Beauceron

Beauceron General Appearance

The Beauceron is a distinct French breed of herding dog. Though almost unknown outside of France, the Beauceron has a long history. It is a very old breed developed solely in France with no foreign crosses. The earliest record found so far of what is thought to be this breed dates back to a Renaissance manuscript of 1578. In 1809, the abbey Rozier reported plain dogs guarding flocks and herds. In 1863, Pierre Megnin differentiated, with precision, two types of these sheep dogs: one with a long coat, which became known as the Berger de Brie (Briard), the other with a short coat, which is known as the Berger de Beauce (Beauceron). The Beauceron is a well balanced, solid dog of good height and well muscled without heaviness or coarseness. The dog is alert and energetic with a noble carriage. The whole conformation gives the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness, exhibiting the strength, endurance and agility required of the herding dog. Dogs are characteristically larger throughout with large frame and heavier bone than bitches. Bitches are distinctly feminine, but without weakness of substance or structure. The Beauceron should be easily approached without showing signs of fear.

Beauceron Size, Proportion, Substance

Size: males 251/2 to 271/2 inches; bitches 24 to 261/2 inches, measurement to be taken at the highest point of the shoulder blades. Disqualification: Height outside of maximum or minimum limits. Proportion: The conformation of the Beauceron is that of a mid-line, that is, harmoniously built with none of its regions exaggerated in shortness or length. The length of body, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock, is slightly greater than the height at the highest point of the shoulder blade. Correct proportion is of primary importance, as long as size is within the standard's range.

Beauceron Head

Long (2/5 of the dog's height at the highest point of the shoulder blade). The head must be proportionate to the body. Well-chiseled head with harmonious lines. Skull: the width of the head, as measured across the skull, is slightly less than the length of the skull from the occiput to the stop. The occiput is prominent and the forehead is very slightly rounded. The skull of the Beauceron viewed from the side or from above should form a rectangle, slightly longer than it is wide. The occiput is prominent. The back of the skull should not drop off and the forehead is very slightly rounded. Nose: not hooked, but nonetheless slightly curved (convex) toward the end. The nose in relation to the muzzle must be neither too narrow nor too large, nevertheless well developed; always black with nostrils well opened. View in profile, the nose must be in line with the extension of the upper lip. Disqualification: any color other than black. Planes: the topline of the muzzle is parallel to the topline of the skull, and the junction of the two forms a well-marked stop, which is midway between the occiput and the tip of the nose, and on a level with the eyes. Muzzle: Neither narrow nor pointed; lips lying close to jaws, dry, without folds or flews at the corners. Lips: well pigmented. Jaws full and powerful well filled under the eyes. Teeth: Strong, well-developed, white. The teeth of the upper jaw covering the teeth of the lower jaw without ever losing contact. The Beauceron should have a full complement of teeth, meeting perfectly in a scissors bite. Fault: 1 or 2 missing teeth. Serious Fault: 3 missing teeth. Disqualification: 4 or more missing teeth; Overshot or Undershot mouths with loss of contact. Eyes: Horizontal (the head being held horizontally). The eyes set well apart with the inner corners and outer corners on the same level. Large, slightly oval, well opened and calm, they must never be narrow or slanted. The eyes must always be dark brown, never lighter than dark hazel even if the accents are light tan with very dark pigmentation of the rim of the eyelids, whatever the color of the coat. Disqualification: yellow eyes or spotted eyes. Expression: Frank, Confident. Ears: Should be attached high, with thick ear leather. The Beauceron ear is usually cropped; however, a natural ear is acceptable. No preference should be given to the natural or cropped ear. If cropped, they should stand straight. The cropped ear should be carried upright and parallel, emphasizing the parallel lines of the head; when alert, they should face forward, well open. The well-held ear is one in which the middle passes through an imaginary line prolonging the sides of the neck. The natural ear must not lie flat against the head and, when alert; the ears are lifted slightly, giving a square look to the top of the skull. The length of the natural ear must be equal to 1/2 the length of the head always straight and covered with short hair.

