A very versatile breed, the Bas Rouge is used to both guard and herd sheep and cattle. It was once very useful against wolves, now long gone from northern France. The breed served in both world wars as messenger dog, supply transport dog, land mine detection dog, and search and rescue dog.A French herding breed known for centuries in western Europe, the Beauceron is noted as one of the breeds used to create the Doberman Pinscher.
The regional name is somewhat misleading. The breed was found throughout Northern France, rather than just in the Beauce region. Although quite different in appearance, the Beauceron and the long-haired sheep dog, the Briard, stem from similar ancestral stock, sharing the trait of double dewclaws on the hind legs. Both were used to herd sheep and cattle. Like the Beauceron, the Briard is found throughout Northern France, and despite implications from its name, also did not come exclusively from the Brie region.
In 1809, Abbé Rozier wrote an article on these French herding dogs, in which he described the differences in type and used the terms Berger de Brie and Berger de Beauce.
In 1893, the veterinarian Paul Megnin differentiated between the long-haired Berger de la Brie and the short-haired Berger de Beauce. He defined the standard of the breed, with the assistance of M. Emmanuel Ball. In 1922, the Club des Amis du Beauceron was formed under the guidance of Dr. Megnin.
About the Beauceron
If you are looking for a large, active dog that is very family orientated and generally very easily trained, this is the breed for you.
The Beauceron is still very much a rare breed in this country.
“The Beauceron originates from France where it can be traced back to 1560. One of the main characteristics of the breed is the large double dew-claws on the hind legs. These are in fact more than just dew-claws, they are real toe joints. To quote the old French farmers, “If a Beauceron does not have double dew-claws it is not a Beauceron and will not be a good worker”. The accepted colours are Black and Tan and Tricolour (Harlequin) where the coat has grey and black patches, which are evenly distributed over the body, with more black than grey. They are a large breed with the males reaching 27½ inches and the females 27 inches at the shoulder.
The breed’s main function was as a herding and protection dog. During the First World War Beaucerons were used as sentry dogs, for bomb detection, messenger carrier, and prison guard. To this day Beaucerons are used by the military, police, security services and search and rescue. They are also used as assistance dogs for the disabled, for tracking, agility and obedience, and of course as the family pet.
In France the Beauceron is sometimes referred to as the Berger de Beauce or Bas Rouge (red stocking,) due to the tan markings. It is also called the “Country Gentleman” of France. Beaucerons were included in the first French Canine Exposition held in Paris in 1863 by the Imperial Society of Acclimation. In 1897 the first club for the “chiens de berger” (herding dogs) was formed. During this period, both the Beauceron and the Briard were considered to be of one breed with different coat types. In 1911 a separate club for the Beauceron was formed and the breeds divided. This club, Club des Amis du Beauceron, continues its stewardship of the breed today in France.
The first Beaucerons were imported to the UK in 1990 and the breed has slowly and steadily gained recognition here over the years. The Beauceron is registered on The Kennel Club’s Import Register. The first dog to be exhibited was Able Seaman with Overhill owned by Meg Purnell-Carpenter. This was at National Working Breeds Championship Show on Saturday July 18th 1998. He won the Import Register Limit class. His younger sister Bell Aime Petite with Overhill won the Post Graduate class.
Beauceron Club UK is the Kennel Club registered National Breed Club.
A growing band of exhibitors can be seen at the UK Championship shows. In 2011 the Top Beauceron was Fiona White’s Overhill Caviere (Overhill’s Blue Vision x Overhills China Blue) and Top Puppy was Steve & Jackie Barnes Jupiler du Regard Mordant to Tallowah (imp Bel) (Furio des Feux de la Gage x Houfti du Regard Mordant).”
Points to remember:
1. It is a large breed.
2. Short-coated (less hair to clean up.).
3. Needs plenty of exercise.
4. Firm but gentle training.
5. Lots of socialisation from puppy hood.
6. Close human contact is essential.
7. MOST IMPORTANT. Ensure that you can offer a lifestyle and accommodation suitable for a Beauceron.
Beauceron Club UK – Health Information
The Beauceron is one of the healthiest breeds of dog in the UK and is not known to suffer from any hereditary conditions. To help keep it that way, Beauceron Club UK recommends that the Beauceron is screened under the following Canine Health Schemes – more details of the schemes can be found at http://www.bva.co.uk. Testing under these schemes is essential for Beaucerons used in breeding programmes. Affected Beaucerons should not be bred from.
Permanent identification
From 1st January 2010 any dog being submitted to any of the health testing schemes must be permanently identified by either microchip or tattoo. This will mean from this date, permanent identification and registration documents will be required.
Eye Scheme
The BVA screening programme for hereditary eye disease in dogs is run in conjunction with the Kennel Club and the International Sheep Dog Society. The scheme now covers 12 hereditary eye conditions in over 50 breeds of dog.
