About The Breed
The following is an excerpt from aboutbeaucerons.com:
The Beauceron is a very athletic dog that gives the impression of strength. They are an incredibly versatile breed with a powerful, muscular build, but with freedom of movement and liveliness, without heaviness. Their physical capabilities combined with their work ethic help them succeed in Search and Rescue work, scent work, service work, and therapy work. They successfully compete in tracking, obedience, agility, protection sports, skijoring, lure coursing, and flyball, as well as the primary function they were bred for, herding.
Beaucerons are known for their extreme intelligence and are without a doubt one of the most intelligent of dog breeds. They have excellent memories, and their principal qualities are obedience, vigilance, calmness, courage, hardiness, and patience. The Beauceron displays an extreme sense of loyalty and an eagerness to please his master. They are sensitive dogs and seem to have an uncanny ability to sense their owners moods and desires.
The Beauceron is not a dog for everyone and may not be suitable for a first time dog owner. If not properly handled, a Beauceron can become quite assertive. The Beauceron requires early, competent training and socialization by an experienced and disciplined owner. Although they are patient and protective with children, they may not be the best of playmate for a child because of their size and their herding and guarding instincts.
A well behaved adult Beauceron is not overly hyper, however up until age two or three they can be extremely active and will require a great deal of exercise. They should not be left alone or in a kennel for long periods of time. Idleness and loneliness are the Beaucerons worst enemies. Without proper exercise and activities, a Beauceron can easily become destructive and unruly due to boredom.
Beauceron General Appearance
The Beauceron is an old and distinct French breed of herding dog, developed slowly in France with no foreign crosses. Dogs were bred and selected for their aptitude to herd and guard large flocks of sheep as well as for their structure and endurance. Beaucerons were moved to move herds of 200 to 300 head traveling up to 50 miles per day without showing signs of exhaustion. The ideal Beauceron is a well-balanced, solid dog of good height and well-muscled without heaviness or coarseness. The whole conformation gives the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness, exhibiting the strength, endurance and agility required of the herding dog. He is alert and energetic, with a noble carriage. A formidable dog with a frank, unwavering expression, he always demands respect wherever he goes. Dogs are characteristically larger throughout with a larger frame and heavier bone than bitches. Bitches are distinctly feminine, but without weakness in substance or structure. The Beauceron should be discerning and confident. He is a dog with spirit and initiative, wise and fearless with no trace of timidity. Intelligent, easily trained, faithful, gentle and obedient. The Beauceron possesses and excellent memory and ardent desire to please his master. He retains a high degree of his inherited instinct to guard home and master. Although he can be reserved with strangers, he is loving and loyal to those he knows. Some will display a certain independence. He should be easily approached without showing signs of fear.
Beauceron Breed History
The Beauceron is one of the oldest French Breeds. They are rare inside the United States. The oldest records of the Beauceron Dog Breed date back to the Renaissance manuscripts of 1578. In 1863 a man named Pierre Megnin differentiated two types of sheepdogs, one with a long coat, which became known as the Briard, and the other with a short coat, which became the Beauceron. In 1863 the Beauceron was shown in the first Canine Exposition in Paris. In 1897 the first shepherd dog club was founded and both the Beauceron and the Briard were accepted into it. Prior to 1889 the Beauceron and Briard had a reputation of being a flock guard who was brave but one who was more incline to snap and bite in defense of its flock. Both breeds’ temperaments were softened through selective breeding. In 1889, the breed name and standard were set. In 1911 a separate breed club was formed just for the Beauceron, officially setting it apart from the Briard. The Beauceron works as a flock guard in open areas protecting sheep along with other livestock. The breed was also used in the military. Ignoring exploding bombs or artillery fire, the dogs were used to run messages, detect mines, pick up trails, support commando actions, find the wounded, and carry food and ammunition to the front lines. The Beauceron, like many sheep herding breeds, is easy to train for tasks beyond care of the flock or herd. His calmness and ability to follow commands without hesitation was well illustrated during both major wars in Europe. Today this serious working dog is still used as a herder, a guard dog and by the French police and army. The breed is gaining popularity in Western Europe and North America as a family watchdog and companion, but they are still rare. Some of the Beaucerons talents are tracking, herding, watchdog, guarding, police work, military work, agility, competitive obedience, French Ring Sport and Schutzhund.
