional Temperaments and Top Conformation with Excellent Health

We believe carefully planned, and informed, genetic diversity in breeding can yield stronger, healthier, Bouviers. Line breeding can produce Bouviers who look very similar and win American dog shows for conformation but does little to improve the overall health and longevity of the breed. As a result, we often mix imported European and domestic American gene pools after reviewing dominate and recessive traits as well as consulting professionals with over 40 years of experience with the unwritten knowledge of this breed's health.

We believe Bouviers are versatile, adaptable, and a uniquely intelligent breed capable of many tasks. They have long memories and learn (good and bad things, or things you want them to know as well as things you accidentally teach) quickly. As a result, we strongly align our breeding practices with a deep familiarity of the dam/sire's temperament: their aptitudes and interests.

We believe in doing no harm to the breed and leaving it better than we found it - if only in our little corner of the world. To achieve this, we have acquired an extensive breed education, knowledgeable mentors around the world, and we are in the process of conducting extensive health testing (beyond genetic panels). We work with our buyers to place pups into homes where their temperaments match the "jobs" they are expected to do (roles in the family), and we provide access to health insurance, obedience training, dietary supplements, and other support free or at a discounted rate.

Our Bouviers

Sires

CALL NAME: George BORN: Poland (Imported, Grodu Ksiazat Pomorskich) LINEAGE: European Champion Show lines, exemplary companions COAT COLOR: Black-Brindle (solid black top coat, undercoat is brindle) COAT TEXTURE: thick, curly TEMPERAMENT: affectionate couch potato PROTECTIVENESS: 2.0 (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: predominate temperament in breeding tests. Calm, easy-going, very intelligent pups motivated to learn obedience. AKC show quality possible when bred to the right dam.

CALL NAME: Titus or Titan BORN: Holland, The Netherlands (Imported, Caya's Home Bouviers) LINEAGE: European Champion Working line: nose-work, obedience, protection sports COAT COLOR: Fawn (diluted saddle) COAT TEXTURE: straight, rough (working) TEMPERAMENT: PROTECTIVENESS: 4.5 - 5.0 (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: low data sample available. We know he will produce - solid black, fawn, and saddle fawns pending the breeding dam used. Temperament of pups is TBD. Showing signs of fierce loyalty, herding capable, nose-work trainable, gifted bite, and highly motivated to learn (obedient). Training mandatory.

CALL NAME: Nik or Nuk BORN: USA (House Of Bouvs) LINEAGE: European Champion Show lines, American Show lines, and a mix of American companion lines COAT COLOR: Fawn (saddle) COAT TEXTURE: thick, wavy, slight curl TEMPERAMENT: loyal companion, slight alpha male tendencies, works as a PTSD service dog (public access), very obedient PROTECTIVENESS: 3.5 - 4.0 (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: Non-dominate coat color. Non-dominate temperament. Puppy dispositions are more influenced by the dam used.

CALL NAME: Spike BORN: The Netherlands (Imported Semen Only, Kennel van Dafzicht) LINEAGE: European Champion Show lines and European Champion Protection Sports (KNPV) COAT COLOR: Brindle (grey/black) COAT TEXTURE: thick TEMPERAMENT: gentle enough to be handled by a child, yet protective and highly effective home security PROTECTIVENESS: 4.0 - 4.5 (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: dark brindles and blacks (bred to brindles), coats can be straight and soft. Highly intelligent. Longer legs (taller limit of breed standard).

CALL NAME: TBD (We know the kennel, but have not yet chosen the exact semen sample.) BORN: USA LINEAGE: AKC Champion Show line and exemplary companion COAT COLOR: fawn (true) COAT TEXTURE: AKC Show (soft unless stripped) TEMPERAMENT: compatible for home companionship (specifics, TBD) PROTECTIVENESS: 2.0 - 2.5 (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: high quality, healthy, AKC show and companion pups

Dams

CALL NAME: Maisie BORN: USA (House Of Bouvs) LINEAGE: see George x Mama Billie, 75% European Champion Show lines, 25% AKC companion lines COAT COLOR: Brindle (grey/black) COAT TEXTURE: thick, curly TEMPERAMENT: affectionate couch potato (like her father), good for therapy work and community outreach (visiting hospitals) PROTECTIVENESS: 1.5 (completely fails at bite-work) (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: Calm, easy-going, very intelligent pups motivated to learn obedience. Can be lower energy pups - less motivated to perform athletically. Good therapy temperaments. Good with children.

