Beauceron

The Beauceron is native to Northern France where they were originally bred as herding and guarding dogs. They are handsome large dogs that over time have proved themselves to be a great choice not only as working dogs but as companions and family pets too. Beaucerons are extremely intelligent and high energy characters and therefore need to be given the right amount of daily exercise combined with as much mental stimulation as possible for them to be truly happy well-rounded dogs.

Although still highly regarded in France the Beauceron remains a bit of an unknown here in the UK as such anyone wishing to share a home with one of these proud and noble dogs would need to register their interest with a breeder and then be put on waiting list because very few pedigree puppies are registered with The Kennel Club every year. With this said well-bred Beauceron puppies can often command a lot of money and waiting lists with breeders tend to be quite long.

Native to France and the Beauce region which lies around Paris the Beauceron is an ancient French breed and the largest of all their native sheepdogs. They were solely bred and developed in France with no other breeds having been introduced into the mix which means they are one of the “purest” and most natural European breeds around. The first written record of the breed is thought to date back to 1578. They were bred as herding and guarding dogs but are described as being a “general-purpose” breed with a natural ability and instinct to guard and protect both flocks of sheep and cattle as well as properties and their owners.

In 1882 the Société Central Canine was established with the first Beauceron known as a Berger de Beauce being registered in 1893 which was a dog called Bergere de la Chappelle. At the end of the century a man called Pierre Megnin separated the Beauceron from the Shepherd of the Brie and with the help of Emmanuel Ball began to establish a standard for the breed. The Club des Amis du Beauceron was founded in 1922.

Beaucerons were used by the French military during both the First and Second World War because they were so intelligent and eager to learn. They were known to follow commands without the slightest hesitation which made them valuable assets for the army more especially when messages needed to be sent along the frontline. They were also used to track down people detect landmines and to guard military posts.

It was in the sixties that the French Ministry of Agriculture laid down laws to protect the Beauceron because there was a scare that the breed might disappear thanks to different needs of modern day life. Thanks to the versatility and adaptable nature of the Beauceron the breed soon became more popular both as family pets and companions in their native France. In 1965 the breed standard was updated which was for the 5th time in over 100 years and then again in 2001 the standard was updated once again.

It is worth noting that the Beauceron is one of the breeds used to create the Dobermann and for centuries these noble dogs have been highly regarded in France not only as guard dogs but as working and sporting dogs too. They were popular in Northern France as well as in Beauce and the breed is closely linked to the Briard with both dogs having double dew claws on their back legs.

Although these proud noble and intelligent dogs had arrived on British shores prior to 1995 they were reintroduced that year although the first Beauceron was only exhibited at a Westminster Kennel Club event in 2008. Today the breed remains a bit on an unknown in the UK although with the advent of the internet more information is available and Beauceron numbers are rising albeit slowly. As such anyone wanting to share a home with a Beauceron would need to register their interest with breeders for the pleasure of doing so.

Interesting facts about the breed

• Is the Beauceron a vulnerable breed? No although they are quite rare in the UK and as such waiting lists with breeders tend to be long with well-bred puppies often commanding a lot of money
• The Beauceron is an ancient French breed that dates back to the 15th Century and it is thought they are among one of the “purest” breeds around
• The breed was highly prized during both World Wars when they were used by the military as “messenger” dogs and to detect mines and as trackers
• The army and the police have also favoured using Beaucerons over more recent times and the breed is still used in France and other countries of the world
• The first Beaucerons were imported to the UK in 1990 with the male being Fripon du Plessis Saint Loup and the female being Fleur du Domaine Saint Guillaume
• The first Beauceron to be exhibited in the UK was in 1998
• Beaucerons are known to have incredibly memories
• The breed is closely related to other French breeds namely the Briard and the Berger de Brie
• The Beauceron and the Briard have double dew claws on their hind legs

Height at the withers: Males 66 - 71 cm Females 64 - 66 cm

Average weight: Males 32 - 50 kg Females 32 - 50 kg

The Beauceron is a large noble and handsome dog that boasts a coat colouring very similar to that of a Dobermann namely a striking black and tan coat. They are in fact one of the foundation breeds used to create the Dobermann. Their heads are nicely in proportion to their bodies with dogs boasting a slightly rounded skull and a bit of a furrow between their eyes. The back of their heads (occiput) are well defined with dogs having a moderate stop about halfway between the occiput and the tip of their noses which adds to their proud and noble appearance. They have strong muzzles and dark oval shaped medium sized eyes that boast well pigmented rims. Their eyes are set horizontally on their heads.

