Ben is the most wonderful boy. He always makes an impression- his coat, his size, and his friendly ways.
Many people are put off by him initially, the breed in general is so unusual. When people get to know him they see how much of a gentle giant he is. In his prime he always weighed in the mid-90s, and is a beautifully compact example.
His coat continues to come, even at the old age of 12 1/2, I just don’t do as much fuss with his coat as I did when he was younger. He has slowed down a bit these days, but only a bit. He still barks at the school bus almost every morning, and is up for chasing a runner past the house if he should catch sight of it in time!
He is loyal to a fault, and follows me everywhere, as many of the Bouvs do. As this is my
first Bouvier, I have come to be extremely fond of the breed. As few of them as there are in circulation, they have such wonderful temperaments. Ben does anyway, and it has been a gift to know him all these years. I get very sad when I realize that he can’t be with me forever, so I treat each day as the special day that it is. His companionship is unforgettable, and he is my special boy.
I owe so much to Pat Holmes for all of her support over the years. And we are all blessed to have these dogs in our lives.
Lee Klein, Boylston, MA