In their homeland in France Beauceron is one of the most popular breeds, while in other countries know about this dog is small. The French appreciate a shepherd from the province Bos especially great health and unsurpassed working qualities. Many villagers are holding a pair of dogs, providing reliable protection of yourself and clever helpers in the household.
Beauceron — a shepherd. Sheepdogs in Europe existed for several centuries (among them all know, for example, German). However, some hundred years ago, shepherds in different countries, including France, divided into clearly distinct breed.
Also Beauceron in France were known Pyrenean, and other varieties of Picardy Shepherds, but dog handlers primarily interested in two species, common in the most populated region of the country — Ile-de-France, located in north-central France, which includes Paris and its immediate suburbs . These two breeds — Shepherd of the province of Beauce and Brie, which we know as the Beauceron and Briard.
Dog handlers and breeders took the name «Shepherd of the Beauce» for all the dogs that had growth of 60-70 cm at the withers, the length of the head with a flat skull and poorly marked a transition to a sufficiently long snout, as well as the surrounding hair.
At first glance it is difficult to understand what is common between Beauceron and Briard. But let’s not forget that this — Shepherd and Shepherd are different: Labrador, long-haired and coarse wool (think of Dutch Shepherds and Scotch Collie). The typical Labrador shepherd dog with a smooth fitting coat and applies Beauceron. If his «dress» shaggy hair, then the silhouette he largely will remind briar! In addition, these rocks have in common and a sign of how double dewclaws on the hind legs. In support of kinship that add up to the twentieth century Beauceron crossed with briarskimi sheepdogs, so until the 1920s, the breed remained two types: longhair and shorthair.
As for «shirt» (color Beauceron), the first of the breed was allowed five color options (we know that Briards are different colors), but later in the standard was left only black and tan and marble («Harlequin»).
Incidentally, there is another little-known breed of French Shepherds — Languedoc, who comes from the province of Languedoc in southern France. It is very close to the Beauceron, but somewhat smaller and lighter than his. Height about 50 cm. In Languedoc Coat short and dense with a lighter undercoat. The tail is scanty. Individual breed standard has not. There are several types Languedoc Shepherd: Faro — a dull red color, Camargue — matt red or pale yellowish-gray-haired color, gro — yellowish-gray-haired color, Garrigue — yellowish-gray-haired, red or reddish color, Larzac — yellow with gray-haired Black color.
Another relative, partly «child» Beauceron — Doberman — also chosen us by chance. Although the creator of this breed is shrouded in mystery of its origin, there is information (most likely plausible) that one of the ancestors was a Doberman French Beauceron. Of course, fans will be outraged-dobermanisty my next statement, but I have repeatedly seen some people in the dog the ignorant who do not see the difference between these two breeds.
Anyway, I have friends who, after a Doberman brought Beauceron precisely because these rocks are similar in appearance, with the Beauceron has not so fervent love how Doberman. In addition, the Beauceron is not so exquisitely elegant as Doberman, but it is more judicious and calm. Not everyone can make a permanent state of «drive», which falls away from the glorious experience Doberman.
France
Briard
Berger de Brie (Briard)
Briard — the most famous in the world of French breed of dogs. Refers to a group kosmatosherstnyh have inherited this type of hair, apparently, from the ancient Tibetan Apso dog type. Briarskaya Shepherd as a breed evolved over several centuries in France, where it was used for grazing cattle and sheep. Ancestors briar — old French Shepherd and presumably other kosmatosherstnye Shepherd Europe; especially close to the bobtail breed.
Breed name was in honor of the province of Brie, located in the central region of Ile-de-France. In old French books, ranging from the XIV century, many pastoral figures can be seen kosmatosherstnyh dogs very similar to Briards. The painting by Italian artist Andrea Mantegna’s «The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian» shows two typical briar (XV century). Briards mentioned in literature XIV-XVI centuries, but the first specific description refers to the breed in 1809 in one of the books on agriculture. While Briards were of different type, have a shorter coat and a variety of colors.
Since 1863, after an exhibition in Paris Bitch Sharmant received the title of the most beautiful dog, Briard with the purposeful breeding work. Since 1890, Briards began to gain real popularity. In 1897, France organized a club of fans Shepherd, and three years later — Briards. Then was published breed standard, revised in 1908, and then in 1925 and 1930.
Briarskih par with German Shepherds used by the police and the army, as the representatives of these rocks is of excellent working qualities, malice and excellent instincts. Between the two world wars Briards were used in the French army to transport supplies, protection, and services for the Red Cross. Currently the breed is considered one of the best guard dogs. Briards tolerate different climatic conditions and can operate in southern Africa, and northern Canada. In North Africa, Briards delivered in the second half of the XVIII century, but the first litters were registered only in 1922, since 1923 there exists a club Briards.
This dog is well trained, has a balanced character, alertness and secure. Externally briar effect, but to preserve its appearance should be regularly combing wool.
Build. Proportionality.
Movement. Quickly and easily.
The height at the withers. Males 62-68 cm Bitches 56-64 cm.
