Beauceron

The Beauceron, a very recent import into the UK is from the region of La Beauce, around Paris where he has been used as a shepherding dog since the 1500s.  He is also known as the Berger de Beauce and Bas Rouge or Red Stockings, a reference to his tan legs. The Beauceron has been used for herding and guarding cattle and sheep, though latterly has been used for a wide range of work and is popular with the police in France for his quick intelligence and absolute fearlessness.  During the two World Wars he was used by the military for mine detection, tracking and to take messages.

The Beauceron an extremely strong-willed dog, tending towards dominance and anyone choosing to acquire a puppy would need to work hard to ensure he knows his place in the family pack.  They tend to be quite boisterous and rather clumsy until about 2 years old and so are not suitable for a family with young children, though older children are fine. The Beauceron grows to about 70cm and are solidly built, so a bouncy and energetic young adult is quite a handful.  They are protective of their family and need exposure to strangers to learn to differentiate between friendly visitors and those people who he should defend the household against.

As a working breed with an active brain The Beauceron needs physical and mental stimulus; he will not be content to lie around the house all day and will react badly to being left alone for any length of time. The Beauceron is probably not a good choice for a first time owner as he needs an owner who can handle him firmly and consistently or he may make a bid to be pack leader.

The Beauceron coat is very easy to manage; it is usually black and tan but is also seen in a harlequin pattern where the base colour is grey with black and rust patches, though retaining the red stockings. The texture is rough and coarse with a fine, soft undercoat and can easily be kept looking smart with a slicker brush to remove dead coat.  When, towards the end of the 19thC the Beauceron was recognised formally as a breed in France he was grouped together with the Berger de Brie (Briard) as short haired and long haired Shepherd Dogs, and it was some years before they were separated into breed classes.  Certainly there are some similarities; they both carry their tails in the same way and have double dew-claws on the hind legs, but the Briard, although needing firm handling, is an easier dog to manage.  Click here to read the Beauceron Breed Standard. 

Beauceron Breed Clubs

Beauceron Club UK    Jackie Barnes      01452 831546        Email

Beauceron Rescue and Rehoming

Contact the Breed Club

Beauceron Breeders

We do not know of any Breeders in the UK.

If you are looking for a puppy contact the Breed Clubs and the Breeders listed and visit the puppyfinder website where there is a great deal of information on hereditary conditions.  If you are a Breeder and wish to advertise your puppies puppyfinder is an excellent showcase.