Beauceron Neck, Topline and Body

Neck: neck muscled and smoothly blended into the bodyline, enabling the head to be carried proudly while standing at attention. Topline: straight back; strong, never swayed nor roached. Body: The length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock must be slightly more than the height of the dog. Chest, wide and deep; Sternum descending to the point of the elbow; top of shoulder blade well defined, wide and well fused to the rest of the body; ribcage extended well back; croup with little sloping and only in the direction of the attachment to the tail. The abdomen is moderately drawn up but still presents good volume. Tail: never docked; carried down and not deviating to the right or left; descending at least to the point of the hock, without curvation, forming a slight J-hook. In action, the tail is raised in a harmonious curve, never going above the level of the back, except for the terminal crook. Disqualification: Tail lacking or docked.

Beauceron Forequarters

Shoulder: Medium length, sloping, forming a 45-degree angle with the horizontal, firmly attached by strong muscles and blending smoothly with the withers; Legs: The legs are powerfully muscled with strong bone. The legs are vertical when viewed from the side and from the front. The distance between the front legs equal to the distance between the rear legs. The construction of the legs is of the utmost importance, determining the dog's ability to work and his resistance to fatigue. Feet: Strong, round, nails always black; pads firm but still supple. The feet travel straightforward in the line of movement. Some dogs may have multiple dewclaws on the front legs.

Beauceron Hindquarters

The angulation of the hindquarters is to be in balance with the forequarters. The hindquarters are powerful, providing flexible, almost tireless movement. The pelvis slopes at a 30-degree angle from the horizontal and forms a right angle with the upper leg bone. Leg: The legs are well angulated with metatarsus slightly inclined, the hock making an angle of 135 degrees. Feet: if the rear toes turn out very slightly when the hocks and metatarsus are parallel, then the position of the feet is correct. Dewclaws: Double dew claw on the rear leg; dewclaws placed on the inside, forming "thumbs" well separated one from the other ideally; close to the foot to create a larger weight-bearing surface. Faults: Double dewclaw placed too high on the leg or represented by two superimposed stumps; Disqualification: Anything less than double dewclaws on each rear leg.

Beauceron Coat

Outer coat is straight, coarse, and dense, of medium length and lying flat, never soft and fine to the touch. The coat should be comparatively short, straight, hard enough to be weather resistant, with dense undercoat. It should be shortest on the head, ears and lower legs. The hair is somewhat longer around the neck, tail and back of thighs where "fringe" will be present. The Beauceron is to be exhibited in the natural condition with no trimming. Fault: Wavy coat; Severely Penalize: Long Hair, Coat Open or Curly.

Beauceron Colors

Black and Tan (BICOLOR): Red feet (stockings); the black being very pure; the color of the tan must be (squirrel red); the tan marks are found: lozenges over the eyes; on the sides of the muzzle, lessening on the cheeks, never reaching the underside of the ears; two spots on the chest are preferred to a breastplate; on the throat; under the tail; on the legs, the tan extends to the feet, to the pasterns, progressively lessening in ascending, though never covering more than 1/3 of the leg; ascending a little higher on the inside of the leg; some white hairs at the breast are tolerated.

Black, Gray and Tan (TRICOLOR): A color pattern involving Blue/Grey splotches on a Black Background with red points including stockings as described in the BiColor. Disqualification: absence of markings; white spot on the chest exceeding 1" in diameter in Bi-Color or Tri-Color; In Tri Color the gray should not exceed half the background color (black).

Beauceron Gait

Movement should be fluid, effortless and covering ground in long strides, permitting him to make abrupt turns, springing starts and sudden stops required of the sheep herding dog. The gait gives the impression that the dog glides along without touching the ground. Strong, flexible movement is essential to the sheepdog. His conformation harmoniously balanced and strong to sustain him in the long day's work. In movement the head should lower approaching the level of the topline like any other herding breed. Dogs with clumsy or inelegant gait must be penalized.

Beauceron Temperament

He is a dog at heart, with spirit and initiative, wise and fearless with no trace of timidity. Intelligent, easily trained, faithful, gentle and obedient, the Beauceron possesses an excellent memory and an ardent desire to please his master. He retains a high degree of his ancestral instinct to guard home and master. Although he is reserved with strangers, he is loving and loyal to those he knows. Some will display a certain independence.

Beauceron Disqualification:

Height outside of maximum or minimum limits.
Nose any color other than black.
4 or more missing teeth.
Overshot or Undershot mouths with loss of contact.
Yellow eyes or spotted eyes.
Tail lacking or docked.
Anything less than double dewclaws on each rear leg.
Absence of markings.
White spot on the chest exceeding 1" in diameter in Bi-Color or Tri-Color.
In Tri Color the gray should not exceed half the background color (black).