Ears are set nicely on a dog's head dropping down to it. The Beauceron has a strong jaw with a perfect scissor bite where their upper teeth neatly overlap their lower ones. Their necks are extremely muscular and they merge smoothly into a dog's shoulders which helps the Beauceron carry their heads proudly. Shoulders are muscular with a nice angulation to them with dogs having well defined withers and briskets that reach down to their elbows. Chests are deep and wide with dogs boasting strong muscular front legs that show a moderate amount of bone.

Their bodies are firm and well-muscled with dogs having nice level backs and well sprung long ribs. Loins are wide and extremely well-muscled. Their croup is slightly sloping to the base of a dog's tail. Females tend to be slightly longer in the body than their male counterparts. Their back legs are strong powerful and well-muscled with dogs boasting double dewclaws that are set close to their back feet. A Beauceron has strong round feet with black nails and hard yet supple paw pads. They carry their tails low but straight.

When it comes to their coat the Beauceron boasts having a double coat that consists of short hair on their heads but on their body the hair is short rougher and that much thicker and coarser. They have a slight breeching both under the tail on the back of their thighs. Their undercoat is fine soft short and dense which ideally has to be a light grey colour but this should not show through a dog's topcoat. Accepted breed colours for Kennel Club registration are as follows:

• Black and tan
• Tricolour

It is worth noting that the accepted breed colours for Kennel Club registration can differ from those set out in the breed standard which are as follows:

• Black and tan with rich bright markings. Dogs have tan above their eyes on the side of their muzzles which narrows to their cheeks but never going under the ears. They have 2 spots on their forechests with marks on their throats under tails and on feet that goes right up to their hocks and pasterns. Their leg markings narrow upwards on the outside of their legs that blend on the inside of their legs. Dogs can have some white hairs on their chests which is allowed under the Kennel Club breed standard
• Tricolour with a dogs coat being grey black and tan. Coats can have grey and black patches evenly distributed over body with more black than grey and tan markings are the same as Black and Tan.

Gait/movement

When a Beauceron moves they do so with a supple effortless gait showing tremendous reach and lots of drive from behind.

Faults

The Kennel Club frowns on any exaggerations or departures from the breed standard and would judge the faults on how much they affect a dog's overall health and wellbeing as well as their ability to perform.

Males should have both testicles fully descended into their scrotums and it is worth noting that a dog can be a little lighter or heavier as well as slightly taller or shorter than set out in the Kennel Club breed standard which is only given as a guideline.

The Beauceron is known as a calm intelligent and gentle dog and one that enjoys being in a family environment. They are agile athletic and brave becoming totally devoted to their families and children. They can be a little wary and aloof around people they don’t already know but rarely would a Beauceron show any sort of aggression towards strangers preferring to just keep their distance until they get to know someone.

Beaucerons mature slowly which has to be taken into account during their training. These handsome dogs don't really reach their full mental maturity until they are around 3 years old. With this said they are intelligent dogs and therefore in the right hands and in the right environment they are easy to train but because they mature so slowly it's important that their education not be rushed but rather broken down into shorter sessions that are fun and which keep a Beauceron focused. Long repetitive training sessions do not suit these dogs because they would not only find them tiring but boring too.

They are not the best choice for first time owners unless the person is prepared to dedicate a lot of time to satisfy the needs of such a high energy intelligent dog. However they make wonderful family pets for people who lead active outdoor lives and in households where at least one person remains at home when everyone else is out. They do not answer well to any sort of harsh correction or heavy-handed training methods. However they do respond well to positive reinforcement which gets the best results from these sensitive intelligent dogs.

Are they a good choice for first time owners?

Beaucerons are not the best choice for novice dog owners because they must be socialised handled and trained by people who are familiar with their specific needs. They must know who the alpha dog is in a household for them to be well-balanced and to prevent them from showing a more dominant side to their natures.

What about prey drive?

Beaucerons have a high prey drive and would be quick off the mark when it comes to chasing anything that tries to run away from them or which they perceive as being a threat to their families. As such care should always be taken as to where and when a dog can run off the lead more especially if there is wildlife and/or livestock close by. However a well-trained Beauceron would always be just as quick to obey a command they are given by their owners which would prevent them running off.

What about playfulness?