The main purpose of the scheme is to ensure that there is no evidence of hereditary eye disease in dogs used for breeding. Breeders are often advised to submit dogs for annual eye tests, since some diseases have late onset of clinical signs.
It is also possible for litters to be tested for congenital hereditary conditions such as Collie eye anomaly and Multifocal retinal dysplasia when they are between six and twelve weeks of age.
There are 37 appointed eye panellists around the country who can issue official certificates.
Related documents
To find out more about hereditary eye disease in dogs and why eye testing is important download the BVA hereditary eye disease leaflet:
Beauceron Club UK – Health Information
The Beauceron is one of the healthiest breeds of dog in the UK and is not known to suffer from any hereditary conditions. To help keep it that way, Beauceron Club UK recommends that the Beauceron is screened under the following Canine Health Schemes – more details of the schemes can be found at http://www.bva.co.uk. Testing under these schemes is essential for Beaucerons used in breeding programmes. Affected Beaucerons should not be bred from.
Permanent identification
From 1st January 2010 any dog being submitted to any of the health testing schemes must be permanently identified by either microchip or tattoo. This will mean from this date, permanent identification and registration documents will be required.
Eye Scheme
The BVA screening programme for hereditary eye disease in dogs is run in conjunction with the Kennel Club and the International Sheep Dog Society. The scheme now covers 12 hereditary eye conditions in over 50 breeds of dog.
The main purpose of the scheme is to ensure that there is no evidence of hereditary eye disease in dogs used for breeding. Breeders are often advised to submit dogs for annual eye tests, since some diseases have late onset of clinical signs.
It is also possible for litters to be tested for congenital hereditary conditions such as Collie eye anomaly and Multifocal retinal dysplasia when they are between six and twelve weeks of age.
There are 37 appointed eye panellists around the country who can issue official certificates.
Related documents
To find out more about hereditary eye disease in dogs and why eye testing is important download the BVA hereditary eye disease leaflet:
https://www.bva.co.uk/media/4985/chs-eye-leaflet-2023-digital.pdf
If you decide to get your dog tested please read:
https://www.bva.co.uk/media/4655/eye-scheme-information-for-owners.pdf
Why should we test the eyes of older dogs?
Costs
| Routine Eye Examination | Excluding VAT(£) per dog | Including VAT(£) per dog |
| 1st dog | £45.83 | £55 |
| 2 to 25 dogs (same ownership) | £40.42 | £48.50 |
| Group testing (25 or more) | £31.67 | £38 |
| Examination of dogs over 8 years | £26.67 | £32 |
Publication of results
Eye Scheme results are only published where a specific condition is known to be inherited and certified as such.
The Kennel Club is responsible for publishing eye results for all pedigree dogs in the Kennel Club Breed Records Supplement and on progeny registration certificates.
HIP DYSPLASIA
ABOUT THE BVA/KC HIP DYSPLASIA SCHEME
Dysplasia means abnormal development, and the degree of hip dysplasia present is indicated by a score assigned to each hip. The hip score is the sum of the points awarded for each of nine aspects of the X-rays of both hip joints. The minimum hip score is 0 and the maximum is 106 (53 for each hip). The lower the score the less the degree of hip dysplasia present. An average (or mean) score is calculated for all breeds scored under the scheme and advice for breeders is to use only breeding stock with scores well below the breed mean score. The mean score for the Beauceron at 01/11/2022 is 11.
The minimum age for hip scoring is one year, and each dog is only ever scored once under the scheme.
WHICH BREEDS ARE SCREENED UNDER THE SCHEME?
It is generally accepted that hip dysplasia is more common in larger breeds, but any dog of any breed can be scored under the scheme.
HOW DO I GET MY DOG SCORED UNDER THE SCHEME?
Owners should make an appointment with their vet who can take the required X-ray of the dog’s hips. The vet then sends the X-ray to the British Veterinary Association where it is examined and “scored” by a panel of experts. (Details of the scoring criteria are available in the form of a leaflet from either the Kennel Club or the BVA.) Once the X-ray has been scored, the result is returned to the vet, who relays it to the owner, and a copy is sent to the Kennel Club for recording on the registration database and publication in the Breed Records Supplement.
WHAT ARE THE COSTS INVOLVED?
In addition to the charges levied by the vet for anaesthetic and X-raying, the cost of having dogs scored under the Scheme is as follows:
| Item description | Cost ex VAT per dog | Cost inc VAT |
| 1 to 4 dogs | £50 | £60 |
| 5-plus dogs, same owner | £43.75 | £52.50 |
| Rescoring under appeals | £90 | £108 |
| Copy of certificates | £30 | £36 |
| Joint hip and elbow | £90 | £108 |
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Learn more about Hip Displaysia: