Sara Ondrako

So you got a Beauceron puppy, what next?

There seems to be a growing trend of people getting Beaucerons without fully understanding what living with a shepherd breed actually looks like day to day… especially during puppyhood and adolescence.

So let’s talk about what is NORMAL in this breed.

A correct Beauceron is not typically soft, timid, easygoing, or easily self settling when puppies. They are intelligent, physical, environmentally aware working dogs bred to think, react, engage, and move livestock.

A young Beauceron may:
• Be mouthy and use their mouth constantly during play, excitement, frustration, or engagement.
• Struggle to settle without being taught how.
• Have extremely high stamina and endurance.
• Become easily overstimulated.
• Push boundaries and test consistency, especially as a teenager.
• Be vocal, demanding, pushy, or intense.
• Need significant structure, training, and clear expectations.
• Go through periods where they seem “too much”.

This does NOT automatically mean the dog is aggressive, unstable, dominant, poorly bred, or bad. It means you likely have a normal young shepherd.

These dogs were not created to be passive house pets that naturally self regulate with no guidance. They were bred to work closely with humans while also possessing enough independence, confidence, and resilience to handle pressure and make decisions (part of being a good herding dog).

A Beauceron puppy needs:
• Boundaries and consistency.
• Appropriate mental and physical outlets, with frequent periods of rest. Puppies require more sleep than the average person would think.
• Training focused on engagement, neutrality and emotional regulation.
• Clear communication.
• Guidance through arousal instead of constant stimulation, which often times can mean firm but FAIR handling.

More exercise is often times not the answer. Many owners accidentally create an endurance athlete with zero off switch by trying to wear their Beauceron puppy out or having them engage with puzzles, chews and toys constantly being busy and not just asking your puppy to “exist”.

An overtired, overstimulated Beauceron often becomes MORE chaotic, not less. Teaching a Beauceron how to settle is just as important as teaching obedience. The art of doing nothing is a real struggle for most young Beaucerons.

This breed can be so incredible. They’re deeply loyal, versatile, thoughtful, powerful, athletic, stable, and exceptionally capable. But they are rarely effortless. If you want a dog that naturally requires very little structure, very little training, and easily blends into the background of your life, this is not the breed for you. And that’s okay!

I describe most Beaucerons as having “main character vibes” which can be so much fun for those prepared but also so overwhelming for those who are not.

The goal should never be to shame normal breed behavior out of a working dog. The goal should be to understand it, channel it, and raise the dog in front of you appropriately.

Chin-up buttercup!
If you haven't practiced this one with your pup yet, give it a try.

The chin rest is a helpful skill that, when built in well, can tap into your dog's own agency to build trust and comfort with being physically handled in various situations, like medical care or grooming.

A chin rest is part of the Cooperative Care method, where a dog learns to cooperate with handling based on trust-building, choice in participation, and predictable patterns.

This is a demo on how to begin building a chin rest.

This can easily be translated into resting a chin on an object, such as a perch or a rolled-up towel, as a chin cushion while being handled.

When taught early to puppies and used alongside other handling skills and strategic fun visits, it can prevent fears and anxieties that dogs often develop as they age, including during veterinary visits.

Chin Rest Demo #dogbehavior #dogtraining #cooperativecare The chin rest is a helpful skill that when built in well, can tap into your dog’s own agency to build trust and comfort with being physically handled in vari...

Remember that long-form video where I showed you, step by step, how I taught my dog to enjoy having her teeth brushed? If not, it's attached here 😉 More importantly, and not so obvious, is that I use this exact method to teach MANY behaviors to dogs!

Behaviors such as cleaning their paws when they come in muddy, without running off or becoming nervous about getting their paws beign wiped. Nail trimming, getting a blood draw from the vet techs at the hospital - these are all end behaviors that involve using behavior chaining to get to that end goal result. No matter the behavior, you can use this type of breakdown as a backbone to teach smaller, easier behaviors and then chain them together to reach the desired end behavior.

Also, remember that time when my hair was this short?! 😱

Last one: Also, remember that just because Pet Dental Month is over, it doesn't mean you should forget how important oral health is to overall health. Do your dog's mouth, your wallet, and your relationship with your dog a favor by following these steps to help your dog become comfortable with teeth brushing.

How to Easily Brush Your Dog's Teeth: Step-by-Step Tutorial 🐶 HELPFUL DENTAL PRODUCTS:○ Petsmile Toothpaste and Toothbrush: https://amzn.to/49xZjFn○ Bark Bright Dental Treats: https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-100674124...