Beauceron Temperament
The Beauceron Dog Breed is brave, highly intelligent, obedient. It has a frank approach and is self-assured; never mean, timid, or worried. Although reserved with strangers, the character of the Beauceron should be gentle and fearless. Any display of fear or unjustifiable aggression is not to be tolerated. Eager and willing to please, it excels at obedience training, very quick to understand and respond to its master’s commands.
The Beauceron is capable of police work, as it is loyal, patient, faithful, fearless and keenly watchful, able to detect danger. It is a worthy, natural guard dog that loves to work and exercise in wide open spaces. Another one of its many talents is working as a herding dog. It may attempt to herd humans and anything else in its sight and need to be taught this is not acceptable. Herding facilities provide great opportunities for them to demonstrate herding ability with flocks of sheep and goats. This is an excellent way for them to release energy, at the same time working their minds.
With enough mental stimulation, Beauceron will be calm. They are generally good with dogs they know and can learn to get along with other dogs and cats. They should not be left alone for long periods of time without mental stimulation or they will likely become destructive. In order to produce a tranquil, obedient dog, thorough training with a firm master, along with the proper amount of exercise are required.
They require extensive socialization while young to combat aggressive tendencies. They must be taught respect for humans by not allowing them to jump up, not allowing them to enter doorways first, and made to heel beside or behind their handlers when walking. They are excellent guardian of property, but is at the same time, are esteemed as companion dogs.
The objective in training this dog should be to achieve pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When dogs live with us, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader; lines are clearly defined and rules are set. You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success. When properly trained and socialized, they are great family companions. They are very protective and will only follow a strong-minded leader, so it must be very clear who is the boss. If they are permitted to be stronger minded than their humans, they will expect the HUMANS to follow THEM.
The Beauceron is generally good with children if it has been well-socialized and sees humans as its authority figures. They will obey commands from all members of the family. This large energetic breed grows quickly, reaching 40 pounds at only about 3 months of age, and can be overwhelming to a small child. Puppies are very active and slow to mature.
The Beauceron will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently stimulated and exercised.
Beauceron Coat & Colors
Coat:
Outer coat is 1 1/4" to 1 1/2", course, dense, and lying close to the body. It is short and smooth on the head, ears, and lower legs. The hair is somewhat longer around the neck. The tail and back of thighs are lightly fringed. The undercoat is short, fine, dense, and downy, mouse gray in color and does not show through the outer coat. The Beauceron is exhibited in the natural condition with no trimming. Disqualification: Shaggy coat. The coat of the Beauceron does not require a great deal of attention. An occasional grooming with more attention during the time when the dog is shedding is sufficient. Beaucerons are average shedders.
Colors:
Black and Tan: The black is very pure; the tan markings are squirrel red; the markings are: dots above the eyes; on the sides of the muzzle, fading off on the cheeks, never reaching the underside of the ears; two spots on the chest are preferred to a breastplate; on the throat; under the tail; on the legs the markings extend from the feet to the pasterns, progressively lessening, though never covering more than 1/3 of the leg, rising slightly higher on the inside of the leg. Some white hairs on the chest are tolerated.
Gray, Black, and Tan (Harlequin): Black and Tan base color, sometimes with a predominance of black. Disqualification: Any color other than Black and Tan or Harlequin. Complete absence of markings. Well-defined, quite visible white spot on the chest 1" in diameter or larger. In the Harlequin: too much gray; black on one side of the body and gray on the other; head entirely gray.