Beauceron
Beauceron is a herding or working dog breed originated from the plains of Central France. The dog is also known as “Berger de Beauce” (Sheepdog from Beauce).
Height and Weight
The usual height of Beauceron stands between 24 and 27.5 inches (61 and 70 cm) and normal weight ranges between 30 and 45 kg (66 and 100 lb).
Coat and Colors
Beauceron has a hard outer-coat and woolly undercoat which grows thick in winter seasons, particularly when the dog sleeps outdoor. The standard color of its coat is black & tan (Harlequin) or grey. The other colors like tawny, grey or grey/black have now been banned by the breed standard. In black & tan colors, the tan marks appear in two dots above the eyes, on sides of the muzzle, fading off to the cheeks but not reaching beneath the ears. The tan markings also appear on the throat, under the tail, on legs, and chest. The chest markings should appear as two spots but a chest plate is acceptable.
Temperament
The Beauceron is known as “Guard dog” in France which is used in the farms as a helper for herding sheep or cattle. For its athletic nature, the dog is also known as a ring sports dog. This sporty, strong muscular, and long-lived breed has been bred to be intellectual, tranquil, gentle, and brave. The adults are naturally suspicious of strangers and are exceptional guard dogs. On the other hand, Beaucerons usually take a cue from their handlers (owners) when it comes to greeting outsiders, and are neither sharp nor shy.
Beaucerons can do the best within the family to accommodate inside but they can sleep outside. They act better as ‘Guard Dogs’ due to their weatherproof coats which make them perfect dogs even in cold weathers.
Grooming and Training
Beaucerons are enthusiastic learners and they can be trained to a high level. Though, their physical and mental growth is slow; as compared to other similar breeds. They do not get mentally or physically matured until the age of three years. So their training should be started after three years of age. In the early years, they should be given frequent 5-10 minutes’ play-training exercises daily to get better results than giving long and rigorous training.
Activities
The dog can participate in dog-agility trials, obedience, showmanship, fly-ball, tracking, and herding events. He herding natures and trainability can be check through non-competitive herding tests. The dogs showing basic herding characters can be trained to participate in herding trials. Beaucerons are excellent search and rescue dogs.
History
A French herding breed recognized for the centuries in Western Europe, the Beauceron is renowned as one of the breeds used to create the Doberman Pinscher. Although fairly dissimilar in appearance, the Beauceron and the long-haired sheepdog (the Briard), stem from similar ancestral stock, getting the trait of double dewclaws on back legs. Both were used to herd sheep and cattle. Like the Beauceron, the Briard is found throughout northern France, and despite inferences from its name, also did not come solely from the Brie region.
In 1809, Abbé Rozier wrote an article on these French herding dogs, in which he defined the variances in type; and used the terms “Berger de Brie” and “Berger de Beauce”.
In 1893, the veterinarian Paul Megnin differentiated between long-haired “Berger de la Brie” and short-haired “Berger de Beauce”. He defined the standard of the breed, with the help of M. Emmanuel Ball. In 1922, the Club des Amis du Beauceron was established under the supervision of Dr. Megnin.
In 2008, the Beauceron made its entrance in the ‘Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’.
A multipurpose breed, the Bas Rouge is used to both “Guard” and “Herd sheep/cattle”. It was once very useful against the wolves, now long gone from central France. The breed has also served in both world-wars (I & II) as messenger-dog, supply-transport-dog, land-mine-detection-dog, search-dog, police-dog, and rescue-dog.
Also see: Cute Pictures of Beauceron Puppies