Head. Powerful, long, with a slightly rounded skull, wedge shaped. The transition to the muzzle is well seen. The nose is black.
Eyes. Brown.
Ears. Set high, hanging or semi-erect. Usually the puppies at the age of 4-6 weeks of their cropped — the outer edge and top. As a result of the ear takes the form of an irregular quadrangle. Neck. Highly placed, long.
Corpus. The back and loins are strong. Chest broad and deep.
Tail. Saber.
Of course. Strong; paws are round and tight. For this breed necessarily presence of dewclaws on the hind legs.
COAT. Hair slightly harsh, wavy, cascading, 7 cm in length or longer. The muzzle has developed a mustache and beard, bushy eyebrows blind eye. The limbs and tail are covered with long hair.
Color. Plain — gray, gray, black, yellow and red with blackened on the ends of hair («coal») and darker hair on the ears and muzzle. Preferred saturated color, piebald is not typical.
Germany
Doberman
Dobermann
Doberman, or, as it was called earlier, doberman pinscher, was launched in the 70s of the XIX century in Thuringia, in Apolda (Germany) amateur dog breeder, Friedrich Louis Dobermann. Louis Dobermann kept secret history of the breed, but izvstno that served as the basis for her haired German Pinscher. Old German Pinscher mated with such rocks (and their hybrids) as Myasnitskaya Dog — Rottweiler ancestor, the old German Shepherd, Blue Great Dane, the Weimar Pointer, a French shepherd Beauceron (looks very close to the Doberman). The purpose of such a complex mating — get beautiful, elegant, intelligent, pretty big and bold dog, capable of a variety of types of service is different endurance and mobility.
After the death of Louis Doberman breed continued to work with Otto Heller, a kennel which at that time contained about 80 pinschers. Geller was popularized breed many dogs he sold to other countries, including the United States. Geller has completed work on creating breeds, Doberman Pinschers turning out pretty rough in elegant and harmoniously built dogs.
In 1897, the Doberman Pinscher was first shown at an exhibition in Erfurt. Under the leadership of Otto Heller in 1899 in Apolda discovered folk club dobermanskih pinschers, in 1900 the club published breed standard. At first studbook establishments in 1905 was recorded 252 dogs. A year later, fans Doberman pinscher in Frankfurt also began to lead the studbook. The breed became popular far outside the country, mostly as a police dog. In 1902 Dobermans first brought to Russia as the investigative dogs, but later they were replaced by German shepherds, more adapted to our cold climate.
In 1908, the Doberman pinscher breed was recognized by the service (before to service dogs included only German shepherd and Airedale). The reason for this was the extraordinary achievements of the legendary while Tasso vd Thrawn — sniffer dogs. Like Tasso, Russia became famous clubs, worked in the Moscow police. Clubs was the winner at the first Russian investigative trials dogs. This dog is widely used as a producer, his nickname is found in many pedigrees Dobermans USSR. Doberman was one of the most popular sporting dog breeds in the world. Its still used for investigative service for internal security and as a dog-bodyguard. In hot countries it is the main breed dogs.
Doberman — perfectly composed, energetic and active dog. In training and education needs affectionate, attentive, but at the same time rigorous approach, otherwise it will be naughty. Dobermans have a great flair, they have excellent hearing, incredulous and angry belong to strangers.
Constitution. Dry strong.
Format. Square.
Dimensions. Height males 68-72 cm, 63-68 cm branch (assuming that the dog retains the correct proportions). Weight males 40-45 kg, 32-35 kg females.
Head. Long, lean, in the form of a blunt wedge. Skull flat top, the transition to the snout is small but clearly defined. Lips tight and thin.
Ears. Highly placed, badly cropped. In some countries, the ears are not cropped — in this case they are hanging, of triangular shape.
Eyes. Oval, oblique, dark.
Neck. Long, set high and dry.
Corpus. Chest let down to the elbows, oval, moderately broad. Back straight, short loin and slightly arched. Belly tucked up. Croup slightly inclined.
Of course. Dry, strong; front — with vertically set Piast rear — with long shank and well angulated. Feet are round and tight.
Tail. Traditionally Docked. Undocked tail is carried in the form of a rod.
COAT. The short, smooth, glossy, tight. The undercoat is poorly developed.
Color. Black, brown (isabella), with clearly defined markings of red-red color; meets with blue markings. Nose black, brown dogs — brown.
Literature
Beauceron. // Pes pritel cloveka, 1985, n. 9
Briard. // Pes pritel cloveka, 1985, n 8.
Cisarovsky M. Briard. // Pes pritel cloveka, 1980, n. 11
Haymann F. Le Beauceron. Un fidele au-dessus de tout soupcon! Revue Chiens, 1998, n 246.
Il pastore di Picardia. // Il mio cane, 1999, n. 48
Languedoc. // Pes pritel cloveka, 1986, n 3.
Picard. // Pes pritel cloveka, 1986, n 2.
Pikardsky ovcak. // Pes pritel cloveka, 1995, n 2.
Stepansky K. Briard. // Pes pritel cloveka, 1976, n 1.

Olga Mischiha. The journal «Friend» №3 (March 2009)