Beauceron

Beauceron is also called Beauce shepherd (Berger de Beauce) or Red stockings (Bas Rouge) and is an old breed of herding dog from France.

The Beauceron dog breed was developed by sheep and cattle farmers and was built to withstand the demands of long days of work in all types and extremes of temperatures and terrain, subsisting on little food. Beaucerons were not only expected to be herding dogs but also guardians of the flock and the home.

Beaucerons are muscular, rugged, and large, standing as high as 27.5 inches at the shoulder, and yet graceful and in all ways balanced. Their dark black coats feature handsome squirrel-red accents, including the red feet that give the breed its French nickname Bas-Rouge (“red stockings”). They’re also seen in a black-gray-tan coat.

They’re not for novice owners, who might end up being owned by their dominant dog instead of the other way around. That said, well-trained and socialized Beaucerons are levelheaded watchdogs and guardians, especially good with the young, the small, and the defenseless.

Beauceron FAQs Frequently Asked Questions:

Let us seek some answers related to the Beauceron dog breed. Are they hypoallergenic (non-shedding) or do they shed a lot? Do they bark a lot? Are they good guard dogs? Are they good family dogs? Good with children? and many more questions that a potential Beauceron owner may be concerned about.

Is the Beauceron a hypoallergenic (non-shedding) breed?

No. The Beauceron is not a hypoallergenic dog breed. The Beauceron sheds moderately small amounts of fur year-round but will shed heavily in spring and fall.

Do Beauceron dogs bark a lot?

No. This is not a yappy breed. The Beauceron barks occasionally. Compared to most other dog breeds, the Beauceron barks less.

Is Beauceron a good family dog?

Yes. The Beauceron can be a good family dog for some families. This is an extremely loyal breed that is eager to please its family; however, if not properly trained, the Beauceron can run the family.

Beaucerons are uncannily intelligent and adept at any task involving learning, memory, and reasoning. They are courageous and calm and make reliable, thoughtful guardians. They may be wary of strangers and do not take to unfamiliar dogs. They can get along with other family dogs and pets.

Are Beaucerons affectionate? Good with kids?

Beaucerons are very smart, somewhat playful, and can be affectionate. This breed can be family-friendly: they are deeply devoted and loving toward their chosen people. They may get along with other family dogs and pets, but they tend to be suspicious of strangers. Beaucerons are patient with children but can be overwhelming to them or try to herd them.

Are Beaucerons good guard dogs?

Yes. The Beaucerons make excellent guard dogs or watchdogs. As they are suspicious of strangers, this breed is a natural guard dog. They will bark ferociously when strangers approach their territory. The Beauceron is also a striking and intelligent guardian breed as well as an intelligent companion-guardian breed.

Are Beaucerons aggressive dogs? Do they bite?

Though self-assured, the Beauceron dog is not an aggressive breed. He is gentle but fearless. The Beauceron is loyal to his people. When he is raised with children, he can be good with them. The Beauceron should not be shy or fearful of strangers nor should they attempt to bite. Well-bred Beaucerons should neither be shy nor aggressive.

Can Beaucerons swim? Do they like it?

Yes. Beaucerons can swim. Some enjoy it, some do not! A Beauceron is more likely to take a dip when the weather is hot.

How much do Beaucerons cost? How much is a Beauceron puppy?

Beauceron puppies cost about $1,200 to $1,500 from a reputed breeder. Some breeders may charge more for a Beauceron with top breed lines and a superior pedigree. The cost to buy a Beauceron varies greatly and depends on many factors. Expect to pay less for a puppy without papers, Expect to pay a premium for a puppy advertised as show quality with papers.

How long do Beaucerons live?

The Beauceron’s average lifespan is about 10 and 12 years. Well-bred and healthy dogs may live 2 to 3 years longer.

Ok, so let’s assume you have chosen the Beauceron as the best dog breed suitable for yourself. You have decided to find yourself a Beauceron puppy as your next family member. How will you choose the best pup? Let us look at some standard characteristics of the Beauceron dog breed which will help you select the right puppy, keep reading. 

Choosing a good Beauceron puppy

The definition of the best Beauceron puppy depends on your requirements. Your expectations from an adult Beauceron can be broadly categorized as follows: Confirmation for show or breeding; obedience; smart guard dog; companion; homely pet.

Although it is tempting to look for all these qualities in one Beauceron puppy you are planning to buy, it is almost never possible to find all qualities in a single pup.

If you want your Beauceron puppy to grow up to be a champion in the show ring, you should look for confirmation to the Beauceron dog breed standards. We have put together a general guideline for selecting an all-around good puppy for you. Our guideline not just includes breed standards, but also gives importance to temperament, appearance, physical details, gait, health issues, grooming needs, and maintenance.

Look for the following characteristics while choosing a Beauceron puppy.

The Beauceron dog’s General Appearance

The Beauceron is a large and powerful dog with a solid bone structure, rustic, well-chiseled, and muscled without bulkiness. The tail is always long and slightly feathered. The coat is smooth and short on the head and legs, short, thick, and firm on the body, with a good undercoat.

The Beauceron’s Temperament

The Beauceron is an alert and energetic dog with a frank and unwavering look. He shows no fear and no aggression and should be confident. He is intelligent, easily trained, faithful, calm, and lives to please its masters. He also possesses an excellent memory.

