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Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked and Happily Answered
All About Me
For Svajonė Kennels
Q: Do you health test your Beaucerons?
A: Absolutely! Health testing is extremely important to us here at Svajonė and we believe in going above and beyond to make sure we have the knowledge needed to make pairing decisions. I firmly believe that health testing results should be used as a tool to help breeders make decisions. However, as a breeder, I will never use health testing results, and their transparency, as a weapon against my own program or other programs.
All of our breeding prospects are tested according to the American Beauceron Code of Ethics requirements (OFA hips or Pennhips) and recommendations (OFA Eye Exam and an Echocardiogram). We also test with Embark or UC Davis for HUU, vWd, DM, COI, and color genetics, as well as OFA Elbows, OFA Shoulders, and OFA Spine. I encourage all of my puppy buyers, even those with pets, to complete the American Beauceron Club’s health testing requirements and recommendations as it adds to our knowledge of the breed’s health as a whole and helps add to my knowledge of what kind of health I am achieving in my breedings as a whole, not just in the breeding prospects here at Svajonė.
Due to several malicious breeders and members in the Beauceron community, we do not share our abnormal results publicly on OFA at this time. However, we have no secrets at Svajonė, and all results are shared with our puppy families to allow them to have full knowledge to make purchasing decisions, as well as share with the families with related dogs!
Q: Do you title your Beaucerons?
A: Yes we do! I love titling in various sports with our Beaucerons. They are truly a jack of all trades and we love dabbling in a little of everything! We have produced Beaucerons that are titling and training in Conformation, Herding, Barnhunt, Fast Cat, Canine Good Citizen, Trick Dog, Weight Pull, Agility, Scent Work, Search & Rescue, IGP, Rally, and Obedience. Versatility is extremely important to our program!
Q: Do you have a waiting list? How do I get on it?
A: We do have a waiting list. We have an application that needs to be filled out before scheduling a phone call to discuss if my program is the right fit for the Beauceron you are looking for. After, if approved, a deposit can be placed. Please note that puppies are assigned based on the right fit for you and the puppy, so while I am happy to take gender/color preferences, mother nature is fickle and it can take time to produce those preferences with the correct personality that you need for your new family member!
Q: Do you sell Breeding Rights?
A: We do not sell breeding rights. If the show prospect you are sold matures to be a wonderful representation of the breed then the contract stipulates options for reproduction with Svajonė's Program.
Q: Do you pick the puppy for me or can I choose it?
A: We choose the puppies for each individual/family. We spend 8 weeks evaluating the puppies from the moment they are born, day in and day out. The puppies are raised with ENS and a mixture of Puppy Culture and Avidog protocols. Through several weeks of evaluations, puppies are assigned myself to the families and homes that they will thrive with!
Q: How are the puppies raised?
A: Our puppies are born and raised in our home and with the puppy culture and avidog program. They are intended to be family members so they are raised like family members. They are kept warm and clean in a private nursery with our constant care and attention over them and mom. As they get older and more interactive, their room will open into the rest of the house with supervision, they will experience different surfaces and textures, toys and obstacles, all daily household sounds/routines such as vacuuming and TV noises, socialization visits from approved guests and their children, safe and positive interaction with our approved adult dogs, indoor and outdoor exposure as weather conditions permit, car travel, crate exposure, vet visits as necessary, fresh water available at all times, and the best nutrition and supplements we believe in for our dogs. They are also introduced to clicker training, shaping games, crate training, and basic foundations.
Q: Can I meet the parents?
A: As long as the parents are on site, you are more than welcome to meet them! I don't always use stud dogs owned by my program. I will travel within and outside the United States of America to use the best stud dog for my female for the best pairing possible!
Q: Do you offer a Health Guarantee?
A: We do! We offer a guarantee against congenital DCM, as well as severe Hip & Elbow Dysplasia. This must be diagnosed under 25 months of age. We will assist all our puppy owners in scheduling the appropriate testing at their request!
Q: Do I have to show or do sports?
A: In every litter, there will be pet-quality puppies and hopefully a show-quality puppy(s). You do not need to be interested in or participate in shows or sports to get one of our puppies. Involvement in sports, competitions, or activities is highly encouraged and desirable as it is a great way to train and bond with your dog and for them to have something fulfilling and exciting to do. Showing is for those serious about an AKC Championship and the potential future breeding of a show prospect puppy.
