Appearance

The Beauceron is a very powerful and well-built dog. The neck is muscular and the powerful body has a straight topline, a broad chest and deep, well-sprung ribs. The legs are muscular and straight, the feet are strong and rounded with hard pads and double dew claws on the hind legs, and the tail is carried low and is slightly feathered. The head is long and flat with a slight furrow between the eyes, and the eyes themselves are dark ovals with a direct and fearless stare. The ears are quite long and drop, although sometimes these are cropped, and the muzzle is in equal length to the skull. This is a strong dog, and even the Doberman is hard pressed to match its physique and jaw strength.

History

Dating back to Renaissance-era France, the Beauceron has spent centuries herding sheep and cattle on European farms. Known mainly in France, the Beauceron is the shorthaired relation of its longhaired cousin the Berger de Brie (Briard).