Beauceron Pros And Cons

Kieran Beckles
By Kieran Beckles
Updated on 15 February 2023

While Beaucerons are faithful and obedient pets, they have their pros and cons just like any other dog breed.

The Beauceron is a member of the American Kennel Club’s Herding Group, alongside similar hard-working breeds such as the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd.

The AKC go on to describe the Beauceron as “an imposing and powerful, but also remarkably smart, spirited, and a versatile herder”.

The organization add that the breed is “especially beloved by women” as a “sensitive companion and protector”.

At the time of writing, the Beauceron is ranked 121st most popular breed in the USA.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at Beauceron pros and cons, examining some of the advantages and disadvantages of owning the breed.

We’ll hear from Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth) and Melina (@talon.the.beauceron) who shared some of her pros and cons as well as experiences owning her Beauceron Fenrir.

Beauceron Pros

Intelligent

Fenrir the Beauceron (Photo: @watsonsupersleuth / Instagram)

Fenrir the Beauceron (Photo: @watsonsupersleuth / Instagram)

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth) explained that Beauceron tend to be really good problem solvers.

Beaucerons are incredibly smart. This can make training easier as they can pick things up quickly. It’s a fun challenge to ensure their daily stimulation needs are met. Watching them process the world and adapt to it is fascinating. They are typically fairly good problem solvers, work well independently, and love to learn.

Melina (@talon.the.beauceron) added that Beauceron relish having a job to complete.

A pro for the breed is their intelligence! They are extremely smart and willing to please, and they love being active and having a job to do. We have a farm, and intend to do herding with him, and I cannot wait! For some people, this could be a con if they are not prepared to spend the extensive time to train them throughout their lives, and to let them expend their physical and mental energy.

Versatility

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth) highlighted how the breed can excel at a range of different activities.

Frequently called the Jack of All Trades, Beaucerons are a great breed if you want to dabble in a little bit of everything. Traditionally bred for herding, Beaucerons have also been used in various other sports including bite sports. Beaucerons like to be active so the more stuff they do the happier they typically are. They can be seen participating in almost everything from Agility to search and rescue.

The Beauceron’s versatility is also a point underlined by Talon’s owner Melina (@talon.the.beauceron).

The biggest pro I have is their versatility. They can do almost anything you want them do, so they are a wonderful breed for dog sports! They excel in herding, obedience, protection sports, rally, agility, barn hunt and more. If you want a dog to compete with, a Beauceron would be a wonderful option! While they also love to snuggle and be a couch potato, that doesn’t last long, so if you aren’t ready to work with your dog, a Beauceron might not be for you.

Velcro Breed

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth) described the Beauceron as velcro breed so you’ll have a permanent shadow.

Congratulations, you will never pee alone again. If you have ever wanted someone to love you and always want to be with you, look no further. Beaucerons are really great about wanting to constantly be around their people, at least in the same room as you if not in your exact space.

Scary Dog Privilege

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth) explained that Beauceron can appear intimidating due to their size but ultimately they’re big softies.

Beaucerons are intimidating looking but are actually cinnamon rolls. Typically big, loving, goofballs with their people, Beaucerons are often aloof with strangers. Combine that with their large builds and Beaucerons get the “Scary Dog” look. However, due to them being a less popular breed, it’s not a “banned breed” in most areas; unlike most of the “scary dog” breeds. This can make travel and finding housing much easier.

Grooming

Fenrir the Beauceron (Photo: @watsonsupersleuth / Instagram)

Fenrir the Beauceron (Photo: @watsonsupersleuth / Instagram)

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth) considers Fenrir’s shedding to be quite manageable.

This is a “dust em off” breed when it comes to showing. The breed standard calls for them to be shown “natural” meaning no trimming or chalking. Aside from coat maintenance, nail trims and teeth brushing, Beauceron grooming is pretty minimal. They do shed a lot, but that can be managed with regular baths and brushings.

