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Height:
25 1/2 to 27 1/2 inches (male); 24 1/2 to 26 3/4 inches (female).
Size:
Large.
Weight:
up to 110 pounds (male); 80 to 90 (female).
Availability:
Very Difficult to find.
History:
Though almost unknown outside of its native France, the Beauceron
has a long history. The earliest record of what is thought to
be a Beauceron dates back to a Renaissance manuscript of 1578.
In 1863, Pierre Megnin differentiated two types of sheepdog,
one with a long coat (the Berger de Brie, or Briard) and the
other with a short coat (the Berger de Beuce, or Beauceron.
Beaucerons are also called Bas Rouge (Red Stocking) because
of the markings on their legs.) The Berger de Beuce was shown
in the first Canine Exposition in Paris in 1863, and in 1897
the first shepherd dog club was founded, including both the
Beauceron and the Briard. In 1911, a separate club for the Beauceron
was formed. 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. The military
used the Beauceron to run messages, pick up trails, detect mines,
support commando actions, find the wounded, and carry food and
ammunition to the front lines. The dogs performed their duties
without being deterred by exploding bombs or artillery fire.
Though the Beauceron is still used by the French police and
army, the breed is now gaining popularity in Western Europe
and North America as a family watchdog and companion. The breed
also excels at Obedience, Herding, Schutzhund, French Ring Sport,
Agility and Tracking. Beauceron registries in the United States
include the Beauceron Club of America, States Kennel Club and
United Kennel Club. The Beauceron became eligible for AKC registration
as of March 1, 2007, and began competing as a member of the
Herding Group as of June 27, 2007.
Description:
The athletic Beauceron gives an impression of strength, freedom
of movement and liveliness, without heaviness. The structure
is similar to that of the Belgian Malinois except the Beauceron
is larger, about the size of a large Doberman Pinscher. There
are two coat colors: 1) Black-and-tan with specific tan markings:
two lozenges above the eyes, tan on the bottom of the upper
lip and throat, two tan spots on the breast, tan on the bottom
of each leg and a tan marking in the shape of a lyre under his
tail, or 2) Harlequin with patches of gray, black and tan (the
tan is distributed as in the black-and-tan variety and there
should be more black than gray.) There should not be any white
at all. The hair is short with longer fringes on the tail and
hindquarters. The outer coat should be harsh, never soft or
silky, and should be lined with a woolly, fluffy undercoat ensuring
good thermal insulation. The Beauceron has a distinctive double
dewclaw on the hind legs, making 6 toes per rear foot. The dewclaws
must not be removed if the dog is to be shown. The ears are
generally cropped, in which case they stand erect. Natural ears
should be half-pricked with one-third of the ear erect. The
fringed tail reaches at least to the hocks and is carried low
in the shape of a letter "J". The eyes are dark, horse chestnut
color, with a proud and serious expression.
Notes:
The Beauceron is slow to mature. Puppies can be very active.
This breed should not be left alone for long periods of time.
Personality:
Brave, faithful and highly intelligent. Fearless, vigilant,
and patient. The Beauceron has an aptitude for obedience training
and is known for his quick and thorough understanding of his
master’s desires. An excellent natural guard dog whose appearance
and demeanor command respect. Happiest when working or exercising
in wide-open spaces. An instinctive herder who will herd everything
in sight unless trained to do otherwise. Calm, obedient and
very loyal. Eager to please his master. Gentle with children
if raised with them, though this energetic, large breed can
be overwhelming to a small child, even as a puppy (a 3 month
old puppy can weigh 40 pounds). He is generally gentle with
his own family, but may be aggressive with strangers. Thorough
training with a firm master is absolutely necessary. Many are
"one-person" dogs, bonding strongly to a single master (not
necessarily the master the family intended!), therefore the
breed doesn’t take well to changes of handler. Even so, the
Beauceron will obey commands from all members of the family
if trained to do so. Beaucerons are sociable with dogs they
know, but they are highly territorial and will not tolerate
an intruder. They generally get along well with cats if they
are introduced to them at an early age. This breed should be
properly and thoroughly socialized and given lots of attention
and exercise. The Beauceron needs a job to do and lots of space
to express and use his energy, otherwise he may show you that
"laziness is the mother of all vices."
Behavior:
Children: Good only when raised with children from puppyhood.
Friendliness: Very wary of strangers; highly protective.
Trainability: Easy to train.
Independence: Needs people a lot.
Dominance: High.
Other Pets: Generally good with other pets.
Combativeness: Can be a bit dog-aggressive.
Noise: Average barker.
Grooming and Physical Needs:
Grooming: Very little grooming needed.
Trimming & Stripping: No trimming or stripping needed.
Coat: Short coat.
Shedding: Average shedder.
Docking: The ears are customarily cropped.
Exercise: Vigorous daily exercise needed.
Jogging: A good jogging companion.
Indoors: Moderately active indoors.
Apartments: Not recommended for apartments.
Outdoor Space: Best with a large yard.
Climate: Does well in most climates.
Owner: Not recommended for novice owners.
Longevity: Average (10 to 12 years).
Talents:
Tracking, herding, watchdog, guarding, police work, military
work, agility, competitive obedience, and Schutzhund.
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