Beauceron
In France, the Beauceron, also known as the Bas Rouge, is a well-known and popular breed of dog. The herding and sheepdog is a real working animal and not made for city apartments. With its need for exercise, it is a dog for active and sporty people. The dogs are recognized by the FCI and classified in Group 1 herding and sheepdogs. And that is exactly what it is. A four-legged friend who is close to nature, loves to work and needs plenty of exercise to be happy.
Content: Beauceron
- profile
- Beauceron - Special characteristics
- Beauceron dewclaw
- Beauceron - What should be considered regarding nutrition?
- Beauceron - Health and Care
- Beauceron - Origin & History
- Beauceron - The right accessories
- Conclusion
Beauceron - Conclusion
- Character: Intelligent, Fearless, Loving
- Size: Large
- Height: 65-70cm
- Weight: 30-40 kg
- Life expectancy: 10 years
- Coat type: Short hair
- Colour: Black, red and fawn markings
- FCI Group: Shepherd Dogs – Cattle Dogs
Beauceron - Special characteristics
With a shoulder height of up to 70 cm and a weight of up to 40 kg, the Beauceron is one of the larger dog breeds. This is necessary, as it is meant to herd and guard herds of animals. Unfortunately, its life expectancy of 10 years is rather low-average. But it is a robust and very strong dog, and its smooth and mostly black coat is impressive in appearance. It is a little shorter on the head than on the rest of the body, and while the top coat is black, the dense and warm undercoat is mouse grey. Red or fawn markings are usually found on the chest or lower legs. This gives it a certain resemblance to the Rottweiler, although it is not as muscular and broad-built as the Rottweiler.
His ears are half erect and unfortunately are still occasionally docked, which is a highly questionable practice. The dog's ears are trimmed when they are still puppies so that they look upright and pointed. The only reason is that the dogs look more aggressive. This is forbidden in German-speaking countries and many other countries, but it is still permitted in France, Italy and Belgium. Some Eastern European countries also still allow it.
Beauceron dewclaw
Even though the Beauceron can appear quite frightening with his stately stature, dark fur and dark eyes, with proper training he is a loving and loyal friend of the family who also gets along well with children.
His herding instinct is so deep-rooted that he also guards and protects his human family.
He is very good at this, because he is a fearless four-legged friend who can be used as a guard or watchdog. At the same time, he is not considered particularly aggressive towards strangers. He is rather reserved and distant until he has built up trust.
However, his hunting instinct is not very strong, which would of course be counterproductive as a herding dog. Instead, he is a long-distance runner who protects his herd with plenty of calm. If he doesn't have such a job, the Beauceron needs an incredible amount of exercise. It was not unusual for him to cover up to 80 km a day as a herding dog. An enormous distance that had to be compensated for with lots of walks, hikes or dog sports .
This strength and endurance are also the biggest challenge in training the Beauceron. A little experience is not a bad thing, but basically he learns quickly and happily. This makes him suitable for training as a companion, search or rescue dog.
Beauceron - What should be considered regarding nutrition?
The Beauceron is a generally healthy dog that does not suffer from any breed-specific disease. This makes feeding easier. He can eat almost anything, although a balanced diet is of course always advisable. A high meat content , little to no grain and no sugar or other unnecessary additives keep him healthy and fit. Treats and chews are perfectly fine as long as they are used in moderation.
Since obesity is extremely unhealthy for dogs, their weight should be checked regularly. However, since the Beauceron is a very active four-legged friend, he is not prone to obesity.
Important: With large dog breeds there is always a risk of gastric torsion. Therefore, not only should you eat slowly, but you should also always take a short break after meals. Gastric torsion can be very dangerous for the dog and can even result in death.
Reward your best friend with our dog snacks!
Beauceron - Health and Care
To keep an active dog like the Beauceron healthy and well-groomed, exercise is the most important thing. They are neither made for small apartments nor for the city. Anyone who decides to get a Beauceron should ideally live in a house with a garden in the country. The herding dog loves nature and needs it to be happy.
Otherwise, he is fairly easy to care for. Occasional brushing, a bit of teeth cleaning and checking and trimming or cleaning the claws and ears every now and then are sufficient.
Beauceron - Origin & History
Nowadays, the Beauceron is almost always kept as a family and companion dog, but its past is clearly in herding grazing animals. It has its origins in France, where it was also used as a truffle dog or for hunting boar. This breed of dog was even used in wars. It is still very popular and well-known in France today. Strangely, this does not apply to Germany, where it is hardly or not at all known. Perhaps this is also because the first breeding club for shepherd dogs was not founded in France until 1975.
Beauceron - The right accessories
The basic equipment for all dog owners includes a lot. A collar or harness , one or more dog leashes, a dog bed, food and water bowls for dogs are just the most important things that are absolutely necessary. In addition, there is a transport box for the car, a (mandatory) muzzle for train journeys and dog toys to keep your beloved four-legged friend occupied. The latter in particular can also be a blessing for you, because a dog can be really worn out with a fetch bone, for example. But dog sports are also perfect for this. But you are probably wondering what dog sports are there and which ones are suitable for me and my Beauceron?
Conclusion
For all those who can offer enough space and maintain an active lifestyle, the Beauceron can be just the right choice. Its endurance and willingness to move around and its high level of intelligence make it a great partner for the whole family, assuming some experience in dog training. Of course, it is still a good herding dog and can be a good alternative to German shepherds and the like.