Melina (@talon.the.beauceron) shared that feeding Talon a raw-fed diet appeared to help.

One of my husband’s major concerns about getting a shepherd was the shedding. I had a GSD when we first got married and he could not stand the hair. Thankfully, Talon has not come close to the German Shedder. That has a lot to do with his genetics, but I also feed him a raw diet, and many people I’ve talked to over the years have said their dogs shed significantly less when eating that way. So a Beauceron does have the potential to shed quite a bit, so that could be a con for a lot of people.

Protective Instincts

Talon the Beauceron (Photo: @talon.the.beauceron / Instagram)

Talon the Beauceron (Photo: @talon.the.beauceron / Instagram)

Melina (@talon.the.beauceron) believes the Beauceron’s natural protective instincts are a big plus.

Another pro for me is their protective instinct. We live in a more rural area, and my kids and I are usually home alone most of the day. Beaucerons have an extremely powerful visual presence, which I definitely wanted, and they are more aloof to people they have not met. We took a lot of time from the beginning to socialize Talon with all kinds of people and dogs. So while he is great in all social situations, he still is alert and on guard when we are home and someone or something new arrives. This could be a con for people who want that Golden Retriever-type attitude. My Beauceron is friendly, but takes a little bit to warm up to someone new.

Beauceron Cons

Too Smart

Beauceron (Photo: Adobe Stock)

Beauceron (Photo: Adobe Stock)

While the breed is highly intelligent, Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth) shared that Beaucerons can be too clever!

They are incredibly smart, sometimes they think they are smarter than you, sometimes they are so smart they loop back to stupid. Due to their intelligence, they require a lot of mental stimulation to ensure their needs are met. If you don’t appropriately stimulate a Beauceron, they will do it themselves… at the expense of whatever you left out. They also tend to hate repetition which makes proofing a behavior hard.

Size

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth) revealed that some Beaucerons can be clumsy and unaware of their power and size.

They are big dogs with a tendency to fling their bodies around. They generally have no idea how big they actually are and no spatial awareness which can lead to things being knocked over or other accidents. My 95lbs male thinks he’s a lap dog and the amount of things he has broken but bumping his butt into them is astronomical.

Maturity Rate

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth) explained that having Beaucerons tend to be slow to mature – so prepare for an elongated puppy phase.

This is a SLOW maturing breed; Mentally and physically. Beaucerons are typically fully mature by 3-4 years of age, unlike the typical 2-3 for most breeds. It sounds fairly easy to deal with until you are stuck in the “teenage” phase for a lot longer than you expected.

Activity level

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth) warned potential Beauceron owners that the breed require consistent exercise and regular mental stimulation.

Originally bred for moving and protecting large herds of sheep long distances, the Beauceron needs lots of physical and mental stimulation. Unlike the Malinios who are more “fire cracker”, exploding energy, the Beauceron is a steady burning candle; bred for stamina and endurance. This is not a couch potato dog. Beaucerons need to be active and stimulated – a walk around the block and a fetch session isn’t going to cut it. And they don’t care if it’s rain, shine, deadly hot out or freezing cold, they want to be out doing things. If you are willing to put in the training and to be active with these dogs they are fabulous. But they can be terrors without proper structure and stimulation.

Nipping

Talon the Beauceron (Photo: @talon.the.beauceron / Instagram)

Talon the Beauceron (Photo: @talon.the.beauceron / Instagram)

While Beauceron can make good family pets, Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth) highlighted nipping as a potential issue to watch out for.

Beaucerons are traditionally a herding breed, meant to move sheep through various areas. This includes encouraging the less than willing through well placed nips. This behavior is instinctual for Beaucerons, especially as puppies. They, like many herding breeds, are more likely to try an “herd” things when they are young; including but not limited to you. Proper training can help with this issue.

Melina (@talon.the.beauceron) further underlined this point.

