Beauceron

• Bathing: Give your Beauceron a bath once a month (unless they happen to go wild on a hiking trail).   
• Brushing: Brush them a few times a week with a pin brush or slicker brush. You’ll probably need to brush daily in the spring and fall, when they shed more.  
• Dental care: Help keep your pup’s teeth in shape by brushing them daily with a dog toothpaste. It’s a good idea to start when they’re a puppy, so they get used to the experience. Get a pro cleaning at your vet once a year. 
• Ear care: Check their ears every day. If there’s redness, swelling, debris, or an odor, your pup may have an ear infection that needs meds. Talk to your vet about how to clean your dog’s ears if they’re prone to irritation or infections.  
• Nail care: Trim your pup’s nails every six to eight weeks. If you can hear the nails clacking on hard surfaces when they walk, it’s time.  

When it comes to training, Beauceron puppies need a confident pup parent who uses positive reinforcement to teach various skills, such as how to walk nicely on a leash and come when called.   

These self-assured pups tend to think they’re in charge, so they need a pet parent who can show them the ropes (and teach them how to be gentle around others).   

You can begin with basic cues like sit, stay, and come. They learn best from pet parents who are consistent and patient with their lessons, and always make sure to use positive reinforcement.  

Also invest time in proper socialization, which involves exposing them to new people, places, and things so they’re used to novel interactions and become a laid-back adult.  

You could take your dog to group training classes if they enjoy being around other pups and are fully vaccinated.  

Beaucerons typically do well on a high-quality commercial dog food. Choose a diet that’s AAFCO compliant for your dog’s life stage (puppy, adult, or senior).  

Joint supplements or treats containing glucosamine, chondroitin, and fish oils can also help protect their joint health as they age. Ask your veterinarian if your dog would benefit from these supplements. Your vet can also help you determine the best food and diet, including serving size and feeding schedule, based on your dog’s age, weight, and activity level. 

Treat calories count, too, and they’re important for motivating your dog during training. But know when to say when. Treats should never be more than 10% of a dog’s daily calories. 

It’s often smart to use a slow feeder with this breed, and feed smaller meals throughout the day to avoid a serious health condition called bloat. Keeping their food bowls on the ground (avoiding elevated food bowls) and restricting exercise one hour before or after meals will also help prevent bloat. 

Beaucerons are star athletes who love to get out and see the world, so they’ll need about two hours of exercise a day.  

Both jogging and hiking are likely to be favorite activities, and you can also take them on a long walk once a day (think about an hour), where they have plenty for scent work to get their imaginations flowing.  

These pups have a strong herding instinct, so they’re likely to enjoy treibball, aka urban herding, which involves moving large, inflatable balls through the grass and into a goal. Some may also love agility training or flyball.  

In the Beauceron’s dream world, everywhere is a hiking trail and everyone is a hiking buddy.  

These pups want to be part of the action. A larger home with a fenced yard is ideal so they can run and play whenever they like.  

Beaucerons can adapt to smaller spaces as long as they have at least two one-hour walks every day, so city living is not out of the question if you make the proper accommodations.  

These gentle giants usually get along well with children and other pets—though they may try to herd smaller ones. (It’s an instinct and not their fault!) For that reason, it’s smart to keep an eye on everyone and make sure everyone is well-socialized.