Get to know

Beaucerons

Written by
Caroline Coile, Ph.D.,
 author of 34 dog books.
Veterinarian reviewed
 by Nate Ritter, DVM.
Written by
Caroline Coile, Ph.D.,
 author of 34 dog books, including the top-selling Barron's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds.

Veterinarian reviewed

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ARC Beaucerons

The Beauceron is one of dogdom’s best kept secrets.

This is a rare breed, despite being incredibly smart and protective.
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34 available Beauceron puppies

$3k average price

33 certified Beauceron breeders

20 active litters

At a glance

High Energy

Energy level

4/5

Very Low Maintenance

Grooming

2/5

Extra large

Size

Intelligent, protective, active

Temperament

10-12 years

Lifespan

Highly Trainable

Training

5/5

Medium Vocality

Barking

3/5

At a glance

  • Energy level

    High Energy

  • Grooming

    Very Low Maintenance

  • Size

    Extra large

  • Temperament

    Intelligent, protective, active

  • Lifespan

    10-12 years

  • Training

    Highly Trainable

  • Barking

    Medium Vocality

Why people love the breed

The Beauceron is smart, courageous, and protective, like having your own personal bodyguard.
The Beauceron appeals to people who want something out of the ordinary. This is a rare breed that very few people have ever heard of, much less met in real life. But it is a dog that gets attention wherever it goes. They like to learn and are easy to train. This is a serious-minded dog that prefers to be on duty. They are alert, vigilant, and won’t hesitate to confront an intruder or threat. At the same time the Beauceron is a mild-mannered family dog. Although it tends to sleep with one-eye open, they can be content taking it easy indoors and aren’t usually hyperactive.

Appearance

The Beauceron is a moderate dog in every way, built for function.
Per breed standard the Beacueron breed is solid and powerful, yet lithe and agile. It is slightly longer than tall, with a straight, strong topline, slight tuck-up, and moderate to heavy bone. The tail is carried low, with a J-hook at its end. It has strong, round feet, and double dewclaws on its hind legs. The head is powerful with strong jaws. The eyes are large and slightly oval. The ears are usually cropped short, but can be left natural. Natural ears are either half-pricked or drop, with the latter not plastered against the cheeks. They are half the length of the head. The outer coat is coarse, dense, and straight, and of medium length. It also has a dense undercoat. It can be one of two color patterns: black & tan; or gray, back and tan (harlequin). The head is not held high when moving.

Grooming

Coat care is minimal, consisting of occasional brushing and bathing.
Beaucerons do shed fairly heavily once or twice a year. During that time you will want to brush more often so you can rid the dog of the shed undercoat. Bathing will loosen the coat and help you pull it out using a pin brush or metal comb. Trim the nails—including front and rear dewclaws—as needed. Check the ears for signs of infection weekly, such as inflammation or waxy accumulation. Brush the teeth every day.
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RiverRim Beaucerons

Breed temperament and characteristics

This breed combines high intelligence, high vigilance, and high loyalty to make for a protective companion.
Many people are attracted to the Beauceron because of their intelligence and courage, but it is not a breed for new dog owners. While willing to please, it does not suffer bad owners, and will not hesitate to rule the household. They are strong-willed dogs that aren't good with strange dogs or even strange people, and owners must have proper control of them to avoid confrontations. This is a dog with a very active mind. If you don’t give them mental challenges and things to do, they may solve that problem by destroying your home or otherwise raising havoc. They often prefer the outdoors to the indoors, and will spend long hours guarding their territory. The breed is best with athletic, adventurous people who are already experienced dog trainers. Beaucerons can be too much for young children or the elderly to control. However, if properly trained, they can be gentle with both. In the right hands, this is one of the most amazingly intelligent and protective breeds there is. They may not get along with other dogs, even other household dogs, if they are the same sex.

Exercise

This is a large, athletic, adventurous breed that will not be content with just a romp in the backyard.
The Beauceron needs physical and mental stimulation to be happy. While they enjoy backyard games, they need to get out and go for long hikes or jogs. They enjoy a great variety of organized sports, including Schutzhund, herding, agility, tracking, nose work, and dock diving. Most enjoy swimming. They are not good candidates for dog parks. They do well in a wide variety of temperatures.
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Beaucerons of Tempete De Hope

Training

Beaucerons are highly intelligent, and in the right hands, easy to train. But they can overwhelm an inexperienced owner.
Beaucerons are one of the smartest breeds. They can learn complex tasks and excel at performing almost any exercise. They are a herding dog, so their herding background makes them pre-programmed to follow directions. Their guarding background, however, ensures that they are not pushovers. They will not take force training well at all. At the same time, they may take advantage of poor training and weak leadership. In the right hands, this is one of the most highly trainable breeds there is. In the wrong hands, they can run amok. Be sure to get training advice from experienced Beauceron trainers before starting. They can excel at many sports requiring high levels of training, such as Schutzhund, obedience, agility, tracking, and nose work. Socialization is extremely important for Beaucerons, as they are innately suspicious of strangers, and also don’t mix well with strange dogs. They may not need to welcome either, but they should be cordial when told to be so.