Talon is wonderful with our two boys. He loves to play with them all day! Having a dog good with kids is definitely a pro, but Beaucerons grow extremely fast, and can soon outweigh and tower over younger kids. Being a shepherd breed, they tend to be mouthy, so you just have to make sure you are diligent in training them from a puppy to behave appropriately around small children, and Vice versa.

Beauceron Frequently Asked Questions

Are Beaucerons good with other dogs?

Talon the Beauceron (Photo: @talon.the.beauceron / Instagram)

Talon the Beauceron (Photo: @talon.the.beauceron / Instagram)

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth):

Raised properly yes they can be good with other dogs. I have an intact male who grew up with two dog in the house as well as accompanied me to countless house sitting jobs with dogs. We are also constantly around my family’s dogs and see dogs in our apartment complex all the time. We have almost never had a problem.

Melina (@talon.the.beauceron):

Yes with training. Talon LOVES other dogs! He loves to play, but he is like a huge bulldozer, so I just need to watch and make sure he’s a little more careful with smaller dogs.

Will a Beauceron protect you?

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth):

Without proper training, a Beauceron is no more likely to protect you than any other breed. What a lot of people think is a dog protecting them (posturing, barking at strangers/anyone approaching the house/vehicle) is more born of fear agression than anything else. Beaucerons are not any more prone to protect you than a golden retriever. There have been some very successful Beaucerons in bite sports and personal protection training, so if trained yes.

Melina (@talon.the.beauceron):

They are instinctually observant and aloof, and will not hesitate to alert to danger.

Are Beaucerons good with cats?

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth):

As with most breeds: with proper introductions and training around cats, yes Beaucerons will be good around cats. They are traditionally a herding breed, be cautious about chasing. My Beauceron adores cats, including my cat who has a tendency to beat him up.

Melina (@talon.the.beauceron):

We have 4 barn cats, and they tolerate him. He’s never tried to hurt one on purpose, but the cats don’t appreciate a 70lb puppy booping their heads.

Are Beaucerons intelligent?

Beauceron (Photo: Adobe Stock)

Beauceron (Photo: Adobe Stock)

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth):

Incredibly so. Beaucerons are super smart dogs. They love puzzles and brain games, and are super fun to trick train because they pick things up really quickly. They do hate repetition, constantly test boundaries, and sometimes jump to the wrong conclusion, all which make training more challenging. My Beauceron will start adding his own “flair” to a behavior if he thinks we have practiced enough. He also likes to learn “big picture” as opposed to “small steps”, meaning he doesn’t like breaking a behavior down into tiny steps, he likes to try the whole thing in one go. This often leads to “wrong conclusions” where he anticipates knowing the answer and will throw it out even if that’s not what I’m asking for. They also tend to get into trouble testing boundaries -Beaucerons are the kind of dog you give an inch and they will try to snag a mile.

Melina (@talon.the.beauceron):

They learn extremely fast and are very willing to please. They need a lot of mental stimulation and physical exercise.

Are Beaucerons good first dogs?

Caitlin (@watsonsupersleuth):

I wouldn’t recommend them to a first time owner no. Beaucerons are a LOT of dog and can be very overwhelming for even seasoned owners. If a first time dog owner wanted to get a Beauceron, I would highly recommend working with a breeder to find one that might best suit you and immediately getting a dog trainer to help assist you with the various challenges you’ll face with a Beauceron. They are great dogs in the right situations, but definitely a hard dog. I wouldn’t recommend tackling this breed for first time dog owners.

Melina (@talon.the.beauceron):

If someone is willing to dedicate the time to train them, and learn how to train them, then yes. They are a large, powerful, and intelligent breed, so they will take more work and dedication for them to reach their full potential. You just have to know what you are getting into before you bring them home. If you prepare yourself and your home beforehand, you will have a much easier time. This is the biggest reason that I advocate for finding a great breeder. A breeder will be there for you for the life of your dog. They know so much about their breed and can help you through any issues you may have.

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