The Bouvier des Flandres is a herding dog breed originating in Flanders. They were originally used for general farm work including cattle droving sheep herding and cart pulling and nowadays as guard dogs and police dogs as well as being kept as pets. The French name of the breed means literally Cow Herder of Flanders referring to the Flemish origin of the breed. Other names for the breed are Toucheur de Boeuf (cattle driver) and Vuilbaard (dirty beard).