Originating in Belgium, the Ardennes Cattle Dog originated in the 17th century and was used for cattle herding and guarding. This kind of dog is generally not suitable for children, prefers to move, and is not very quiet dog, not suitable for raising in urban environment. Due to the long-term wild cattle herding activities, it has strong field adaptability and harsh climate adaptability, and can survive in hot and cold weather. The Belgian pet club has considered this dog to be extinct. In the 1990s, some breeders developed a small number of this dog, which made the Ardennes Cattle Dog begin to slowly recover.

1. Characteristics of Ardennes Cattle Dogs

(1) Appearance characteristics

Physical characteristics-The height of the shoulders of the adult Ardennes cattle dog is 56cm-64cm, and the weight of the adult dog is between 18kg-27kg. This dog is well-proportioned and a large cattle dog.

Head Features - The Ardennes Cattle Dog has a wedge-shaped head and a medium-sized head, similar in appearance to a Chinese native dog, but with a more aggressive expression. The ears are erect, the distance between the ears is relatively wide, the skull is relatively smooth, the bridge of the nose is long, the nose mirror is black, and the nostrils are large. The eyes are full of spirit, not round. The distance between the eyes is about three-quarters of the distance between the ears. The muzzle is about the same length as the snout, the teeth are sharp, scissors, and have a good bite.

Trunk Features - The Ardennes Cattle Dog has a strong trunk with good contour. The neck is well-furnished, and the neck harmoniously blends the head and torso into one. The neck muscles are strong. The Ardennes Cattle Dog has strong shoulder blades, strong forelimbs, and maintains an upright position with good support. The chest is deep and has good stretch. With a slight rise in the abdomen, the rear drive is stronger than the front drive and can provide strong speed and power. The topline is smooth, extending to the tail, which is of medium length and hangs naturally from the rump.

Coat Characteristics - The Ardennes Cattle Dog has medium length coat with a dense coat of coat all over the body. The lower layer of hair has a good thermal insulation effect, and the upper layer of hair is relatively hard in texture, and the color can be any color or multiple colors. Among them, gray-black is the most common color.

(2) Personality traits

The Ardennes Cattle Dog is large and is a good manual worker. Ardennes Cattle Dogs have a very enthusiastic gene in their personality, they are positive in doing things and have a good attitude. Smart and lively, this kind of dog has a lot of energy and can bear hardships and stand hard work, but it needs careful training from the owner, so as to ensure that the dog can listen to the owner's instructions.