The Beauceron is a large herding dog that comes from France and is known by several other names, including the French shorthair shepherd, berger de Beauce, and bas rouge. A working dog, this breed has lots of energy and loves to have a job to do. Clever and watchful, the Beauceron is a good match for anyone who is looking for a family watchdog.
Characteristics of Beaucerons
Beaucerons are large dogs that are powerful and have a lot of muscle. They are solid and well-built, but not lumbering and are medium in their proportions. This means that the Beauceron length from the shoulder to the buttocks is just slightly more than its height at the shoulder blades.
When it comes to Beauceron size, these muscular dogs weigh around 100 pounds on average. Males stand between 65 and 70 centimeters (25 to 27 inches) at the shoulder, and females are between 61 to 68 centimeters (24 to 26 inches) tall. These dogs have a solid bone structure but don’t seem heavy. The Beauceron has a long tail with a slight hook at the end and ears that droop.
This breed has a short-to-medium double coat that’s smooth and sheds a lot of hair. Mainly black, its coat has some dark red spots on it, especially at the feet. In fact, this is one of the most recognizable Beauceron characteristics as its name in French, “bas rouge,” means red stockings. Some Beaucerons may also have a black-gray-tan coat as well. This dog has dark brown eyes that give it a lively, confident expression.
Another important characteristic is the Beauceron’s double dewclaw. The dewclaws are like extra toes that don’t bear weight as the dog moves. In the Beauceron, the double dewclaws form thumbs with nails on each rear leg, distinguishing it from other similar breeds. If you show your Beauceron, it must have these dewclaws. Owners who use their dogs for hunting or herding may choose to remove them.
The Beauceron personality is quiet, confident, and watchful. While these characteristics make them good watchdogs, they shouldn't be aggressive. As they are working dogs, Beaucerons are intelligent, obedient, and loyal to their owners. Historically, Beaucerons are known to be loyal guard dogs that are fearless and gentle. Because of these characteristics, the Beauceron earned the nickname “a country gentleman” from the French novelist, Colette. The Beauceron temperament is self-assured and frank, so this dog never seems worried or shy. It has a candid expression that reflects its confidence.
As this is a relatively healthy breed, the average Beauceron lifespan is around 10 years.
Caring for Beaucerons
Your Beauceron has a double coat: a rough, waterproof overcoat with a soft undercoat beneath. This breed sheds a lot, especially during the two times a year when it goes through a period of heavy shedding. During the test of the year, you can brush your dog a few times a week, but during shedding season you should brush daily. You can use a medium-bristle brush or grooming mitt to remove all of the dead hair and encourage new hair growth.
You’ll need to trim your Beauceron’s nails regularly, including the dewclaws on the hind legs. If your pet’s nails grow too long, it can be painful for the dog when walking or running. To care for your Beaceron’s teeth, you should brush them every day or two, using a toothpaste that’s made for dogs. Never use human toothpaste on your dog. It’s not necessary to open your dog’s mouth all the way to brush their teeth. Instead, you can pull their lips up or down and then brush gently in circular motions, focusing on the gum line.
One of your first responsibilities as a dog owner is to visit your vet and get your dog their necessary vaccinations. During their first year, your dog will need several vaccinations to stay healthy. The following vaccinations are required or strongly recommended by veterinarians:
- Canine distemper
- Parvovirus
- Rabies
- Adenovirus
- Parainfluenza
Some other vaccines that your vet may recommend are:
- Bordetella
- Influenza
- Lyme disease
- Coronavirus
- Leptospirosis
Your dog will need several rounds of these vaccines, followed by booster shots every one to three years during their lifetime.
Besides vaccinations, you’ll need to protect your Beauceron against ticks, fleas, and heartworms. When it comes to fleas and ticks, check your dog regularly for them, especially after coming inside from areas that are known to carry pests. Comb your dog’s coat with a flea comb, and ask your vet about flea and tick shampoos and sprays made to keep these pests off your dog and kill them if your Beauceron has an infestation. Some vets may also recommend flea collars.