An adult mature Beauceron is never overly busy because they take things quite seriously. With this said a younger Beauceron right up to when they are 2 or 3 years old tends to be more playful and boisterous which means they need to be kept busy to be truly happy well-behaved dogs. They excel at all sorts of canine sports which includes activities like Schutzhund obedience agility and tracking to name but a few of the things Beaucerons enjoy doing.

What about adaptability?

Beaucerons are better suited to households with secure well-fenced back gardens a dog can safely roam in whenever possible to really let off steam. They love being given something to do which in short means they would not be happy being cooped up in an apartment for any length of time.

What about separation anxiety?

Beaucerons hate being left on their own and suffer from separation anxiety when they are left to their own devices for longer periods of time which is why they much better suited to people who are familiar with the breed and who live active outdoor lives.

What about excessive barking?

A Beauceron typically only barks for a very good reason which is why they make such wonderful watchdogs.

Do Beaucerons like water?

Most Beaucerons love swimming and will take to the water whenever they can more especially when the weather is hot. However if anyone who owns a dog that does not like water should never force them to go in because it would just end up scaring them. With this said care should always be taken when walking a dog off the lead anywhere near more dangerous watercourses just in case a dog decides to leap in and then needs rescuing because they cannot get out of the water on their own. It is also very important to thoroughly dry a dog’s coat off once they have been swimming to prevent any allergies from flaring up.

Are Beaucerons good watchdogs?

Beaucerons are natural watchdogs and do not need to be trained to protect because it’s a trait that is deeply embedded in a dog’s psyche. They are courageous bold and would readily take on anything they deem to be a threat which they do very seriously.

As previously mentioned the Beauceron is an intelligent dog but they mature very slowly not reaching full mental maturity until they are around 3 years old which needs to be taken into account when training them. In the right hands and with the correct amount of early socialisation and training a Beauceron is a quick learner and they thoroughly enjoy the one-to-one connection they have with their owners during a training session.

As such they excel at many canine sports which includes activities like flyball agility and obedience competitions to name but three of the sports the Beauceron is known to enjoy taking part in. However they need to know their place in the pack and who is the alpha dog in a household for them to be truly obedient dogs. A Beauceron is never happier than when they know who they can look to for direction and when they understand what their owners expect of them.

Like all puppies Beaucerons are incredibly cute when young and it is all too easy to spoil them when they first arrive in new homes. As soon as a puppy is nicely settled owners must start out as they mean to go on by laying down ground rules and boundaries so that a puppy understands what is expected of them. It helps establish a pecking order and who the alpha dog is in the household. The first commands a puppy should be taught are as follows:

• Come
• Sit
• Stay
• Heel
• Quiet
• Leave it
• Down
• Bed

Because the Beauceron boasts such a kind and placid nature they make good family pets and fit in well in a family environment loving nothing more than to be included in everything that goes on in a household. However they are large dogs and as such any interaction between the children and a Beauceron should always be well supervised by an adult to make sure playtime does not get too boisterous which could end up with someone getting frightened or hurt.

If well socialised early enough in their lives the Beauceron generally gets on well with other dogs. However unless they have grown up with a cat in a household care should always be taken when they are around other cats and smaller pets.

The average life expectancy of a Beauceron is between 10 and 14 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate good quality diet to suit their ages.

Like so many other breeds the Beauceron is known to suffer from a few hereditary health issues which are worth knowing about if you are planning share your home with one of these active handsome dogs. The conditions that seem to affect the breed the most include the following:

• Hip dysplasia – dogs must be hip scored through the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) – dogs should be eye tested by a BVA registered vet
• Cataracts
• Entropion(Eyelids Folding Inwards )
• Ectropion( Eyelids Roll Outwards )
• Hypothyroidism
• Osteochondritis
• Panosteitis
• Von Willebrand’s disease
• Cancer
• Allergies
• Bloat/gastric torsion

What about vaccinations?

Beauceron puppies would have been given their initial vaccinations before being sold but it is up to their new owners to make sure they have their follow-up shots in a timely manner with the vaccination schedule for puppies being as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

There has been a lot of discussion about the need for dogs to have boosters. As such it's best to talk to a vet before making a final decision on whether a dog should continue to have annual vaccinations which are known as boosters.

What about spaying and neutering?

A lot of vets these days recommend waiting until dogs are slightly older before spaying and neutering them which means they are more mature before undergoing the procedures. As such they advise neutering males and spaying females when they are between the ages of 6 to 9 months old and sometimes even when a dog is 12 months old.

Other vets recommend spaying and neutering dogs when they are 6 months old but never any earlier unless for medical reasons. With this said many breeds are different and it is always advisable to discuss things with a vet and then follow their advice on when a dog should be spayed or neutered.

What about obesity problems?

As with other breeds some Beauceron gain weight after they have been spayed or neutered and it's important to keep an eye on a dog's waistline just in case they do. If a dog starts to put on weight it's important to adjust their daily calorie intake and to up the amount of exercise they are given. Older dogs too are more prone to gaining weight and again it's essential they be fed and exercised accordingly because obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years. The reason being that it puts a lot of extra strain on a dog's internal organs including the heart which could prove fatal.

What about allergies?

Beaucerons are prone to suffering from allergies and it's important for a dog to see a vet sooner rather than later if one flares up. Allergies can be notoriously hard to clear up and finding the triggers can be challenging. With this said a vet would be able to make a dog with an allergy more comfortable while they try to find out the triggers which could include the following:

• Certain dog foods that contain high levels of grains and other cereal-type fillers
• Airborne pollens
• Dust mites
• Environment
• Flea and tick bites
• Chemicals found in everyday household cleaning products

Participating in health schemes

All responsible Beauceron breeders would ensure that their stud dogs are tested for known hereditary and congenital health issues known to affect the breed by using the following schemes:

• Hip Dysplasia scheme with the breed’s mean score being 11 but parent dog’s score should be lower
• Eye Scheme

What about breed specific breeding restrictions?

Apart from the standard breeding restrictions that are in place for all Kennel Club registered breeds as of July 2010 the Kennel Club no longer registers Beauceron puppies that are whelped from tricolour to tricolour parents because of the health issues that are associated with the gene responsible for them being tricolour which can negatively impact a dog’s sight and hearing.

What about Assured Breeder Requirements?

It is mandatory for all Kennel Club Assured Breeders to use the following health scheme on stud dogs and all other breeders are strongly advised to follow suit:

• BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme

The Kennel Club also strongly recommends that all breeders follow KC breeding guidelines which are as follows:

• Bitches should not produce more than a single litter in any 12-month period
• Bitches under the age of 2 years must not to produce a litter
• No puppy should leave breeders before they are 8 weeks old

The Kennel Club also strongly advises that all breeders use the following scheme on stud dogs:

• Eye testing

It is worth noting that the Kennel Club breed average COI for the Beauceron currently stands at 0.6%.

As with any other breed Beaucerons need to be groomed on a regular basis to make sure their coats and skin are kept in top condition. They also need to be given regular daily exercise to ensure they remain fit and healthy. On top of this dogs need to be fed good quality food that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives.

Caring for a Beauceron puppy

Beauceron puppies are boisterous and full of life which means it's essential for homes and gardens to be puppy-proofed well in advance of their arrival. A responsible breeder would have well socialised their puppies which always leads to more outgoing confident and friendly dogs right from the word go. With this said any puppy is going to feel vulnerable when they leave their mother and littermates which must be taken into account. The longer a puppy can remain with their mother the better although it should never be for too long either.

It's best to pick a puppy up when people are going to be around for the first week or so which is the time needed for a puppy to settle in. Puppy-proofing the home and garden means putting away any tools and other implements that a boisterous puppy might injure themselves on. Electric wires and cables must be put out of their reach because puppies love chewing on things. Toxic plants should be removed from flowerbeds and the home too.

Puppies need to sleep a lot to grow and develop as they should which means setting up a quiet area that's not too out of the way means they can retreat to it when they want to nap and it's important not to disturb them when they are sleeping. It's also a good idea to keep "playtime" nice and calm inside the house and to have a more active "playtime" outside in the garden which means puppies quickly learn to be less boisterous when they are inside.

The documentation a breeder provides for a puppy must have all the details of their worming date and the product used as well as the information relating to their microchip. It is essential for puppies to be wormed again keeping to a schedule which is as follows:

• Puppies should be wormed at 6 months old
• They need to be wormed again when they are 8 months old
• Puppies should be wormed when they are 10 months old
• They need to be wormed when they are 12 months old

Things you'll need for your puppy

There are certain items that new owners need to already have in the home prior to bringing a new puppy home. It's often a good idea to restrict how much space a puppy plays in more especially when you can't keep an eye on what they get up to bearing in mind that puppies are often quite boisterous which means investing in puppy gates or a large enough playpen that allows a puppy the room to express themselves while keeping them safe too. The items needed are therefore as follows:

