Breed library

Beauceron

Also known as Bas rouge, Beaucenpaimenkoira, Berger de Beauce, Boseron, Boseronas, Cane da pastore di Beauce, Pastor de Beauce.

Beauceron photograph.
BeauceronStand.jpg - Stefan Schmitz. CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BeauceronStand.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en. License: CC BY-SA 3.0 de.

Breed overview

The Beauceron is a herding dog breed originating from the plains of Central France. The Beauceron is also known as Berger de Beauce (, sheepdog from Beauce) or Bas Rouge (, red-stockings).

  • Breed classification: herding dogBreed reference breed group.
  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: FranceBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • In modern France, it is used as a guard or police dog, and as of 1989 was still a popular sheep dog.
  • The Beauceron is a herding dog breed originating from the plains of Central France.
  • The Beauceron is also known as Berger de Beauce (, sheepdog from Beauce) or Bas Rouge (, red-stockings).
  • The harlequin coats should have more black than gray with no white.
  • In the black and tan dogs the tan markings should appear in two dots above the eyes, on the sides of the muzzle, fading off to the cheeks, but do not reach the underside of the ears.

Size and appearance

This breed stands 61 to 70 cm in height and weighs 30 to 45 kg The Beauceron has a hard outer coat and a woolly undercoat that grows thick in cold weather, especially if the dog sleeps outdoors. Its standard colouring is black and tan (the latter colour referred to in French as rouge ecureuil, squirrel-red) or, less frequently, grey, black and tan called harlequin. Other colours, such as the once prevalent tawny, grey or grey/black, are now banned by the breed standard. The harlequin coats should have more black than gray with no white. In the black and tan dogs the tan markings should appear in two dots above the eyes, on the sides of the muzzle, fading off to the cheeks, but do not reach the underside of the ears. Also on the throat, under the tail and on the legs and the chest. Tan markings on the chest should appear as two spots but a chest plate is acceptable. Ear cropping is no longer allowed in most countries.

  • Height reference: 61 - 68 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 61 - 68 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 61 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
  • Height reference: Up to 68 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
  • Height reference: 65 - 70 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 65 - 70 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: Up to 70 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.
  • Height reference: 65 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: smooth
  • Height category: very_tall
  • Height category: tall

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 2.37 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 1.64 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.45 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.26 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 2.97 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 1.77 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.35 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.34 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.03 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.40 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.39 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.35 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.42 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 3.07 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population Beauceron.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: smooth

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

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Breed history

The breed originated as a herding dog in France. It was first mentioned in 1587, and named as the "Berger de Beauce" in 1809. The first breed club was formed in 1911. During WWII, it was employed as a military dog. In modern France, it is used as a guard or police dog, and as of 1989 was still a popular sheep dog.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  2. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  3. Beauceron - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Beauceron, revision 1370297072. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beauceron&action=history
  4. File:BeauceronStand.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0 de. BeauceronStand.jpg - Stefan Schmitz. CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BeauceronStand.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.