Another option when it comes to fleas is an oral medication. Flea pills are oral pesticides that are safe for your dog and aim to control, treat, and prevent flea infestations in dogs. There are different kinds on the market that have a variety of active ingredients, so talk to your vet to choose the best one for your Beauceron.
There currently isn’t a vaccine to protect your Beaceron against heartworms, but there are medications to prevent them. Some options are chewable pills or topical treatments. Your dog may get an injectable medication that is administered by prescription every 6 to 12 months. Some heartworm medications also help to protect your dog from other parasites, including fleas, ticks, and mites.
If your dog does get heartworms, your vet will probably recommend a medication called melarsomine. This is an injection administered by your vet that kills off heartworms in about one to three months. During that time, your Beauceron should be on cage rest with limited exercise to avoid complications from the medication. However, heartworm damage is not reversible and the best thing is to prevent it altogether. This can easily be done with heartworm preventatives that are recommended year- round in most parts of the United States.
Health Problems to Watch for With Beaucerons
In general, Beaucerons are a healthy breed. Responsible breeders take a lot of care and screen their dogs for potential health problems that are common in dogs, like hip dysplasia, eye problems, and heart disease.
Even so, one of the potential Beauceron health issues that you should be aware of is bloat, or gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV). Large or deep-chested dogs are more at risk for developing this stomach condition, which can be fatal in some cases. GDV causes your dog’s stomach to fill with air, The increased pressure that builds up stops the blood from your dog’s back legs and abdomen to stop flowing to the heart. Too much blood then collects at the back of the dog’s body, lowers the amount of working blood in the body, and sends the dog into shock.
What’s more is that the stomach flips, taking your dog’s spleen and pancreas along with it. When the blood flow is cut off to the pancreas, the pancreas then creates toxic hormones. Even with treatment, these hormones can cause your dog’s heart to stop, leading to death.
Some signs of bloat that you can look out for include:
- Bloating in your dog’s abdomen
- Restlessness
- Salivation
- Vomiting or retching
- Pain in the belly.
If you suspect your dog has GDV, seek medical attention right away as this condition, even in the mildest of cases, is life-threatening.
Special Considerations for Beaucerons
As working dogs, Beaucerons need a lot of physical and mental exercise and challenges. This breed may not be suited for apartment or city dwellers unless you have a park or green space nearby with plenty of time to take your dog out for walks or play each day. Beaucerons aren’t a good fit for first-time dog owners, either. This dog will fit in well with a family that is experienced in training and has the time and means to provide both the physical and mental exercise that the breed needs.
If you’re considering getting a Beauceron, keep in mind that this dog does best in environments with lots of space. This could be a large house or garden, or out in the country where your dog can run free safely. Ideally, your Beauceron should get at least two hours or more of exercise per day.
Beauceron owners need to be diligent with socialization and training from the very beginning. This breed is very smart and loyal, so your dog will respond well to you with the right techniques. Firm, fair training works best, as Beaucerons don’t respond well to harsh, physical corrections or techniques. It’s important to train your Beauceron since the dog is quite powerful and is prone to behaviors like jumping or grabbing things with their mouth.
History of Beaucerons
Beaucerons are French herding dogs that have lived in western Europe for centuries. They are credited as one of the breeds that helped to create the Doberman Pinscher. They share many characteristics with the long-haired sheepdog called the Briard, even though these two dogs are distinct in their appearances. Both breeds are from northern France and have dew claws on their hind legs. In the past, both the Briard and the Beauceron were used to herd cattle and sheep. The Beauceron was developed from other sheepdogs on the plains in the Beauce region of France, from which area it gets its name.
Throughout the years, the Beauceron has continued to be used as a herder and a guard dog for sheep and cattle and is quite helpful in protecting herds and flocks from wolves. During World War I and World War II, Beaucerons were used to send messages and supplies, as well as to detect mines, search, and rescue. Due to these helpful traits, a Beauceron was also used following the September 11 attacks in New York City to search and rescue survivors.
