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History
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 Beauceron is a dog of the lupoid type. The earliest record so far found of what is
thought to be this breed dates back to a renaissance manuscript of 1578. In
1809, the abbey Rozier reported plain dogs destined
for guarding flocks and herd. In 1863, Pierre Megnin
differentiated with precision two types of these sheepdogs: one with a long
coat (The Berger de Brie "Briard") and
the other with a short coat (the Berger de Beauce
"Beauceron"). They are used extensively
on farms in France to herd sheep and in
some cases cattle. Of the many sheep herding dogs in France, the Beauceron is the preferred choice.
Breed Standard
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.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size: males 25½ to 27½ inches; bitches 24 to 26½ 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.
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 ½ the length of the head always straight and covered with short
hair.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
Approved: June 11, 2001
Effective: September 1, 2001
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