Our family always had dogs. My parents grew up on farms in Northern Ontario, where they had Shepherd/Collie/Husky mixed breeds. My mother’s family had a huge cattle farm and used their dogs to drive cattle to market and guard them against predators in that rugged terrain. As young children, my sister, Louise, and I had small mixed spaniels, and my brother had German Shepherd Dogs. These were our companions and were all spoiled. When we moved to Southern Ontario (Windsor, near the border to Detroit), we saw our first Bouviers des Flandres in 1968. Bouviers were common as they had been introduced by Dutch immigrants after World War II. Bouviers were well respected as guard dogs, especially in Detroit as they were being used at the famous Hudson Department Stores. Stories in The Detroit News told of Bouviers holding teens overnight until the police came and rescued them in the morning.
The Bouviers had the run of the store, and worked very quietly. Our parents bought our first Bouvier in 1972. Kelly was a superb family guard dog and did everything we asked of her. My father made a harness for her, and Kelly would take us kids on great sleigh rides. We bred her to the champions of the day and put a CD on her. But most importantly, she introduced us to the great Bouvier des Flandres breed. We did all the wrong things novices did. Finally, our fourth Bouvier, purchased in 1976, became our foundation bitch. Her parents were champions, with hip clearances; she had a wonderful pedigree; and this bouncy black puppy was to become Can. Ch. Euro’s Quiche Kim.
Since all our dogs descend from our foundation bitch, Can. Ch. Euro’s Quiche Kim, we decided to use part of her name as our kennel name. Over the years, I have lost count of all the champions bred here and in the US. I need to hire a secretary to keep up with that kind of paperwork. I’m just too darned busy!
There have been so many, and I am sure I will leave out a few. Among our first supporters were Gloria and Nat Reese, who sponsored Maverick and Ryder, and Jeff and Nan Bennett, who sponsored Some Like It Hot. Marilu Hansen sponsored Aristes Quantum Leap and Quiche’s Undercover Agent. (She later sponsored Mick, the Kerry Blue Terrier, Top Dog All Breeds in the US.) Ken and Elly Rensink were the first professional handlers who helped me with grooming tips when their client purchased our Ch. Quiche’s Ivanhoe, who later achieved Top Herding Dog status.
Another was early Bouvier breeder Judy Kasper. Judy put on breed grooming seminars that I helped with. Judy said she was happy to teach me, as she felt I had talent. Later, Corky and Sue Vroom were wonderful mentors, with many Quiche Bouviers sent to their clients over the years. Doug and Michaelanne Johnson and their family, whom we first met at the Colorado Bouvier National in 1981. Also, Karen and Randy Brown. These people feel more like extended family in our Bouvier world. Here in Canada, there was Richard Lake and his family. Professional handlers Gary MacDonald, Scott McNair, and John Glover were wonderful with Bouviers and great friends of mine.
Our mom was a driving force. She was the one who always encouraged us to do our best. She taught us persistence, and never to give up even when things did not go as well as we might have wanted. She had the time to help raise puppies and had that “natural eye” for a future star. My mother was usually the one who answered the phone. She was a good judge of character and knew instinctively who would provide a great home for one of our Bouviers.
My sister, Louise, with her background and degree in Agricultural Technology, helped with pedigree research in our goal to breed better Bouviers with strong type, temperament, structure, and health. Since 1987, she has traveled all over Europe to bring back the best bloodlines to enhance our own lines. One of our first great imports was Ch. Zarco Iris vd Cerberushof. I remember going to the airport to pick up Louise and seeing her with this 18-month-old, rather gangly, leggy male. He had no hair, as he had recently been hand-stripped and had battle scars inflicted by his brothers. This was in March of 1988. By the fall of 1988, he was an American and Canadian BIS champion, and he had won the American National Specialty under breeder-judges.