• Good quality puppy or baby gates to fit on doors
• A good well-made playpen that's large enough for a puppy to play in so they can really express themselves as puppies like to do
• Lots of well-made toys which must include good quality chews suitable for puppies to gnaw on bearing in mind that a puppy will start teething anything from when they are 3 to 8 months old
• Good quality feed and water bowls which ideally should be ceramic rather than plastic or metal
• A grooming glove
• A slicker brush or soft bristle brush
• Dog specific toothpaste and a toothbrush
• Scissors with rounded ends
• Nail clippers
• Puppy shampoo and conditioner which must be specifically formulated for use on dogs
• A well-made dog collar or harness
• A couple of strong dog leads
• A well-made dog bed that's not too small or too big
• A well-made dog crate for use in the car and in the home that's large enough for a puppy to move around in
• Baby blankets to put in your puppy's crate and in their beds for when they want to nap or go to sleep at night

Keeping the noise down

All puppies are sensitive to noise including Beauceron puppies. It's important to keep the noise levels down when a new puppy arrives in the home. TVs and music should not be played too loud which could end up stressing a small puppy out making them withdrawn timid and shy.

Keeping vet appointments

As previously mentioned Beauceron puppies would have been given their first vaccinations by the breeders but they must have their follow up shots which is up to their new owners to organise. The vaccination schedule for puppies is as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would only be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

When it comes to boosters it's best to discuss these with a vet because there is a lot of debate about whether a dog really needs them after a certain time. However if a dog ever needed to go into kennels their vaccinations would need to be fully up to date.

What about older Beauceron when they reach their senior years?

Older Beauceron need lots of special care because as they reach their golden years they are more at risk of developing certain health concerns. Physically a dog's muzzle may start to go grey but there will be other noticeable changes too which includes the following:

• Coats become coarser
• A loss of muscle tone
• They can either become overweight or underweight
• They have reduced strength and stamina
• Older dogs have difficulty regulating their body temperature
• They often develop arthritis
• Immune systems do not work as efficiently as they once did which means dogs are more susceptible to infections
• Older dogs change mentally too which means their response time tends to be slower as such they develop the following:
• They respond less to external stimuli due to impaired vision or hearing
• They tend to be a little pickier about their food
• They have a lower pain threshold
• Become intolerant of any change
• Often an older dog can feel disorientated

Living with a Beauceron in their golden years means taking on a few more responsibilities but these are easily managed and should include looking at their diet the amount of exercise they are given how often their dog beds need changing and keeping an eye on the condition of their teeth.

Older dogs need to be fed a good quality diet that meets their needs at this stage of their lives all the while keeping a close eye on a dog's weight. A rough feeding guide for older dogs is as follows bearing in mind they should be fed highly digestible food that does not contain any additives:

• Protein content should be anything from 14 – 21%
• Fat content should be less than 10%
• Fibre content should be less than 4%
• Calcium content should be 0.5 – 0.8%
• Phosphorous content should be 0.4 – 0.7%
• Sodium content should be 0.2 – 0.4%

Older Beauceron don't need the same amount of daily exercise as a younger dog but they still need the right amount of physical activity to maintain muscle tone and to prevent a dog from putting on too much weight. All dogs need access to fresh clean water and this is especially true of older dogs when they reach their golden years because they are more at risk of developing kidney disorders.

The Beauceron boasts having a coarse thick double coat which they shed throughout the year. As such they need to be brushed every week to keep their coats tidy and to remove any shed hair. Like other breeds they tend to shed the most during the Spring and then again in the Autumn when more frequent grooming is generally needed to keep on top of things and any shed hair off the furniture.

It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.

The Beauceron is an athletic high energy dog and as such they need to be given the right amount of daily exercise combined with as much mental stimulation as possible to be truly happy well-rounded dogs. Ideally a Beauceron needs 2 hour's exercise a day but the more the better. They excel at all sorts of canine sports which includes agility trials obedience competitions flyball as well as herding and tracking events all of which are activities they thoroughly enjoy.

A shorter walk in the morning would be fine but a longer more interesting one in the afternoon is a must. These dogs also like to be able to roam around a back garden as often as possible so they can really let off steam. However the fencing has to be extremely secure to keep these energetic handsome dogs in because if they find a weakness in the fence they will soon escape out and get into all sorts of trouble.

With this said Beauceron puppies should not be over exercised because their joints and bones are still growing and too much pressure on them could result in causing a dog a few problems later on in their lives. They should not be allowed to jump up or off furniture nor should they be allowed to run up and down the stairs for this very reason.

If you get a Beauceron puppy from a breeder they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.

Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day once in the morning and then again in the evening making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.

Because the Beauceron is prone to suffer from bloat it is really important that they be fed twice a day instead of giving them just one larger meal a day. It's also a good idea to invest in a stand to place their feed bowl which makes it easier for these large dogs to eat comfortably without having to stretch their necks down low to reach their food. Dogs should never be exercised just before or just after they have eaten either because this puts them more a risk of suffering from bloat.

Feeding guide for a Beauceron puppy

Puppies need to be fed a highly nutritious good quality diet for them to develop and grow as they should. As a rough guide a Beauceron puppy can be fed the following amounts every day making sure their meals are evenly spread out throughout the day and it's best to feed them 3 or 4 times a day:

• 2 months old - 274g to 332g depending on puppy's build
• 3 months old - 344g to 428g depending on puppy's build
• 4 months old - 374g to 470g depending on puppy's build
• 5 months old - 413g to 552g depending on puppy's build
• 6 months old - 450g to 624g depending on puppy's build
• 7 months old - 450g to 625g depending on puppy's build
• 8 months old - 419g to 621g depending on puppy's build
• 9 months old - 391g to 581g depending on puppy's build
• 10 months old - 356g to 545g depending on puppy's build
• 11 months old - 323g to 500g depending on puppy's build
• 12 months old - 321g to 458g depending on puppy's build
• 13 months old - 320g to 455g depending on puppy's build
• 14 months old - 318g to 461g depending on puppy's build

Once a puppy is 15 months old they can be fed adult dog food.

Feeding guide for an adult Beauceron

Once fully mature an adult Beauceron should be fed a good quality diet to ensure their continued good health. As a rough guide an adult dog can be fed the following amounts every day:

• Dogs weighing 32 kg can be fed 322g to 424g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 40 kg can be fed 381g to 501g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 45 kg can be fed 409g to 538g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 50 kg can be fed 434g to 473g depending on activity

If you are looking to buy a Beauceron because there are so few puppies available every year you may have to ask to be put on a breeder's waiting list. You would need to pay anything upwards of £600 for a well-bred pedigree puppy. The cost of insuring a male 3-year-old Beauceron in northern England would be £60.41 a month for basic cover but for a lifetime policy this would set you back £106.34 a month (quote as of October 2018). When insurance companies calculate a pet's premium they factor in several things which includes where you live in the UK and a dog's age and whether they have been neutered or spayed amongst other things.

When it comes to food costs you need to buy the best quality food whether wet or dry to feed your dog throughout their lives making sure it suits the different stages of their lives. This would set you back between £40 - £50 a month. On top of this you would need to factor in veterinary costs if you want to share your home with a Beauceron and this includes their initial vaccinations their annual boosters the cost of neutering or spaying your dog when the time is right and their yearly health checks all of which quickly adds up to over £1500 a year.

As a rough guide the average cost to keep and care for a Beauceron would be between £110 to £160 a month depending on the level of insurance cover you opt to buy for your dog but this does not include the initial cost of buying a healthy well-bred Kennel Club registered pedigree Beauceron puppy.

When visiting and buying any puppy or dog there are many important things to consider and questions to ask of the breeder/seller. You can read our generic puppy/dog advice here which includes making sure you see the puppy with its mother and to verify that the dog has been wormed and microchipped.

Finding well-bred Beauceron puppies can prove challenging with waiting lists being long and they can often command a lot of money. As such with Beaucerons there is specific advice questions and protocols to follow when buying a puppy which are as follows:

• There are many online and other adverts showing images of adorable Beauceron puppies for sale. However the sellers ask buyers for money up front before agreeing to deliver a puppy to a new home. Potential buyers should never buy a puppy unseen and should never pay a deposit to a seller before collecting a puppy from them
• As previously touched upon not many Beauceron puppies are bred and registered with the Kennel Club every year and as such some amateur breeders/people breed from a dam far too often so they can make a quick profit without caring for the welfare of the puppies their dam or the breed in general. Under Kennel Club rules a dam can only produce 4 litters and she must be between a certain age to do so. Anyone wishing to buy a Beauceron puppy should think very carefully about who they purchase their puppy from and should always ask to see the relevant paperwork pertaining to a puppy's lineage their vaccinations and their microchipping
• Prospective owners should be prepared to answer lots of questions from responsible Beauceron breeders. They should also ask lots of questions and check to see that when breeders advertise their puppies they put a lot of focus on the temperament and health of their dogs