by Pia Oilinki /Translation: Ville Martikainen  


A versatile, multipurpose dog from French countryside, which herd sheep during day and guarded farms and protected animals from wolves by night.

Aside from vine-growing, has traditional sheep farming exceptionally kept it’s place as an income in French society to the present day.
According to the scientists, the roots of Beauceron extend to Canis familiaris palustris, the swampdog, which is considered to be the forefather of all shepherd dogs. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the shepherd dogs were classified as individual breeds, sorted out by requirements for farming duties.

On the year 1809 abbott Rozier stated in his agricultural textbook a classification of a long haired dog, which is known as the Brie Shepherd, and another short haired, warrior-type dog, which is "wise and fast enough to be able to persecute and assault wolves, is irreplaceable in forest and mountainous areas and furthermore, it can guard by night aswell".

It was in 1863, at the World Exhibition that Beauceron performed officially as a breed for the first time and the definition of the breed was approved. During the First and Second World War, Beaucerons bravely served their country by rescuing the wounded from the frontlines, detecting land mines and transporting supplies and messages.




Beauceron the Shepherd

It took no more than two Beaucerons to cover and control a three hundred-head herd. If necessary, it could also drive cattle. Beauceron knew the moves to make the herd go to a direction the dog wanted. Its vigilance, will to fight, initiative, and smart head mounted to a robust, strong built-body and natural will to herd made Beauceron invaluable assistant in daily farming life.

Times change, and agriculture with it. Nowdays, the tasks of a shepherd dog mainly include moving the herd from place to place but guarding duties are still priority, and Beauceron performs them with excellence.

The characteristics of the breed has also affected the breeding of dobermanns. When taxman Karl Luis Dobermann was trying to refine the most active, sharp and defensive dogs he also interbred french beauce shepherd dogs to the main hull.

The Beauceron as a breed itself has developed purely from an old shepherd dog root. France has the largest population of Beaucerons, which they foster vigorously. In the french special show for Beaucerons, a dog has to give an overall exellent performance to get the recommendation for breeding by the association.

A Beauceron is to protect itself and its owner, to be accessible as well as top notch in both structure and agility. The typical run for shepherd dog should be flying and distance-effective. Beauceron can under no circumstances be frightened of gunshots. The French have considered the dog especially as a worker and it has also gained respect as the aid of police force.

In the 1990’s the breed had spread all over Europe, as well as to the United States and Canada. Registration process has been swiftest in Belgium, but there’s also a lot been noted in Russia.

The first Beauceron landed in Finland also in the 90’s. Today, there are about 680 registered Beaucerons and an active breed association. As a versatile operating dog, the Beauceron fits outstandingly to national and international service dog genre competitions, agility competitions, obedience competitions and rescue dog activity.

In nutshell:

Country of origin: France
Purpose: Guarding shepherd dog
Average age: 11 years
Size: Males 65-70 cm, females 61-68 cm. An adult Beauceron can weight 35-55kg
Nature: Beauceron is an energetic, playful and brave dog. It needs consistent education. The best way to succeed is a rigorous and fair education combined with a great dose of tenderness. Beauceron might be suspicious of unfamiliar, so the socialization of the puppy is extremely important. Described in few words, Beauceron is a big-hearted “Countryside gentleman”!
Fur: Short, dense, rough, thick. Underhair is short, dense and subtle. The more the dog spends time outside, the thicker the hair will be.
Fur caring: Easy
Colors: Black with red-black marks or harlequin (blue-mottled with red-black marks)
Trainability: Beauceron is fairly easy to train for the sake of its good memory and intelligence. It’s a dynamic and active dog that uses its energy unsparing. It takes good nerves from the instructor to make results. Health: The breeds biggest health problems are related to bone development disorders and problems. Beaucerons have been part of the Pevisa –program since 1998.

More Info: Suomen Beauceron ry

Where can I get one of these:

f you’re looking forward for a Beauceron, first thing to do is to get familiar with the puppy’s parents: their character -as well as health records. To get puppies registered should both of their parents be hip- and elbow-joint checked.

The Beaceron association doesn’t have an official puppy dealer but you’ll find the breeders’ profiles and available litters on their site Suomen Beauceron ry By contacting the breeders you can get additional information about the litters and breed. The prize for a puppy is between 800-1000 euro.

