Perro de Toro vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

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 rare Spanish Perro de Toro seems to have unclear origins, with some saying the dog is a direct descendant of the Toulouse Mastiff, while others say that the dog was developed by crossing the Alano with the Dogue de Bordeaux.

The dog hails from Spain and was once used as a fighting kind of dog but today it is essentially a family pet. The dog is an ancient breed, an ancestor of many of the molosser breeds that are around today.

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.

This is a strong, powerful, large breed of dog, making a good watchdog and guardian. He can be anything from 56 to 64cm in height and weigh between 34 and 40kg.

The nose of the dog is broad and black, the ears are set high and droop over slightly,making them floppy ears, but they have always been cropped to stand up erect.

He's a sturdy dog and the tail is fairly thick at the base, tapering to a point. These days it tends to be undocked and left long. The neck is strong and powerful too and the head brachycephalic. The short coat includes colors such as yellow, grey, fawn and red with the black mask.

Temperament:

The Spanish Bulldog looks fairly intimidating and he will certainly need training and socialization if he is to be obedient and well behaved.

He isn’t aggressive but is confident, dominant, fearless, loyal and also loving towards his owner. He is devoted towards his human family and is good with children. Like any mastiff type breed, he will need a firm, kind, consistent, patient owner. This is the kind of owner who will understand this breed type and take time out with him to exercise him and provide him with mental and physical stimulation so as to prevent boredom.

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.

Contrary to what many people think, the temperament of the Perro de Toro is calm and well balanced. This is a reliable, loving, loyal dog who wants to protect his human family.

He gets on well with children and with pets in the home and when trained and socialized, this intelligent dog is well mannered, obedient and sometimes even submissive.

True, the Perro de Toro has a history of being involved in all kinds of things, from hunting to fighting and also being a working dog, but he is now waiting to show you what a splendid pet he can be if he is raised by the right kind of people.

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.

This is a dog breed that is fit and healthy, but to keep him that way you want to make sure he has enough exercise, love and nutritious food.

He is not known to suffer from any particular disease, but even so, it is wise to be aware of some of the common dog illnesses that your dog could pick up so you can get veterinary help for him just as soon as possible.

Cancer:

With cancer, cells grow rapidly and invade tissue. Dogs can get any of the many cancers there are. Both hereditary and environmental factors can contribute to the development of cancer in canines. Cancer can show up as lumps, swelling, sores that won’t heal, weight loss and difficulty with breathing.

Heartworm:

Heartworms are transmitted from one animal to the next by mosquitoes. These worms live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of an infected animal, travelling through the bloodstream and causing havoc. Heartworm is dangerous and can actually be life threatening. Symptoms include coughing, vomiting, battling to breathe and weight loss.

Rabies:

This is a viral disease that can strike terror in anybody who has seen an animal with rabies. It affects the brain and spinal cord of your dog. It is preventable through means of a vaccine. Once symptoms appear, it is a disease which is nearly always fatal.

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.

Exercise:

If they are not being used as working dogs, they are family pets, and you need to give them a lot of daily exercise. You will need to give him some walks or hikes and allow him a good run in the country.

Grooming:

The Perro de Toro is a short haired dog, and as a moderate shedder, he isn’t going to require too much grooming. A brushing twice a week will help get rid of his hair.

When brushing him, turn it into a bit of a grooming session and check inside his ears, look at his eyes and try to look inside his mouth. He can’t tell you if he has terrible toothache from a rotting tooth and he will rely on you to check his teeth.

Diet:

Mastiff type dogs need a wholesome diet to remain strong and active. If you are going to feed your pet one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure it is one of the top quality ones.

Avoid the ones that use lots of colorants, preservatives and unhealthy fillers as these can make your dog sick. Try and give him some home-made food which can be added into his dry kibble occasionally.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables such as carrots, sweet potato and spinach chopped up will be excellent for him and will ensure he doesn’t battle with digestive upsets. If you can, every now and then try to include some raw meat for the benefit and health of your pet. Never leave him without a bowl of fresh, cool water.