BEAUCERON

APPEARANCE - The Beauceron is a large solid animal with a powerful, muscular build, yet without heaviness. The coat is short, thick and course and comes in either Black & Tan or the rarer harlequin (grey, black & tan). The standard allows for either cropped or uncropped ears. The tail is long and not docked. The unigue characteristic of the breed is the double dewclaws on the inside of the hind legs which are required by breed standards. Males range from 25 1/2\" to 27 1/2\" weighting up to 110 ibs. while females are 24 1/2\" to 26 3/4\" ranging in weight from 80 to 90 lbs. -- TEMPERAMENT - The Beauceron\'s intellegence is manifested in its good and rapid comprehension of its master\'s desires and senitivity to its master\'s moods. This psychic sort of bond with its owner is considered by some to be nonsense, but many Beauceron owners speak of it as a fact. Beaucerons are noted for their excellent memory and instinct to guard all persons, property and animals of their home. Their principal qualities are obedience, vigilance, calmness, courage, hardiness and patience. Their temperament is wise and bold, fearless and always ready for work. The Beauceron is always ready to intervene in a situation, its stern apperance commands respect, and yet the dog will keep calm and only intervene when nessasary. These qualities are only surpassed by the breed\'s extreme sense of loyalty and its eagerness to please. Despite their foreboding appearance, Beaucerons are tolerant by nature and do well in family situations. The breed will not usually tolerate harsh physical treatment from adults. They are gentle with children and this is especially true of dogs that have been raised with children. However, it must be noted that this is a large breed and even a puppy could prove to be overwhelming to a small child. Beaucerons are sociable with other dogs that they know but are territorial and will often not tolerate an intruder. They get along well with cats if introduced at an early age. Being herding dogs, they instinctivly try to herd livestock. It must be stressed that the Beauceron is not a dog for everyone. They are not suitable for a first time dog owner unless that person is prepared to seek the advice and guidance of a professional trainer or someone with extensive dog experience If not properly handled a Beauceron can become quite assertive. A well behaved adult Beauceron is not overly hyper, however up until 2 to 3 years of age they are extremely active and require a good deal of exercise. The Beauceron does not fair well as a kennel dog or in an apartment.

Size, Proportion, Substance - Size: males 25½ to 27½ inches; bitches 24 to 26½ inches at the withers. Disqualification: Height outside of maximum or minimum limits. Proportion: The Beauceron is medium in all its proportions, harmoniously built with none of its regions exaggerated in shortness or length. The length of body, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock, is slightly greater than the height at the withers. Bitches can be slightly longer than dogs. Correct proportion is of primary importance, as long as size is within the standard\'s range. Substance: Powerful, well built, well muscled, without any sign of heaviness or clumsiness. Dogs lacking substance should be severely penalized.

Head - The head is long, well chiseled with harmonious lines without weakness. The head must be in proportion with the body, measured from the tip of the nose to the occiput it is about 40% of the height at the withers. The height and width of the head are each slightly less than half its total length. The skull and muzzle are of equal length. Expression: The gaze is frank, alert, and confident. Eyes: The eyes are horizontal and slightly oval in shape. The eyes must be dark brown, never lighter than dark hazel. For the Harlequin, walleye is acceptable. Disqualification: Yellow eyes. Walleye in the Black and Tan. Ears: The ears are set high, and may be cropped or natural. The cropped ear is carried upright and is neither convergent nor divergent, pointing slightly forward. The well-carried ear is one whose middle falls on an imaginary line in prolongation of the sides of the neck. The natural ears are half pricked or drop-ears, they stand off the cheeks. Natural ears are flat and rather short, their length is equal to half the length of the head. Disqualification: Natural ears carried upright and rigid. Skull: The skull is flat or slightly rounded near the sides of the head. The median groove is only slightly marked and the occipital protuberance can be seen on the summit of the skull. Stop: The stop is only slightly pronounced and equidistant from the occiput and the tip of the nose. Muzzle: The muzzle must not be narrow, pointed, or excessively broad in width. Planes: Seen in profile the top lines of the skull and muzzle are parallel, and the junction of the two forms a slightly pronounced stop midway between the occiput and the tip of the nose. Nose: The nose is proportionate to the muzzle, well developed and always black. In profile, the nose must be in line with the upper lip. Disqualification: Split nose, nose color other than black or with unpigmented areas. Lips: The lips are firm and always well pigmented. The upper lip overlaps the lower lip without any looseness. At their juncture, the lips form very slight but firm flews. Teeth: A full complement of strong white teeth, evenly set, and meeting in a scissors bite. Disqualification: Overshot or undershot with loss of contact; absence of three or more teeth (the first premolars not counting).