If interested, should one observe the guarding, defending and herding attributes of the breed. As being a large dog, beauceron needs plenty of physical exercise and meaningful action. If the dog doesn’t have enough to do, it will make something up by itself. You could be surprised to find the sofa in the middle of hallway or drawers turned upside-down, windows opened when coming home from work… stories go on and on!

Puppy beaceron should be habituated to the life of modern society from the start. Appropriate and profound parenting makes sure that you have a pleasant, social and well-behaving dog beside you. The dog should be pointed and shown the way you want it to act. Beauceron will love its family till the end, and is happiest when working and playing with it’s own master.

All-Around hobby dog

Strong and fearless, wide-hearted and endearing! Beauceron has been given a nickname “countryside gentleman” for it’s character. It’s been described as spontaneous, outright and faithful companion. It’s longing for freedom and nature comes from the genes.

A beauceron is a versatile and clever dog. On the other hand it’s a bit troubling to live with such animal, as it figures how to open car windows, makes up ten different ways to escape from yard-cage, and how to overcome obstacles to get to the yummies.

It also takes care of it’s pack closely and the baby-sitting mother in-law will get a knock to the leg just for making sure that she’s really looking after the little one!


The dog also observes everything while pretending to sleep! If you have bought something that interests the dog, it will scavenge it out where ever it’s hidden while you’re out.

At times, high activity is extremely obnoxious. Sometimes it would be okay to go to bathroom alone, or to dress up for hike without someone stepping to your feet all the time.

Beauceron gets better by aging –like wine. It grows physically fast, but psychic development goes on for long time. The dog is “ready” around 3-4 years of age. The males particularly are more dominative, so it’s important that the hierarchy of the family is apparent.

Beauceron forms up by the habits of it’s family. It will adapt to the buzz of a metropolitan city, but is at it’s best when close to the nature.

For the sake of it’s durable structure, outstanding personality and wash & keep fur, the dog applies for most varied types of sport activities. They’ve seen to take the highest prizes in agility, pull-skiing, national service dog competitions and even some results from the protection division have been achieved. In France beaucerons are seen on the popular Ringsport –dogsport, on which the dogs guard the masters’ shopping basket, for example.

Beaucerons’ original endurance, stability, will to fight and ability to defend are all due to good nerves, which all are facts that should be emphased while educating the dog. A dog that has a defensive nature, but is incompetent won’t react nor take initiative easily, at which point it’s ability to conceptualize vanishes. Beauceron should be a fearless -not fearful- dog.

Beauceron has enough strength to play along all the time, even an age of ten years and over doesn’t slow it down. It is fun to do different types of activities with it, and it always has the will to remind the master about his/her own mistakes, by immediately learning the “wrong” way to do something! It’s a house dog, competitive mate, watchdog and showdog all in the same package!

Pia Oilinki

I had been searching for an active dog to play around with for a long time, and as myself being incapable to ramble in woods, I had to get a service dog. I browsed through many conventional breeds, but no! I had to get something more unique.

By chance I got hold of a DogFancy –magazine, in which there was a breed introduction. Seeing the profile of a "countryside gentleman", I immediately fell in love with its rugged essence.
I paid a visit to couple of breeders to see Beaucerons and as I saw my dog’s mom at a show, I immediately knew that she’s the one I want puppy from.

Lula became part of our family 12 years ago and since had tried agility, search & rescue, wood trace and as well as protection in Hungary.
She was a great teacher and always ready to work.

Our obedience educator Tuula always admired "grandma-Lula’s" working spirit. Special thanks to Tuula!

My first litter was born on the year 2000, and Lula’s son Slyan Andi has gorgeously followed his mom’s pawsteps. With Andi we have been competing in wood tracing, and even has the boy done well in the Special Beauceron Breed Show in France!

Beauceron is ready to do everything with you all the time, and loves you even if you come home “green” some day. I’ve found the same faithfulness and affection in beauceron that I remember the classic Lassie movies did so unforgettably portray .

As our family grew bigger it has been a fun for everyone, as there is ever now and then someone giving extra yummies and always someone to throw the ball!
The biggest joy for our dogs is to slide down a hill during winter and summer and don’t even think of going to sauna without couple of beaucerons! Keeping humor in mind, life with a beauceron is joy everyday!







Beauceron-links:

Suomen Beauceron ry.
Kasvattajia maailmalla
About Beaucerons
von der Happy Horse Farm
Amouraudiere
Kennel du Temple de Feu
Vanessa LeNormand
Club des Amis du Beauceron

Andi and Vanja