Diet and nutrition

Beaucerons generally need no special diet, but actively working dogs may need more protein or calories.
Young Beaucerons are more likely to be underweight than overweight because of their high energy. But with age they will tend to gain weight, especially if neutered or spayed. Proper adult Beacueron weight is when the body has an hourglass figure viewed from both the top and side, with a noticeable tuck-up. No ribs or vertebrae should show, but you should be able to feel the ribs without digging for them. If the dog begins to become overweight, discuss with your veterinarian. Puppies should be fed food for large breeds. These foods are formulated to regulate growth rate, while still achieving the same final size. Although Beaucerons are not prone to diet-related disorders, like any dog, they can develop health problems that do best with special food. Your veterinarian can advise you.
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Jalbert Beaucerons

Health issues

Beaucerons have very few conditions reported as health problems.

Lifespan: 10 to 12 years.

Hip dysplasia

Common in large breed dogs, this complex condition involves both genetic and environmental factors and arises when the head of the femur doesn’t fit in the pelvic socket, causing arthritis and lameness. No genetic test is available to date, therefore, the recommended screening test is x-rays.

Dilated cardiomyopathy

In which the heart muscle becomes thinner and weaker, leading to a larger heart as the walls expand due to the pressure from the blood inside the heart, is a problem in the breed. Echocardiograms performed by a veterinary cardiologist or radiologist can detect this condition and should be performed on any Beauceron destined to be a parent.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV)

A life-threatening sudden twisting of the stomach. It is an emergency that can be fatal if not treated immediately. Beaucerons with a first degree relative (parent or sibling) that have experienced GDV are more likely to develop the condition.

Other health issues

Other conditions that occur include eye problems, elbow dysplasia, and osteochondritis dissecans.

Learn more about health issues that may impact Beaucerons

History

The Beauceron is a French breed that has only recently become known in North America.
The Beauceron (originally called the Berger de Beauce) was developed to hunt wild boar in the 1500s. It was then also used as an all-purpose farm dog, whose duties included herding and guarding livestock. They are closely related to the Briard; in fact until 1911 they were the same breed with two coat types. The French army used the dogs as messengers during both World Wars. In the 1960s an effort was made to preserve them, and they have since become more popular throughout the world. Today they are often used for police and military work.
Litter of Beauceron puppies in a wagon
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Ambre' Noir Beaucerons Ambermoon Kooikerhondje Blackamber Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs

4 black and tan Beaucerons sitting
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Eagle Valley Beaucerons

About the author

Canine specialist, Caroline Coile, Ph.D., is the author of 34 dog books, including the top-selling Barron's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. She’s written thousands of magazine and web articles about dogs. She specializes in canine science, health, breeds and competitions. Caroline has won 20 national dog-writing awards, and was a 2015 Inductee into the Dog Writers Association of America Hall of Fame.

Veterinarian reviewed

Dr. Nate Ritter, DVM is the Veterinary Medical Director at Good Dog. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Lafayette College and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, New York State Veterinary Medical Society, the Veterinary Medical Association of New York City, and the Society for Theriogenology. Additionally, he is a USDA-accredited veterinarian.

Breed Scorecard

Characteristics and temperament

  • Affectionate with family

    3

  • Watchdog level

    5

  • Playfulness

    3

  • Adaptability

    3

  • Social needs

    4

  • Temperament

    Intelligent, protective, active

  • Intelligence

    5

  • Good with other dogs

    1

  • Good with cats or other pets

    2

  • Friendly with strangers

    1

  • Good as a service dog

    5

  • Good for apartments

    1

  • Barking level

    3

Appearance

  • Height

    24-30"

  • Size

    Extra large

  • Colors

    Harlequin, Black and rust, Black and tan, Gray black and tan

  • Coat texture

    Coarse

  • Coat length

    Medium, double, straight, close

Training

  • Trainability

    5

Exercise

  • Exercise needs

    4

  • Exercise time

    One hour daily

  • Mental exercise needs

    5

  • Favorite activities

    Herding, Schutzhund, obedience, tracking

Grooming

  • Grooming needs

    2

  • Brushing frequency

    Weekly

  • Needs professional grooming?

    No

  • Drooling level

    1

Health issues

  • Hip dysplasia

  • Dilated cardiomyopathy

  • Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV)

  • Other health issues

Other

  • Bred for

    Herding and guarding

  • Country of origin

    2

  • Popularity level

    2

FAQs

  • On Good Dog, you can search for Beauceron puppies or dogs in rescues and shelters. Adopting a Beauceron from a shelter or rescue is generally less expensive than buying a puppy from a breeder with ethical practices. Across the United States, there are dedicated rescues that specialize in specific breeds and may even help transport a Beauceron dog to you from another part of the country. Although it can be more cost-effective, adopting the exact breed you're looking for is typically more difficult than working with a responsible breeder. Learn more about adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue.

  • No, they usually bark only when they need to sound the alert or warn off intruders.

  • They are not considered aggressive, but they are considered protective—and sometimes there is a fine line. Poorly trained, they could cross that line. But overall, they are considered a very trustworthy breed in part because of their intelligence.

  • They can be excellent family dogs. However, there are probably better breeds for children and the elderly, as Beaucerons are very high-drive and may be overpowering. That said, they try to be gentle and are generally very considerate.

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