Neck, Topline and Body - Neck: The neck is muscular, of good length, united harmoniously with the shoulders, enabling the head to be carried proudly while standing in an alert posture. Topline: The back is straight and strong. The withers are well defined. The loin is broad, short and muscular. The croup is well muscled and slightly sloped in the direction of the attachment of the tail. Body: The length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock is slightly more than the height of the dog at the withers. Chest: The chest is wide, deep, long, and descends to the point of the elbow. The girth of the chest is greater than the height at the withers by more than 20%. Ribs: The ribcage extends well back with long, flexible, and moderately curved ribs. The abdomen is moderately drawn up but still presents good volume. Tail: The tail is strong at the base, carried down, descending at least to the point of the hock, forming into a slight J without deviating to the right or to the left. In action, the tail can be carried higher, becoming an extension of the topline. Disqualification: Docked tail, or tail carried over the back.

Forequarters - The construction of the forequarters is of the utmost importance, determining the dog\'s ability to work and his resistance to fatigue. The legs are vertical when viewed from the front or in profile. Shoulder: The shoulders are moderately long, muscular but not loaded, with good layback. Forearm: The forearms are muscular. Feet: The feet are large, round, and compact with black nails. The pads are firm yet supple.

Hindquarters - The angulation of the hindquarters is balanced with the forequarters. The hindquarters are powerful, providing flexible, almost tireless movement. They are vertical when viewed from profile and from behind. Legs: The thighs are wide and muscled. Hock joint is substantial, not too close to the ground, the point situated roughly at ¼ the height at the withers, forming a well open angle with the second thigh. Metatarsals are upright, slightly further back than the point of the buttock. When viewed from behind, metatarsals are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. Feet: The feet are large, round, compact, and the rear toes turn out very slightly. Dewclaws: Double dewclaws form well separated \"thumbs\" with nails, placed rather close to the foot. Disqualification: Anything less than double dewclaws on each rear leg.

Coat - Outer coat is 1¼\" to 1½\", coarse, dense and lying close to the body. It is short and smooth on the head, ears and lower legs. The hair is somewhat longer around the neck. The tail and back of thighs are lightly fringed. The undercoat is short, fine, dense and downy, mouse gray in color and does not show through the outer coat. The Beauceron is exhibited in the natural condition with no trimming. Disqualification: Shaggy coat.

Colors - Black and Tan: The black is very pure; the tan markings are squirrel red; the markings are: dots above the eyes; on the sides of the muzzle, fading off on the cheeks, never reaching the underside of the ears; two spots on the chest are preferred to a breastplate; on the throat; under the tail; on the legs the markings extend from the feet to the pasterns, progressively lessening, though never covering more than 1/3 of the leg, rising slightly higher on the inside of the leg. Some white hairs on the chest are tolerated. Gray, Black and Tan (Harlequin): Black and Tan base color with a pattern of blue-gray patches distributed evenly over the body and balanced with the base color, sometimes with a predominance of black. Disqualification: Any color other than Black and Tan or Harlequin. Complete absence of markings. Well-defined, quite visible white spot on the chest 1\" in diameter or larger. In the Harlequin: too much gray; black on one side of body and gray on the other; head entirely gray.

Gait - Movement is fluid and effortless, covering ground in long reaching strides (extended trot). Strong, supple movement is essential to the sheepdog. In movement the head is lowered approaching the level of the topline. Dogs with clumsy or inefficient gait must be penalized.

Temperament - Frank approach and self-assured; never mean, timid, or worried. Although reserved with strangers, the character of the Beauceron should be gentle and fearless. Any display of fear or unjustifiable aggression is not to be tolerated.

Faults - Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. -- Note: Males must have two normal testicles properly descended into the scrotum. -- Disqualification: Height outside of maximum or minimum limits. Split nose, nose color other than black or with unpigmented areas. Overshot or undershot with loss of contact; absence of three or more teeth (first premolars not counting). Yellow eyes. Walleye in the Black and Tan. Natural ears carried upright and rigid. Docked tail, or tail carried over the back. Anything less than double dewclaws on each rear leg. Shaggy coat. Any color other than Black and Tan or Harlequin. Complete absence of markings. Well-defined, quite visible white spot on the chest 1\" in diameter or larger. In the Harlequin: too much gray; black on one side of body and gray on the other; head entirely gray.