Beauceron vs Alpine Dachsbracke - Breed Comparison

They are aggressive enough for hunting and tracking large animals as well as small, but they are gentle enough to bring an injured animal back to the hunter without hurting it more.

At one time the breed was a crown favorite, accompanying Prince Rudolph of Habsburg on his hunting excursions. The Alpine Dachsbracke is still a favorite hunting breed but is now more often found as a family pet.

Sometimes referred to as the king of sheepdogs, the Beauceron is a French dog breed that happens to be an extraordinary herding dog too. He instinctively rounds up livestock without even being trained to do so. The dog is also known as Berger de Beauce, originating from the Beauce region in France and is closely related to the Briard or Berger de Brie.

This French breed’s origin goes back to the late 16th century, and the Beauceron was divided into two working types way back in 1863 - the dog with the long coat was known as Berger de Brie or Briard while the short-coated dog became known as Beauceron. It was in 1922 that a club for this dog breed was established, and the Beauceron Club of America was established in 1980, only recently receiving recognition by the American Kennel Club.

The Alpine Dachsbracke is a short, stocky dog with a long body and short legs. It is big boned and robust with round eyes. It has black toenails and a short, dense red or black coat.

The bridge of his nose is straight with a strong muzzle. Its forehead has a well defined furrow and black lips and nose. He is muscular and his chest is broad and deep. He holds his tail high and has a trotting gait.

Intelligent and Alert

The Beauceron is an intelligent dog, just by looking at the alert, bright face. He is a muscular, large dog breed, standing up to 71cm in height and weighing in at up to 50kg. You’ll recognize him with his dark black coat with red markings, particularly around the feet, which interestingly gives this breed the French nickname Bas Rouge. It means red stockings. Harlequin, tri-coloured grey, black and tan is also recognized as a color.

A Foreboding Look but Tolerant Nature

The coat is rough, short and dense, the alert eyes dark brown and the ears are set high and can be cropped or natural. The natural ears are half pricked or drop ears and are fairly short. Looking similar to the Doberman and Rottweiler but with a long tail, this French Shepherd dog is somewhat slimmer but with a foreboding appearance. He is solid, well proportioned and well muscled and gives the impression of strength. He has a tolerant nature and will fit in well with a family when trained and socialized.

The Alpine Dachsbracke is a very lovable family dog even though he was bred to hunt and scent. They are great with kids and at their size are still good apartment, inside dogs. Though they need daily exercise they don’t need a large fenced in yard.

They are brave, intelligent and with a lot of stamina for the hunt or the walk. Take them on a hunting trip and they will adore you for it. Though they have plenty of power and endurance, they are not aggressive. However they are fearless and proud and need a strong pack leader for their human companion.

Strong, big, confident and good-looking the Beauceron makes an excellent watchdog, guarding the human family that he is so devoted too. He is a good friend and companion and is tolerant with children and other pets.

He is such a clever breed too, and its small wonder that he has always been sought after for hard work – herding, shepherding and even rescue work. When he’s not involved in working, at home, he’s just your big, devoted friend.

They were bred to hunt and so are active dogs needing daily exercise and long walks.

Back Problems

They are at risk for back problems being long-backed dogs. The most common type of back problem is Intervertebral Disc Disease. This can cause pain and paralysis and can be caused by jumping, obesity or intense exercise.

It’s such a nice strong, good-looking dog this, you can’t think of anything going wrong with him. His lifespan is anything from 10 to 14 years and the dog is pretty robust. Being a large breed and a pedigree, he is prone to some common ailments. When you suspect your beloved pet has any health issue, don’t hesitate to get him to the vet.

Some common illnesses

Hip Dysplasia

A painful disorder that affects larger dogs and brought about by an abnormal development in the joints.

Bloat

Also a painful condition where the stomach twists so that the blood supply is cut off. Large breeds with deep chests are more prone to developing the condition. Rapid breathing and signs of pain can be indicative of this ailment.

Whether a puppy or adult the breed is subject to obesity and needs to be fed a good, vitamin filled dry dog food. At the same time they need the calories if they are active or hunting.

Feeding puppies

About one quarter to one half cup twice a day.

Adults

About one half cup twice a day until they become seniors or less active then reduce to a fourth of a cup twice a day.

Points for Good Health

The Alpine Daschbracke was bred to work. He needs exercise at least a couple times a day.

Games and Exercises

This breed is playful and loves to find and retrieve. Daily exercise is essential.

Diet – Meeting his Energy Needs

This is a large, hard-working, energetic dog and he will need high-quality food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared. The best commercially manufactured dog foods produce foods with the right balance of minerals and vitamins in keeping with your dog’s age, his activities and his stage of life (illness, senior, puppy). If you’re unsure about what to feed your Beauceron, speak to your vet to be 100% that you are meeting his nutritional demands, and always ensure a bowl of cool, clean water is constantly available.

Grooming

You’re lucky with the Beauceron as he is a low shedding, low maintenance dog with his short coat. He doesn’t require any trimming but will need a good brush twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Clean his teeth with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste to avoid plaque buildup. Never use human toothpaste. Clip his nails if he doesn’t wear them down naturally.

Exercise

This is a big, strong, energetic dog, and you owe it to him to ensure he gets lots of exercise – runs, walks and ball games. If you can’t be a responsible dog owner, don’t own a breed like this as he can become destructive if not kept active.