Size range:
Extra Large: 40 inches and up; 65 pounds and up.

Kid-tolerance scale:
Excellent

Average lifespan:
12-15 years

Overall behavior of breed:
Extremely smart, affectionate, very protective of the family and home. A herding dog by nature, they try to keep as many of the family within sight as possible.

Explain why this breed was good/not good with your kids:
We have had 3 bouviers over the years in our family, and my husband's family had them since my husband was 4 years old. They have been very tolerant of my children sitting on them, hugging them, talking to them, etc. They are very protective of the kids as well, so anyone coming to the house tends to be thoroughly sniffed and watched.

Typical colors:
Black, brindle gray. Occasionally fawn or vanilla colored.

Does this breed shed?
No

Special grooming needs:
They have very shaggy coats and beards that tend to get wet and pick up food, leaves, etc. They need regular brushing to keep from getting too matted. In cold weather, they build up an impressively thick coat, which needs to be brushed out when the warm weather comes. The only time that my dogs have shed has been when blowing their winter coats.

Daily exercise requirements:
They need to walk daily. They are not big runners, so you don't need an enormous park for them to run in.

Other comments or suggestions
This is a very strong, powerful dog, so it's important to buy from a reputable breeder. A poorly bred dog could have aggressive tendencies, and that is very dangerous in a dog this large.

Also - this dog wants to be right where the family is (usually leaning against someone). So this is not a breed for people who wish to remain distant. Also, they do tend to pass gas after a meal.