CALL NAME: Emma-Lia, Em, Emma BORN: Czech Republic (Imported, Kennel Ryzmburk) LINEAGE: European Champion Show lines and Herding Champions COAT COLOR: Dark Brindle with White Markings COAT TEXTURE: thick, curly TEMPERAMENT: cheeky childhood, matured into love wrapped in fur, enjoys herding play, highly affectionate and intelligent, prefers human companionship over the pack PROTECTIVENESS: 2.0 (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: white markings on brindle Bouviers (not all, some), good herding instincts, very athletic, intelligent and love to learn. Great prospects for agility. Outstanding nanny dogs (families with children).

CALL NAME: Ellie (What da hellie Ellie?) BORN: USA (House Of Bouvs) LINEAGE: sired by Nik, very diverse AKC companion line mix COAT COLOR: Brindle (grey/black with mask) COAT TEXTURE: thick, rough TEMPERAMENT: fiercely loyal, alpha female, alert, protective companion PROTECTIVENESS: 3.5 (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: traditionally stubborn, but obediently loyal to their owner - unless you forget to do obedience training. Very faithful, dedicated, and robustly built Bouviers. Not aggressive, but protective. Dedicated focus on your well-being.

CALL NAME: Rosie BORN: USA (unknown) LINEAGE: (unknown, rely on DNA database) COAT COLOR: Fawn (saddle) COAT TEXTURE: soft, curly waves TEMPERAMENT: thinking dog, loves a one-on-one relationship with her human, search-and-rescue skilled, herding drive, disinterested in pack relationships PROTECTIVENESS: 2.5 (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: potential for herding, search-and-rescue, therapy and companion pups (unregistered litters, bred for therapy work, breed awareness/outreach, law enforcement, and autism support pending the sire used) May not be naturally social. Must be kept social and will do well.

CALL NAME: Fiana, Fi-Fi ("Fee-Fee") BORN: Czech Republic (Imported, Kennel Ryzmburk) LINEAGE: European Champion Show lines (Cruft's winning), Herding Champions COAT COLOR: Brindle (grey/black) COAT TEXTURE: thick, curly TEMPERAMENT: enjoys herding play, cheeky, playful, athletic, enjoys the company of both humans and her pack PROTECTIVENESS: 2.0 (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: TBD

CALL NAME: Ivy BORN: USA (House Of Bouvs) LINEAGE: see Wiseguy x Maisie COAT COLOR: Black (or black brindle) COAT TEXTURE: soft, straight TEMPERAMENT: TBD PROTECTIVENESS: TBD (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: juvenile, not breeding

CALL NAME: TBD BORN: Holland, The Netherlands (Imported, Caya's Home Bouviers) LINEAGE: COAT COLOR: Black COAT TEXTURE: straight, rough (working) TEMPERAMENT: Working PROTECTIVENESS: 4.5 - 5.0 (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: TBD (goal: to produce working pups with Titus)

CALL NAME: Billie BORN: USA LINEAGE: 50% European Show lines (Polish), 50% mix of AKC companion lines COAT COLOR: Brindle (gray/black) COAT TEXTURE: wavy TEMPERAMENT: talking Bouv, expresses her wants with vocalizations, otherwise very calm, prefers the indoors, loves car-rides for best quality naptime, less stubborn PROTECTIVENESS: 1.0 has prey-drive without a bite (scale: low 0 - 5 high) PRODUCES: Easy-going pups for first-time Bouvier owners, good with children and families. Easy to socialize.

Our Breeding Lines

We classify our lines into (3) overlapping categories:

(Depending on the owner's experience and interests, all lines can be suitable companion lines. However, true companion lines have a lower opportunity for success in show or work events. We breed to match our reservations.)