Q: How involved are you as the breeder?
A: The short answer? As involved as you want me to be! I am proud to offer lifelong support and encouragement, through the bad and the good, I will be there to celebrate your successes and give encouragement through the failure and setbacks. You will have access to the expertise I have gained over my years of training and trialing. Some of my puppy families talk to me every week, some prefer to check in every month or so. We encourage all our owners to tag us, and send photos, videos, etc. We love updates!
About The Breed
Q: Why do they have double-dew claws?
A: The Beauceron's dew-claws should be firmly attached. When they are correctly attached they are able to move and use them. One of the historic purposes of the Beauceron was to move sheep and cattle through the swampy region of France. The firmly attached dews allowed for more surface area and traction for them to be able to move on top of the wet, boggy ground quickly to keep the livestock in line and conserve energy for the trip.
Q: How large does the Beauceron mature to?
A: From the standard, "The ideal Beauceron is a well balanced, solid dog of good height and well muscled without heaviness or coarseness. The whole conformation gives the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness, exhibiting the strength, endurance and agility required of the herding dog." With that, I like to see females ranging from 70-85 pounds and males from 90-105 pounds.
Q: How large does the Beauceron mature to?
A: From the AKC standard, "The ideal Beauceron is a well balanced, solid dog of good height and well muscled without heaviness or coarseness. The whole conformation gives the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness, exhibiting the strength, endurance and agility required of the herding dog." With that, I like to see females ranging from 70-85 pounds and males from 90-105 pounds.
Q: Do Beaucerons have an off-switch?
A well-bred Beauceron should have a very obtainable off-switch. Expectations of rest or settle are a must during the training of your Beauceron to access their off-switch. If you are go-go all the time and have not also set up expectations for your Beauceron to settle, they will live up to the challenge. A well behaved adult Beauceron is not overly hyper, however up until age two or three they can be extremely active and will require a great deal of exercise. They should not be left alone or in a kennel for long periods of time. Idleness and loneliness are the Beaucerons worst enemies. Without proper exercise and activities, a Beauceron can easily become destructive and unruly due to boredom.
Q: Is the Beauceron a good service-dog candidate?
A: The Beauceron is an extremely slow maturing breed both physically and mentally. Males can take as long as 4-5 years and females 3-4 years to fully mature. It can lead to frustration due to slow progress. This alone makes the washout rate very high for this breed. That being said, there are several success stories across the breed and a handful within my own program. They can succeed as mobility-assistance, allergy-assistance, diabetic-alert, and seizure-alert service dogs. I do not normally recommend them for any Psychiatric work, however on a rare occasion it can be seen. It takes a very specific pairing and puppy to set a team up for success. Being completely honest with your breeder about any needs or expectations is very important.
Q: Is the Beauceron a versatile breed?
A: The Beauceron is a very athletic dog that gives the impression of strength. They are an incredibly versatile breed with a powerful, muscular build, but with freedom of movement and liveliness, without heaviness. Their physical capabilities combined with their work ethic help them succeed in Search and Rescue work, scent work, service work, and therapy work. They successfully compete in tracking, obedience, agility, protection sports, skijoring, lure coursing, and flyball, as well as the primary function they were bred for, herding.
Beaucerons are known for their extreme intelligence and are without a doubt one of the most intelligent of dog breeds. They have excellent memories, and their principal qualities are obedience, vigilance, calmness, courage, hardiness, and patience. The Beauceron displays an extreme sense of loyalty and an eagerness to please his master. They are sensitive dogs and seem to have an uncanny ability to sense their owners moods and desires.
Q: Is the Beauceron a good first time dog breed?
A: The Beauceron is not a dog for everyone and may not be suitable for a first time dog owner. If not properly handled, a Beauceron can become quite assertive. The Beauceron requires early, competent training and socialization by an experienced and disciplined owner.
Q: Does the Beauceron have a high prey drive?
A: For a herding breed, the Beauceron does tend to have a lower prey drive than most. This can vary depending on the pedigree.
Q: Is the Beauceron good with children?
A: A well-bred Beauceron should be a perfect family member. They are kind and thoughtful. Of course, correct training and building appropriate boundaries is necessary as these guys are slow to mature and takes "bull in a china shop" as a challenge.
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