When people think of French dogs they think of short fluffy and poufy little dogs with a sharp yappy bark. That is not said for the Beauceron, a large powerful short haired working breed. This dog is quite large as it can weigh up to one hundred pounds and is known to be a herding breed used the most in the 1800’s for guarding large herds of cattle and flocks of chickens.
Origin
It is not known how long the Beauceron has been around but their ancestors were in the Neolithic stage of life having a very large build with much more fur than they have today. These dogs are actually known to be a precursor breed to the German Doberman pinscher, which they share the same color markings with. Being from Northern France, they were not often heard of out of the country until the late 1700’s when the English grew found of the breed and wanted them on their farms as well.
Appearance
Much like a Doberman, they have the black and tan markings in the same areas of their neck and chest, also around the muzzle and the insides of their ears. They have an elongated muzzle with plenty of teeth lined up perfectly, making them an excellent guard dog. Their coat is also short like the Doberman except they have some tufts of fur in their ears and the corners of their chest. These dogs have a double dewclaw which they use for hunting. They have deep black eyes and a questioning expression, with triangular shaped ears, a broad muscular yet lean body and large paw pads.
Temperament
Many people are fearful of this type of dog’s appearance but the Beauceron is a loving breed who gets close to its family. They want nothing more but to please them, especially if they are working on the farmland. They are strong minded dogs and sometimes will feel like they are the boss. They need to be properly trained in order for them to follow the human rather than the human following the dog. They make a wonderful guard dog when trained for the purpose and a great family dog with no vicious instincts if raised in a loving home.
Grooming and Health
Since they have a short coat, grooming is only needed once a week to keep up with the coat and make shedding less apparent. They need the be bathed once a month as well as having their claws trimmed after bath time. This breed is a healthy dog but they can get bloated due to overeating. They will beg for food even when they are not hungry so their owners need to learn restraint or else they will gain overweight issues. This giant breed can live up to twelve years or even older depending on their genetics.
The Beauceron is a beautiful breed of dog that loves helping their human companions. These dogs make the perfect farm animal, guard dog, or overall family friend.