Beauceron dog’s size

The Beauceron is medium in all its proportions. The length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock should be slightly greater than the height at the withers. 1 to 1.5 cm (0.39 to 0.59 inches) greater for males, and 1.5 to 2 cm (0.59 to .079 inches) for the bitches.

Dogs are larger and heavier than the bitches, and should be distinctly masculine. Bitches should be feminine looking but without weakness in structure or substance.

The dog’s optimum height is 67 cm (26.38 inches), but with an acceptable range of 65 – 70 cm (25.6 – 27.56 inches).

The bitch’s optimum height is 65 cm (25.6 inches), with an acceptable range of 61 – 68 cm (24 – 26.77 inches).

Beauceron’s Coat & Color

Coat: Short and smooth on the head and the lower legs; on the body, it should be coarse, dense, and lying flat, 3 to 4 cm in length; the buttocks and the underside of the tail are lightly but obligatory fringed. The undercoat is short, fine, dense, and downy, preferably mouse grey, very close, and can’t be seen through the topcoat

Beauceron Colors

Black & Tan Beauceron

Black with tan markings: Red stockings. The black is pure black and the tan, red squirrel colored. The tan markings are distributed as follows: spots over the eyes. On the sides of the muzzle, diminishing gradually on the cheeks, never reaching under the ear. On the chest, preferably two spots. Under the neck. Under the tail. On the legs, disappearing progressively while rising, without covering more than 1/3 of the leg and rising slightly higher on the inside.

Harlequin Beauceron

Blue-mottled with tan markings: grey, black, and tan, the coat being black and grey in equal parts, the spots well distributed, with sometimes a predominance of black. The tan markings are the same as for the black and tan. A faint spot on the chest is tolerated but shall be no larger than 5 cm2 (1 square inch).

The Beauceron’s Head

The head is well chiseled with harmonious lines. Seen in profile, the top lines of skull and muzzle lie roughly in parallel planes. Skull: Flat or slightly rounded from one side to the other. The median groove is only slightly marked, the occipital protuberance can be seen on the summit of the skull. Stop: The stop is only slightly pronounced and is equidistant from the occiput and the end of the muzzle. Nose: Proportionate to the muzzle, well developed, never split, and always black. Muzzle: Neither narrow nor pointed. Lips: Firm and always well pigmented. The upper lip should overlap the lower without any looseness. At their juncture, the lips form very slight but firm flews. Jaws & Teeth: Strong teeth with a scissor bite. Eyes: Horizontal, slightly oval in shape. The iris should be dark brown, and in any case, never lighter than dark hazel even if the tan is light-colored. For the harlequin variety, walleyes are admitted. Ears: set high. They are carried upright if cropped, neither convergent nor divergent, pointing slightly forward. The well-carried ear is one whose middle falls on an imaginary line in prolongation of the sides of the neck. Uncropped ears are half-pricked or drop ears. They shouldn’t be plastered against the cheeks. They are flat and rather short. The length of the uncropped ear should be half the length of the head.

The Beauceron’s Neck

Muscular, of a good length, united harmoniously with the shoulders.

The Beauceron’s Forequarters

Upright and parallel when viewed from the front and in profile. Shoulder: Sloping and moderately long. Forearm: muscular. Feet: Large, round, and compact. The nails are always black. The pads are hard but nevertheless resilient.

The Beauceron’s Body

Topline: The back is straight and strong. The loin is short, broad, and muscular. The croup is well muscled and slightly sloped in the direction of the attachment of the tail. Withers: Well defined. Chest: The girth of the chest is greater than the height at the withers by more than one-fifth. The chest is well let down to the point of the elbow. It is wide, deep, and long.

Beauceron’s Hindquarters

Upright and parallel when viewed from behind and in profile. Thigh: wide and muscular. Hock Joint: Substantial, not too close to the ground, the point situated roughly at ¼ the height at the withers, forming a well open angle with the second thigh. Metatarsals (Rear pasterns): Vertical, slightly further back than the point of the buttock. Feet: Large, round, and compact. Dewclaws: By tradition, shepherds are much attached to the conservation of double dewclaw. The dewclaws form well separate “thumbs” with nails, placed rather close to the foot.

The Beauceron’s Tail

The tail is whole, carried low. It reaches at least to the point of the hock, without deviating, and forming a slight hook in the form of a “J”. In action, the tail can be carried higher, becoming an extension of the topline.

The Beauceron’s Gait

Supple and free. The limbs move well in line. The Beauceron should have an extended trot with long reaching movement.

Faults observed in the Beauceron dog breed

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Disqualifications: Aggressive or overly shy temperament; Size outside the standard limits; Too light-boned; Eyes too light, or walleyes (except for harlequins); Split nose, or a color other than black, with unpigmented areas; Overshot or undershot with loss of contact, absence of 3 or more teeth (the first premolars not counting); Uncropped ears totally upright and rigid; Rear feet turned excessively to the exterior; Simple dewclaws or absence of dewclaws in hind legs; Shortened tail or tail carried over the back; Coat: color and texture other than those defined by the standard. A complete absence of tan markings. Shaggy coat. Well defined, quite visible white spot on chest. For the harlequin variety: too much grey, back on one side and grey on the other, head entirely grey (absence of black).

Beauceron Videos

Orion, the 1.5-year-old Beauceron performs tricks.

We hope you enjoyed reading about the Beauceron dog breed. You may consider sharing your views in the comments section below. Inputs and priceless experiences from dog owners, Beauceron breeders, and dog lovers, in general, help us better understand the Beauceron breed. Thank you for your interest.