1) Extraordinary COMPANION LINES or nanny-dog temperaments. Various heights. Heads might be narrower. Feet may be narrower. Coats may be softer (easier to groom but not show quality). Overall, very good Bouviers. These may also be show quality (not all, some) but sold for therapy, emotional support, or family "jobs" in homes with children or where low/no bite instinct is desired. They are protective deterrents, but not the most stubborn or independent-thinking Bouviers. Great for homes willing to invest in a year of obedience training.

2) Champion EUROPEAN SHOW LINES with exceptional intelligence and athleticism: great for home companion or nanny dogs, home protection, competitive sports, herding trials, barn hunt (scent work, some lines), obedience work, AKC show, and agility work. Large heads. Muscular hindquarters. Thick, curlier coats (show lines). Stockier. Many of these pups can be competitive Bouviers in the show ring (greater show conformation). Love to learn. Acquire a wide span of vocabulary (commands) and enjoy pleasing their owners. Can have an elevated level of independent thinking and adolescent stubbornness. Great for homes who desire a training partnership with their Bouviers.

3) Motivated WORKING LINES suitable for first responders, protection sports, security work, obedience trials, barn hunt (scent/nose-work) and homes willing to form a working partnership with a Bouvier who might like to relentlessly play fetch all day. Often have a straighter (easier to groom) coat and lack some show conformation (wonky ears, small build or tall height, etc.) in favor of traditional Bouvier skills/abilities (deep-thinking or driven brain). Motivated Bouviers, these lines are strongly influenced by KNPV champions in Holland (The Netherlands), where we import both semen and proven working lines. (See YouTube @HouseOfBouvs : video playlist Caya's Home Bouviers.

Breeding Model:
Indoor Dams & Sires (No Kennel Dogs)

Rather than have an impersonal, outdoor, kennel of Bouvs, all our Bouviers have indoor-homes and families to retain their health: physically and emotionally.

Quartering breeding Bouviers in private homes is a common breeding model in Europe. Among the many benefits, it makes it easy to separate breeding males into different homes to avoid alpha conflicts.

Likewise, occasionally, we move our breeding girls around when they have spats with their “sister-wives," to allow some females a "skip cycle" (avoid breeding), and for extended training purposes.

For example, Ellie was (2024) with Trooper Williams to whelp and to train. Emma needed a break from the intensity of their friendship. Ellie to returned and permanently reside with us, and has since made best-friends with Fiana resulting in a less strained focus on Em. When two girls have a hot/cold relationship, it can create a stressful environment for birthing (whelping). So, Ellie was able to enjoy a private "birthing suite" with no distractions in 2024 and she had a great training holiday.

George sometimes visits the Carter Family Farm in Indiana to run and play with lady-Bouvs, and to visit his favorite people (the Carters!). George enjoyed "overnight camp" while we appreciated a little time-out to keep him safely away from a girl who is in heat - a girl who is on a "skip cycle" (rest period) from breeding. With George out, she couldn't possibly get pregnant! More fool-proof than kennels and gates that can break or fail to latch.

If a litter is born out of The House, they arrive here after they are weaned to socialize, vaccinate, vet check and care for them in every way through their Go-Home date. Temperament testing and vet checks can/do sometimes happen on location with off-site partners. Either way, we will provide you with a video (always for vet checks, and as performed with temperament tests).

Most pups are born at The House.

Sometimes, we import semen from “proven” quality, champion and health tested males. It’s a very involved (expensive) process, and the risks of doing it and getting dead sperm are real! However, we are venturing out there in an effort to preserve some of the great traditional qualities and the best health of Bouviers.

Not all studs will breed to all females, or breed indefinitely, or even live in the USA. We add/remove studs as we watch lines develop and get a history of what we are producing to gain insights on how to focus our goals.

Hope this helps you to better understand The House Of Bouvs and our kennel-less breeding method. We look forward to speaking with you and answering any questions you may have about Bouvs or our practices.

Shana B. Webb, M.S.Ed.