Beauceron
Energetic and intelligent as they are, Beaucerons can be both sport companion and working dog. Grooming the Beaucerons is of no big issue, as their coat are dense and short. It’s not a sign of suitability for novice or busy owner, they need time and space to run off energy.
| Other Names | Berger de Beauce, Bas Rouge, Beauce Dog, Beauce Sheep Dog, Beauce Shepherd |
| Color | Black with tan markings, or black and mottled grey with tan markings |
| Height | Males: 25.5-27.5 inches. Females: 24-26.5 inches. |
| Weight | Males: 100-130 pounds. Females: 70-100 pounds. |
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Personality | Gentle, Faithful, Obedient |
| Exercise | Needs Lots of Activity |
| Origin |
| Popularity | #121 |
| Groom Needs | 2-3 Times a Week Brushing/Frequent Shedding |
| Kids Friendly | Yes with supervision |
| Dog Friendly | Yes with supervision |
| Watch Dog | Yes |
| Family Dog | |
| Litter Size | 6–7 puppies |
Beauceron Video
Introduction
A marked feature of the Beauceron is the double dewclaws, although some breeders remove the dewclaws from their dogs. They are agile and yet docile; fearless and gentle; courageous and calm. These contrasting features make for a dog that can adapt easily to Its several roles as a guard dog, farm dog, and companion.
Beaucerons come in a double coat, with a hard topcoat covering a wooly undercoat. In the cold weather, the undercoat tends to thicken to provide maximum protection from the elements. The common color varieties of the Beauceron are black and tan or black and mottled grey with markings of tan.
Female varieties run slightly smaller than the males, measuring up to 24-26 inches, standing at the shoulder. A similar male would stand 26-28 inches at the shoulder, appearing huger. A full-grown member of this breed should weigh in the range of 75-110 pounds. Beaucerons have an average life expectancy of 11-14 years.
Living with Beauceron
Beaucerons are basically very easy to get groomed, as they have short and dense coat. They shed frequently. So owners need to take more effort than usual in shedding seasons. Twice-a-year shedding frequency can be common in Beaucerons. Owners need to brush them every week. Medium-bristle brush, rubber grooming mitt or tool, hound glove can be all applicable to them. As these professional grooming tools will remove dead hair effectively. With rubber massage parts, dogs’ new hair can be developed as well. The Beauceron’s nails should be trimmed frequently. Teeth should be brushed regularly to get away from bad breath and gum diseases.
The Beaucerons are always energetic and enthusiastic. They might easily get bored if kept in an apartment for too long. So here comes a problems that keeping the Beaucerons for novice and busy owners is a bad idea. The Beaucerons are more applicable to an experienced and active owners. Twice-a-day exercise is enough for the Beaucerons. They are more suitable for outdoor exercise, which provides the mental and physical activity at the same time. Owners can use a leash to have them running with you. A fenced yard is also a good ideas, as owners can interact with them by playing flyball, games, and etc. The Beaucerons still have herding instincts, so that participating some herding events can be both fun and healthy to dogs. Owners can also choose to have dogs participate in carting, mushing, and skijoring, adding more pet-owner interaction and emotional connections.
When it comes with dogs food, owners should know any breed should be fed with the amount of food which is applicable to the dog’s age. Owners should know the basic feeding knowledge about puppy, adult and senior dog. Fresh and clean water should be approchable for dogs. The Beaucerons are not critical dogs, but owners still should feed them premium quality dog food. Commercially manufactured food is suitable if the ingredients is nutritional and healthy. Owners can also choose to ask for advice from veterinarian, offering home-made dog food. Nutritional demands are high if the Beaucerons are work as a rescue or search dog. Owners need to meet dogs’ nutritional need as much as possible by assessing the Beaucerons condition regularly. Owners also need to concern about dogs’ overweight issues, bringing issues to dogs’ health. If there’re any unclear measures, owners should ask vet for suggestions.
The Beaucerons are generally in good health. But careful owners will bring them to health screening. Owners need to concern about the dogs’ appearance traits, as deep-chested dog have more susceptibility to bloat. Owners should raise vigilance as this is an emergent stomach condition, which is even life-threatening in some cases. Owners should learn more about symptoms which are prone to appear or measures which should be taken. There are also many health issues the Beaucerons are prone to suffer from, such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, heart disease and allergies. Owners should check Beauceron’s ears, avoiding infections, irritations and wax build up. Teeth should be brushed regularly to keep the Beaucerons’ teeth in good health.
Total Annual Cost: $3100
Cost is estimated for the first year and may vary depending on many factors, such as dog food, health care, leash, collar, licensing, possible fencing, crates, training and obedience classes, dog-walking, grooming, treats, toys, flea, tick, and heart-worm meds, microchips, etc.
The Beaucerons are basically easy to get trained, as they are smart and athletic. When it comes with training, the first clue is always obedient behavior. Obedience training can be of no big issues for the Beaucerons. However, it takes a few efforts to train dogs’ ability of agility. Owners can use food to guide them to jump across some boards. They will gradurally get no fear and do faster. Owners can also choose to train dogs to perform some showmanship on stage. They can easily follow the directions trainers give. Apart from the training above, the Beaucerons can work as excellent search and rescue dogs if trained properly.
History
Also known as the Berger de Beauce, meaning sheepdogs of Beauce, the Beauceron is a Shepherd dog with origins in Central France. They are so named for the expansive vegetation of the region of their descent. Their duties as shepherd dogs became well known in 19th century England, although they played several other roles such as companion dogs, guard dogs, rescue dogs, and watchdogs. One of the earliest documentation of this breed was that of a dog exhibited at the Universal Exposition in Paris held in 1863. The dog in question was said to exact the features of the modern Beauceron, save for the rough coat and narrower muzzle it possessed.
The Beauceron was distinguished from a similar shepherd dog breed, the Briard, in the late 1890s, the latter having a longer coat than the shorter-coated Beauceron. They are believed to have originated from the same stock, and share the characteristics of double dewclaws on their hind legs. The Club des Amis Du Beauceron was established in 1922 in France, under the auspices of Dr. Megnin. They became quite useful in the so-called trench fight of World War I, photographs of Beaucerons which excelled at the time were exhibited in the British War Museum.
From a humble French beginning, the Beauceron has developed into a well-recognized dog breed in many parts of the world, including the United States where it was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 2007. It is ranked 124th most popular dog breed in the U.S by the AKC, at this writing.
Helpful Information
Breed Club: American Beauceron Club
Breed Club Link: http://beauce.org/
Breed Club Rescue: American Beauceron Club Rescue
Breed Club Rescue Link: http://beauce.org/rescue/