Beauceron

The Beauceron is an old breed of herding dog developed in France with no foreign crosses. It is know for being able to herd and guard large flocks of sheep for up to 50 miles per day without being exhausted. It is a large breed, averaging between 24 to 28 inches in height. The Beauceron has a short, dense double coat; the soft undercoat is covered by a rough, waterproof outer coat. While Beaucerons don't require a lot of grooming, they shed profusely, especially during the biannual shedding season. Their dark black coats feature orange-red accents, including the feet that give the breed its French nickname Bas-Rouge ("Red Stockings"). They can also have a black-gray-tan coat.

Beaucerons, the largest of the French sheepdogs, are a purely French breed whose origin dates back to the late sixteenth century on the northern plains of Paris, in the La Beauce region. Beaucerons were first developed in the 1500s to hunt wild boar but also became useful as herding dogs and guardians of the flock.

They were first employed as farm dogs for protecting cattle and sheep and were later separated into two working types in 1863: the guard dog and plains flock herder. The long-coated variety became known as Berger de Brie (or Briard), and the short-coated kind came to be identified as Berger de Beauce (or Beauceron). Due to their strong guarding instinct, Beaucerons have subsequently found employment in military and police work, as guard dogs for families, and as rescuers. In addition, Beaucerons were used by the French army during the First and Second World Wars.

The first Berger de Beauce was registered by the Société Centrale Canine in 1893, and in 1922, the first club for this breed was set up. The Beauceron Club of America was set up in 1980 but only received recognition by the American Kennel Club in 2001, as part of the Miscellaneous class.

Adult Beauceron

The Beauceron is an athletic and intelligent breed that requires frequent physical and mental exercise. Beaucerons need a variety of outdoor locations and types of exercise each day and are best suited to an experienced, active owner who can provide the mental and physical activity they require.

In addition, Beaucerons are not recommended for novice owners as they may have difficulty managing this breed's dominant nature. Well-trained and socialized Beaucerons, however, are calm and protective, and pair well with young children. Despite this, Beaucerons can be wary of strangers and other dogs and generally do not get along with most pets. Although Beaucerons were not bred to herd sheep, unlike other shepherd breeds, they can be trained to perform in herding events, as well as Schutzhund (protection work), agility trials, and activities such as carting, mushing, and skijoring.

To allow for its high energy, the Beauceron is best suited for a spacious living environment, such as a farm or a home with a large, fenced-in yard. While they can adapt to indoor or outdoor living, they prefer the outdoors.

The typical personality traits of Beaucerons are sociability and industriousness, meaning this breed benefits from being around people and from having a job to do. They are strong-willed and capable of independent decision-making and are not the best fit for first-time dog owners. It is recommended that owners incorporate training exercises and canine sports into the Beauceron's lifestyle. Due to their livestock guardian history, they can be suspicious of strangers, and as such will benefit from early socialization and habituation to people and domestic life.

As any large or deep-chested dog, Beaucerons may be susceptible to bloat, a life-threatening stomach condition that can come on suddenly. As such, Beauceron owners are advised to educate themselves on what symptoms to look for and what to do in the event that the condition develops. Beaucerons may also be susceptible to minor health concerns, such as gastric torsion and canine hip dysplasia (CHD). Beaucerons, therefore, should be taken to the veterinarian for regular hip exams.

It is recommended that breeders screen their stock for health conditions such as hip dysplasia, heart disease, eye problems, and allergies. As with all breeds, a Beauceron's ears should be regularly examined, and their teeth should be brushed often. The National Breed Club recommends health tests such as hip evaluation, cardiac exam, and ophthalmological evaluation for this breed.

The Beauceron's head should be proportional to its body and have a flat or slightly rounded skull, with a slight furrow between the eyes. Their occiput is usually well defined, with a moderate stop set midway between the tip of the nose and occiput. One of the Beauceron's distinct physical features is the double dewclaws on the hind legs, which are normally seen in French herding and flock dogs. When Beaucerons move, their head stays down at the back level instead of being held high—a tendency common in herding breeds.

• Head: The width of the Beauceron's skull and head depth should be slightly less than half the head's length. In profile, the top of the prominent muzzle should appear parallel to the top of the skull. When viewed from the side, a narrow or snipy appearance is considered undesirable for the breed.

• Eye: Beaucerons' eyes are dark, oval, medium-sized, and horizontally placed, and feature well-pigmented rims. In the Harlequin variety, exotropia can occur.

• Ears: The Beauceron's ears should be dropped, flat, and not set close to its head, and their length should be approximately equal to half the head's length.
• Mouth: Beaucerons have strong teeth with full dentition. Ideally, their jaws should be strong with a regular and full scissor bite.
• Neck: The neck of a Beauceron should be muscular and merge smoothly with its withers.
• Forequarters: Shoulder blade and upper arm should be approximately equal in length and with moderate angulation. Well-defined withers. Brisket reaching elbow. Chest wide and deep. Forelegs clean and muscular, medium bone and straight when seen from all angles.