Beauceron

Temperament:

Intelligent, Loving, Courageous
Size: Large
Height: 65-70 cm
Weight: 30-40 kg
Lifespan: 10 years
Coat: Shorthair
Colors: Black with tan, badge with red tones
FCI Group: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)

The Beauceron is a popular French dog breed. It is recognized by the FCI and assigned to Group 1 (herding dogs). The Beauceron is a real working dog and needs a task. It loves constant activity and is very close to nature.

Beauceron
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Characteristics

With a height at the withers of approx. 65 - 70 cm, the Beauceron is one of the larger dog breeds. The four-legged friends reach an average weight of around 30 to 40 kg. The life expectancy of these lovable animals is around 10 years. This is not unusual considering the size of this breed.

The Beauceron is a large, powerfully built four-legged friend. Its build is robust and muscular. These loyal dogs have a smooth, short coat on their heads. The coat on the rest of the body, on the other hand, is much thicker, stronger and sometimes several centimetres longer. In addition to the top coat, the Beauceron has an undercoat. This is very fine, short but dense. The undercoat is usually mouse gray.

The top coat is usually black with reddish-brown markings. These markings are usually found on the chest and neck. The Beauceron is also known for its reddish-brown paws and lower legs. This is a distinctive and striking feature of the breed.

Further characteristics of these intelligent animals are their large, dark eyes, the half-erect, close-fitting ears and the large tail. A very special distinguishing feature of the Beauceron is the double dewclaw. This is located on the hind legs of the animals.

However, no advantage or positive characteristic could be attributed to this claw. The meaning and purpose are still unknown. Rather, it is perceived as a nuisance and can restrict the animal's health and fitness. Nevertheless, the second dewclaw is a special feature attributed to this breed. In Germany, however, it is considered a sign of torture breeding.

The Beauceron is, as you can see from its build, very strong. Its appearance may seem a little intimidating to some people. In most cases, however, this is unfounded. The Beauceron is a very lovable dog that makes an excellent family pet. It is always loyal to its family and develops a close bond. This breed is also very open-minded and friendly towards children.

As the Beauceron is a herding dog, it always tries to keep its family together and protect them. It owes this characteristic to its use as a herding and herding dog.

The Beauceron is considered a fearless and courageous dog. When it is not being used as a herding dog, it is a vigilant companion. It confidently protects the house and yard and always watches over its family. The spirited four-legged friends have a good character. They protect their loved ones without being intrusive. Beaucerons are also happy to let their owner take the lead. However, they are vigilant and always keep an eye on what is happening.

The four-legged friends have a pronounced urge to move. They also have a lot of stamina and can run for hours. Long walks in the great outdoors are an absolute must. The hunting instinct is not very pronounced, which makes the Beauceron an attentive companion. They are not easily distracted or disturbed.

The dogs generally have a sensitive character. They need a close bond with their owners. These pretty four-legged friends want to be actively involved in family life. Beaucerons tend to be reserved when dealing with strangers. However, they are never aggressive or unfriendly. On the contrary - the animals keep their distance until they have gained trust. The Beauceron therefore knows how to behave. When interacting with other dogs, these agile four-legged friends are also rather aloof, but never vicious.

At the same time, these active four-legged friends are also very affectionate animals. They appreciate their owners very much and need daily attention and cuddles.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

The breed is generally considered to be vital and healthy. There are no known diseases typical of the breed. This makes feeding the animals simple and uncomplicated. The daily amount of food should be adapted to the dog's need for exercise. Otherwise, a balanced and healthy diet should be ensured. Occasional treats and dog cookies are of course permitted.

Obesity should be avoided. However, due to their pronounced urge to move, this is very rare anyway.

Due to their size and build, Beaucerons are unfortunately prone to gastric torsion. The risk of gastric torsion is increased if the dog devours its food too quickly or runs around too wildly after eating. Care should be taken to ensure that the amount of food is not consumed too quickly. A rest period after the meal is also essential.

Health & Care

Due to its size, the Beauceron needs a lot of space. Keeping them in a small apartment is therefore not recommended. A house with a garden is ideal. This offers the four-legged friend the opportunity to run around and play.

The Beauceron is also definitely not a city dog. It loves nature and wide open fields. Regular excursions into the countryside are an absolute must. This characteristic can be traced back to its use as a herding dog.

In principle, grooming is very simple. The coat does not need any special care. Occasional brushing is completely sufficient.

Some experience is an advantage when training dogs. In principle, the Beauceron is easy to train. However, it has a lot of strength and temperament. This must be tamed without intimidating the animal. Empathy, patience and consistency are the keys to success here.

Training is most successful when a relationship of trust already exists between dog and owner. The Beauceron is also well suited to advanced training. These challenge the dog and improve the relationship between humans and animals at the same time.

Suitable accessories

The Beauceron loves exercise. It is therefore very well suited to dog sports. Here, the animals have the opportunity to work out and gain satisfaction. Dog sports also give dogs a real sense of achievement. Keeping the dog occupied is of great importance.

Beaucerons are workhorses. They want to be challenged and encouraged. However, since a herd rarely needs to be herded, you should consider finding another activity for the dog.

The Beauceron should always be kept indoors. It needs to be close to its owner. Nevertheless, the dog should have its own place to retreat to. A large dog bed or a cozy basket is suitable for this.

Origin & History

The Beauceron originally comes from France. It was bred there in the 19th century as a shepherd dog. In the past, it was used almost exclusively as a herding and guard dog. According to stories, the Beauceron was one of the shepherd dogs that were also useful in the search for truffles, the so-called "Sauhatz" and in war.

The breed is still very popular in its homeland today. However, today the Beauceron is mainly kept as a family and companion dog.

This intelligent and interesting breed never really became known in Germany. The Club für Französische Schäferhunde was not founded until 1975. The Beauceron is not very common in Germany. Nevertheless, a real fan community has formed for this breed over the years.