You want a temperament that is sociable with people; a puppy that has an outgoing personality and one that stands out from the pack. When it comes to structure, we want balance, proper shoulder layback and upper arm, with an equally angulated rear. Changes in puppies include color; most of our lines darken with age. I cannot 100 percent predict final size and how that scissors bite will end up. Heads will change; you must go on pedigree and the type we breed for. It is more difficult to breed for a wide muzzle and under eye fill-in. Most judges and breeders look at skull size, but fail to judge the total head. There is a certain Dutch line that we have imported over the years that is known for wonderful bites, large teeth, wide underjaw, and good pigment. Sadly, I think we purchased some of their last bitches a few years ago, as they got frustrated by all the breeder restrictions now in the Netherlands.
I would like to see judges pay more attention to structure. A Bouvier should be powerfully built. In a male, you want presence, temperament, and a “stallion look.” In a bitch, you want a bit more style, with that presence and confidence; a look of power, and structure that would allow this Bouvier to work all day. Judges, please look for a powerfully built dog, well-muscled, short-backed, with a strong head and a double coat with harsh guard hair and dense undercoat. We have seen Bouviers with short legs and long backs. Long backs are very undesirable. A Bouvier must be a strong dog that can move a steer with body blocks.
That takes agility and strength. The breed has improved with respect to conformation, but care needs to be taken to improve in health and temperament. With the health advances and detection of health problems, we have discovered the breed has more than just hip issues; there is SAS, glaucoma, and thyroid, to name a few. Most breeders will test for these problems and use only clear dogs. In terms of temperament, we must maintain the breed as it was intended by its founders: an excellent working dog. Besides attending National Specialties, I encourage Bouvier people to go to Europe, specifically specialties in the Netherlands, which feature both conformation competition and police-style working trials.
Perhaps later. Right now, I enjoy raising, training, and conditioning our show dogs. I think my sister would probably start judging before me. She loves watching all the breeds from ringside, and gets quite chatty with their breeders and owners as she learns each breed’s special traits.
Our passion and love for the breed has kept us focused on producing true-to-type dogs with the right temperament and style. Our objectives have remained consistent. I wouldn’t change a thing.
By Elaine and Louise Paquette
Quiche Bouviers have won 14 Top Herding Dogs in Canada with seven different dogs; also, Top Ten Dogs All-Breed. Two dogs were Number One ALL Breeds in Canada.
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By Elaine and Louise Paquette
Quiche Bouviers have had more American National Specialty Best of Breed titles than any other kennel in North America, and the most Top Herding Dogs in Canada – 14 times Top Herding Dog! Quiche has also had the most Bouvier Best of Breed winners at Westminster.
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By Elaine and Louise Paquette
For more than 40 years, we have appreciated making new friends in the dog world from around the globe. Friends from our early days have opened doors, allowing us to work with new fanciers in the breed. We mentor many while also still learning.
Sue Vroom introduced us to Julianna Garrison. Julianna’s love for the breed has allowed Quiche Bouviers to co-breed litters with her, and co-own dogs. We have co-bred with Diane Morrill, co-owner of Ch. Quiche’s Shadow Hunter, and Diane Ham, breeder of Ch. Stonepillar’s Steel Blu.
At every Bouvier National Specialty we meet owners from all over, who seek our guidance in grooming and show training. New people to the breed include Tory Clark, who trained Blu to perfection and showed him before I could take over and take Blu on his outstanding campaign. Tory is now working with some other Quiche Bouviers that we co-own.
Derrick and Lisa Dohany, who have had Bouviers, obtained their first show dog from us. Derrick had never shown a dog before but has already moved up into the top rankings in Bouviers. Another old friend who continues to offer great advice is Pamela Bruce. We are happy to count on Pam for help with whelping our litters.
Ten years ago we were trying to build our pet resort. Rob and Diane Taylor from British Columbia, at the other end of the country, had ranked Quiche Bouviers, with many Best in Show wins. They came here for a month when it was so cold that planes could not land locally, to help us plan and build our facility. Derrick Woods, a Giant Schnauzer breeder here in Ontario, also helped us with planning and building
our facility. In 2023, we won Breeder of the Year and also won the Winkie Award. And we were given an award from the American Bouvier Club for Breeder of the Decade Of course, we so appreciate the judges who have recognized and honored the Quiche Bouviers for more than 40 years. Our future looks very promising, with upcoming puppies and making good use of some special frozen semen.
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