Flat-Coated Retriever vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison

Flat-Coated Retriever vs Beauceron - Breed ComparisonFlat-Coated Retriever is originated from United Kingdom but Beauceron is originated from France. Flat-Coated Retriever may grow 10 cm / 3 inches shorter than Beauceron. Flat-Coated Retriever may weigh 14 kg / 30 pounds lesser than Beauceron. Flat-Coated Retriever may live 4 years less than Beauceron. Both Flat-Coated Retriever and Beauceron has almost same litter size. Flat-Coated Retriever requires Moderate maintenance. But Beauceron requires Low maintenance

History

flat coated retriever - historyThe Flat-Coated Retriever traces its heritage to 19th century England. A popular gamekeepers’ dog, the actual descendants of the breed are not entirely known. Like so many well-established breeds, there are many lines of thought about the breed line. There is an unverified line of ancestry that includes the St. Johns Water Dog – an extinct breed from North America. Another story has Canadian sailors bringing their Newfoundlands to England and mixing them with Colliers and Setters. This story has more truth to it and it took 20 years to establish the final breed type.

The breed was originally a retriever with two purposes – to retrieve the hunters’ bounty on land and on water.

The Flat-Coated Retriever was then introduced to the United States as a gun dog. By 1873 it was a “stable type” and in 1915 the AKC recognized the breed. After this, their popularity grew quickly until the American public fell in love with the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. Then the Flat-Coated Retriever’s numbers and popularity fell. The irony was that both the Golden and the Labrador credited the Flat-Coated Retriever as an ancestor. The survival of the breed was questionable following World War Two. They were brought back by a specific breeding program in the 1960’s.

Breeders in the ‘60s made sure they bred for both show dogs and companion animals. The Flat-Coated Retriever survived and is less popular than other retrievers, but he has his fans. The breed is more popular in the United Kingdom than it is in the United States in part because of Best in Show wins at Crufts

beauceron - historySometimes 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.

Description

flat coated retriever puppy - descriptionThe Flat-Coated Retriever has a straight and strong topline with unique head, strong jaws, a long muzzle and small ears. His eyes are dark brown almonds with a friendly and intelligent expression. He has an arched neck and a moderately long tail. The Flat-Coated Retriever is more of an athlete, lighter and certainly more elegant than any other type or breed of retriever.

Intelligent and Alert

beauceron puppy - descriptionThe 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.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

flat coated retriever dog - characteristicsThe Flat-Coated Retriever is great with children. Just be careful they don’t knock over small children in their enthusiasm.

Special talents

They are confident great family dogs. They are “thinking dogs” and need something to work for or they will work for themselves. They can be clowns.

Adaptability

They are adaptable although their size might preclude small locations without yards.

Learning ability

Smart, thinking all the time, they are very trainable. However, they are considered the “Peter Pan” of dogs – they never grow up.

beauceron dog - characteristicsStrong, 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.

Health Problems

flat coated retriever puppies - health problemsFlat-Coated Retrievers have their share of health concerns from dysplasia to cancer. The breeds problems include:

  1. Hip Dysplasia – not very common
  2. PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) – can result in blindness
  3. Glaucoma - an eye disease that can result in blindness
  4. Epilepsy – very rare but still seen
  5. Bloat (Gastric Dilatation and volvulus) – fatal if not treated immediately

Cancers

Hemangiosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Malignant Histiocytosis, and Fibrosarcoma. Studies show that about half of all Flat-Coated Retrievers die of cancer.

beauceron puppies - health problemsIt’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.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

flat coated retriever dogs - caringHe will be a medium size dog. Feed puppies 3-4 times a day about a 1/8 cup of high-quality food. Feed a puppy food designed for medium size dogs or specifically for retrievers.

Feeding the adult

Feed 2 times a day about !/2 cups of dry food per meal. Do not overfeed. They have a tendency to be obese.

Points for Good Health

Maintain a healthy weight and avoid exercise before and after meals. The good news is dysplasia and epilepsy are rare in the breed.

Games and Exercises

They are very energetic and need good exercise. Long walks and a yard to run in. Remember they are hunting dogs and will chase to retrieve things so don’t let them off leash outside your yard. They will excel at agility, tracking. Rally, obedience, swimming, hunting, and jogging. They make great therapy dogs.

Diet – Meeting his Energy Needs

beauceron dogs - caringThis 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.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Working dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
France
Height Male:
59 - 61 cm
23 - 25 inches
66 - 71 cm
25 - 28 inches
Height Female:
56 - 59 cm
22 - 24 inches
64 - 66 cm
25 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 36 kg
59 - 80 pounds
32 - 50 kg
70 - 111 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
32 - 50 kg
70 - 111 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 10 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
6 - 7
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Flatcoat, flatt, Flattie Flatte (Sweden)
French Shorthaired Shepherd, Berger de Beauce, Bas Rouge
Colors Available:
liver and yellow (blonde, black
Black/tan or red, Harlequin
Coat:
double, glossy and smooth
short, rough and dense
Shedding:
Constant
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Samoyed vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  2. Alaskan Malamute vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  3. Bullmastiff vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  4. Great Pyrenees vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  5. Boerboel vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  6. Presa Canario vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  7. Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  8. Labrador Husky vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  9. Argentine Dogo vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  10. Giant Schnauzer vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  11. Belgian Shepherd vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  12. Goldador vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  13. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  14. Dogo Cubano vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  15. Dogo Sardesco vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  16. Beauceron vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  17. Beauceron vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  18. Beauceron vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  19. Beauceron vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  20. Beauceron vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  21. Beauceron vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  22. Beauceron vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  23. Beauceron vs Alano Espanol - Breed Comparison
  24. Beauceron vs Antebellum Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  25. Central Asian Shepherd vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  26. French Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  27. Flat-Coated Retriever vs East Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  28. Flat-Coated Retriever vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  29. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  30. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  31. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  32. Flat-Coated Retriever vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  33. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  34. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  35. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  36. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  37. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  38. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  39. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  40. Lagotto Romagnolo vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  41. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  42. Shikoku vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  43. Slovakian Hound vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  44. Small Munsterlander vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  45. Sussex Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  46. Kooikerhondje vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  47. Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  48. West Siberian Laika vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  49. Wetterhoun vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  50. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds