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| Beauceron |
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The irony of the Beauceron! Among breeds with cropped ears the Beauceron stands out as a breed who's fanciers will prefer the mutilation of a crop over the natural ear (natural ear pictured). Even more ironic since the argument of most breeds for cropping is due to fighting other carnivores. Instead, the Beauceron was bred to herd. How many dogs have had an ear removed by a sheep? Would cropping even protect the ear in that event? Regardless, the path becomes even more confusing when you realize that the Beauceron of today shares little in temperament with the other Herding dogs we are most familiar with. Instead, its imposing nature couples it with other confident and intelligent breeds like the Doberman, Rottweiler and German Shepherd. It is a sensitive dog easily misdirected by the inexperienced dog owner. Wise and bold as described, no dog will accomplish this lofty expectation without the sure guidance of a very knowledgable dog person. Be cautious of a source for Beauceron that doesn't thoroughly screen for dog experience which should include some performance and titling work. |
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| General Information |
| Group(s):
Herding |
Height: 24-27.5 inches |
| Weight: 70-105 pounds |
Longevity: about 10 years |
| Colors: Black/tan or tricolor |
Coat type: smooth and slightly harsh |
| Recognized Registries: FCI, NCA |
| Overall Appearance: Imposing dog of neither too fine or too heavy construction. Powerful and agile. |
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| Personaility - Behavior - Training |
| Energy Level: very high |
| General Nature: |
demanding, intelligent and confident, this is not a breed to make assumptions about |
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with Children: can be excellent or horrible, depends in guidance and behavior of the child |
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with other pets: can be good or not, again much is determined by environment |
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with dogs: dependent on the social skills and confidence of the dog, purely a result of a proper upbringing and training |
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| Socialization requirements: very high |
| Ideal home characteristics: One that is dedicated to raising a dog that is smarter than most people. Attention must be taken in every detail. |
| Temperament Notes: Perhaps one of the most finely tuned of the dog world. A home making too many mistakes will create a neurotic mess and home of skill and knowledge will create a marvel that everyone will want. |
| Training requirement: very high among the highest in the canine world |
| Trainer notes: So many people meet a well trained dog, the living equivalent it seems to Rin Tin Tin or other inherently "Heroic Dogs" and immediately believe it is the dog for them. Instead, the Beauceron is a dog of remarkable potential. Born with drives and inclinations that can be (in terms of a fantasy novel) turned for good or evil, the Beauceron CANNOT raise itself. The only home suitable for a Beauceron will be able to dedicate blocks of time daily to its guidance, training and socialization as well as spending minimal amounts of time away from the dog. If it sounds like the dog is only suitable to be owned by highly experienced, trained and professional dog folks, that could be true. Too many wonderful Beauceron puppies are raised into neurotic, difficult and aggressive dogs by those who are gone most of the day pursuing careers and incorrectly training the dog. This dog is not able to resolve the conflicts of mixed signals, being given the keys to the car and then being told not to drive it, will not work. In many ill suited homes, the Beauceron rules the roost and the people don't even understand what happened. |
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| Background Information |
| Year range of first recognition: First documented in 1587 |
| Country of Origin: France |
| Original Function: Herding |
| History: Developed exclusively in France as a talented herding dog. |
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| Adoption Information |
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| Deviations from Standard: too heavy, too refined |
| Health Notes: hip dysplasia, eye problems including PRA, CPRA and others, bloat, |
| Health Testing: OFA, CERF, |
| Questions to ask Breeder: http://www.digitaldog.com/breeder_questions.html - The Breeder Questions as listed here provided with explanations and answers you will want to be looking for!
How long have you had Beaucerons?
Why do you have Beaucerons (show, performance, hunting, etc.)?
What do you consider to be the most important single characteristic of a Beauceron?
What health issues have you seen in the breed?
What criteria do you set for your breeding stock?
Do you plan to keep a puppy from this litter?
How often do you have puppies?
Do you have a written contract and puppy guarantee?
At what age do you sent your pups to their homes?
How would you describe the ideal Beauceron?
How would you describe the ideal Beauceron home?
Are your puppies whelped in your home?
What advice would you offer someone in raising and training a Beauceron? |
| Web Sites: Check out Calypso! Our model Beauceron is a natural eared example of the breed currently seeking a home with PACC of Virginia!
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=2106782
http://www.beauce.org/rescue.htm- Beauceron Rescue Contact
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| Other Resources |
| Breed standard: |
http://www.beauce.org/Standard.htm- Standard of the Beauceron Club of America clearly stating that in competition among equals, the cropped ear is to win over a natural ear. When judging is for the purpose of finding exceptional breeding stock, how can a cropped ear (man made) be a criteria at all? |
| Breeder Ethics: |
http://www.beauce.org/Ethics.htm- Code of Ethics for the Beauceron Club of North America |
| Other: |
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