Beauceron Breed Standard Miscellaneous Class   General Appearance The Beauceron is a distinct French breed of herding dog. Though almost unknown outside of France, the Beauceron has a long history. It is a very old breed developed solely in France with no foreign crosses. The earliest record found so far of what is thought to be this breed dates back to a Renaissance manuscript of 1578. In 1809, the abbey Rozier reported plain dogs guarding flocks and herds. In 1863, Pierre Megnin differentiated, with precision, two types of these sheep dogs: one with a long coat, which became known as the Berger de Brie (Briard), the other with a short coat, which is known as the Berger de Beauce (Beauceron). The Beauceron is a well balanced, solid dog of good height and well muscled without heaviness or coarseness. The dog is alert and energetic with a noble carriage. The whole conformation gives the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness, exhibiting the strength, endurance and agility required of the herding dog. Dogs are characteristically larger throughout with large frame and heavier bone than bitches. Bitches are distinctly feminine, but without weakness of substance or structure. The Beauceron should be easily approached without showing signs of fear.  Size, Proportion, Substance Size: males 25½ to 27½ inches; bitches 24 to 26½ inches, measurement to be taken at the highest point of the shoulder blades. Disqualification: Height outside of maximum or minimum limits. Proportion: The conformation of the Beauceron is that of a mid-line, that is, 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 highest point of the shoulder blade. Correct proportion is of primary importance, as long as size is within the standard's range.  Coat Outer coat is straight, coarse, and dense, of medium length and lying flat, never soft and fine to the touch. The coat should be comparatively short, straight, hard enough to be weather resistant, with dense undercoat. It should be shortest on the head, ears and lower legs. The hair is somewhat longer around the neck, tail and back of thighs where "fringe" will be present. The Beauceron is to be exhibited in the natural condition with no trimming. Fault: Wavy coat; Severely Penalize: Long Hair, Coat Open or Curly. Colors Black and Tan (BICOLOR): Red feet (stockings); the black being very pure; the color of the tan must be (squirrel red); the tan marks are found: lozenges over the eyes; on the sides of the muzzle, lessening 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 tan extends to the feet, to the pasterns, progressively lessening in ascending, though never covering more than 1/3 of the leg; ascending a little higher on the inside of the leg; some white hairs at the breast are tolerated. Black, Gray and Tan (TRICOLOR): A color pattern involving Blue/Grey splotches on a Black Background with red points including stockings as described in the BiColor. Disqualification: absence of markings; white spot on the chest exceeding 1" in diameter in Bi-Color or Tri-Color; In Tri Color the gray should not exceed half the background color (black).  Temperament He is a dog at heart, with spirit and initiative, wise and fearless with no trace of timidity. Intelligent, easily trained, faithful, gentle and obedient, the Beauceron possesses an excellent memory and an ardent desire to please his master. He retains a high degree of his ancestral instinct to guard home and master. Although he is reserved with strangers, he is loving and loyal to those he knows. Some will display a certain independence.