The Beauceron is a confident, highly intelligent, independent and strong-willed dog. They are typically very protective of their owners and their territory and are generally reserved or aloof with strangers. Beaucerons are slow to mature compared to many other large breed dogs, so don’t expect your dog to “act like an adult” until around three years of age.
Although the Beauceron is judged in the herding group, they are tending dogs and do not work stock in the same manner as a Border Collie. Their instinct is to be rather “velcro-like” with their owners, which should not be mistaken for lack of confidence. The Beauceron who follows his owner from room to room is simply doing what comes naturally – that is, “tending the flock”. This can be a bit unnerving when your dog barges into the bathroom and stares at you while you take a shower!
Beaucerons can be physically demonstrative with their owners. This can take the form of jumping up on you, leaping through the air as high as your face with all four paws off the ground, or running toward you at full speed only to (hopefully) swerve away at the last minute. Beaucerons can also be very “mouthy” dogs. Some prefer to have something in their mouths almost all the time, while others tend to grab at your hands or clothes. This behavior is not limited just to puppies and can continue well into adulthood.
