Angie Robertson
1. I live in a suburb of Las Vegas, Nevada, with my wonderful husband and three kids. I’ve been participating in AKC events for 12 years and breeding Beaucerons for 10 years. Our kennel is Joie de Vie Beaucerons. Joie de Vie represents our pursuit of living life to the fullest with humility, gratitude, integrity, kindness, selflessness, and self-discipline. We are devoted to modeling good sportsmanship and camaraderie, and we take great pride in our contribution to the breed. I cherish the relationships we have built with our owners and I’m passionate about educating and helping them become excellent handlers. My favorite aspect of breeding is the evaluation process and continually increasing my understanding of how canine form supports the jobs for which they were bred.
2. We are seeing more health issues in the breed. This could be due to increasing numbers combined with better testing, i.e., DCM. Lack of proper shoulder layback and cow hocks are constant challenges in the breed, but overall, I would say that they are in good condition and have been improving in both structure and temperament.
3. Judges, by and large, are becoming more familiar with the breed. However, we do see judges who could benefit from more insight concerning the appropriate size and ears, i.e., bigger is better and cropped vs. natural.
4. The Beauceron is known as a jack of all trades. Performance sports bring that part of their nature forward. It is nice to see dogs doing what they are bred to do and to see their instincts come to the forefront. Many people see a large, imposing dog, but they don’t realize that it is a herding dog at heart. Many Beaucerons are competing in all kinds of sports, from Agility to Treiball. The average Beauceron will try anything and do well.
5. This one is touchy. Social media is both good and bad. It gives another avenue for people to learn about the breed; for owners and aficionados to share information and make new contacts. The downside is seen in all breeds, not just this one. The anonymity that social media provides can bring out the worst in people, which only acts against the breed.
6. The biggest challenges are fewer people entering the sport, increased costs (inflation), and social media. Also, the difficulties of some clubs to find volunteers or club members who are willing to take on responsibility as older members step back.
7. The overall balance of angulation has improved, and therefore, the quality of movement has as well. Temperaments overall have shown improvement in the breed. More Beaucerons are being given the opportunity to prove their value as versatile Service Dogs while still being able to do protection sports and work.
