Color vs temperament

I’m going to say something that has been weighing on me lately, and I’m saying it with kindness, but also with a fair amount of frustration.

Probably 98% of the puppy inquiries I receive lately start with some version of:

“Do you have any harlequins?”“Are there any harlequin puppies available?”“I’m looking for a harlequin.”

No hello. No questions about the litter. No “Can you tell me about your puppies?” No questions about my program, my dogs, the application process, or what I’m looking for in a home.

Just color.

I understand it. Harlequin Beaucerons are striking. They catch your eye, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a color preference.

But color should be pretty far down the list when choosing the dog you may live with for the next 10+ years.

Something many new people to the breed also don’t realize is that harlequin is a fading color. That flashy puppy you fell in love with may become a very dark adult, with some becoming nearly black in appearance as they mature. There is absolutely no guarantee that the dramatic puppy coloring you wanted is what you’ll be looking at several years from now.

What concerns me even more is how rarely temperament is the first question.

I have quite a few first-time dog owners and first-time Beauceron owners reaching out to me, and sometimes color is discussed before temperament is ever mentioned.

That honestly blows my mind a little.

If you have never owned a dog before, and especially if you have never lived with a Beauceron, temperament should be one of the biggest things on your mind.

What is this puppy like?

Is this puppy environmentally sound?

How social are they?

How intense are they?

How do they handle frustration?

How much drive do they have?

Would they actually enjoy the life I can provide?

Is this puppy appropriate for my experience level, my household, my children, my other animals, and what I want to do with them?

Those are the questions that matter.

Right now, I have puppies that I genuinely believe could grow into absolutely wonderful family companions. Puppies with qualities people tell me they are looking for.

But some of them aren’t even given a second thought because they are black & rust.

And I’ll admit, that is incredibly frustrating as a breeder.

I put an enormous amount of thought into pedigrees, health, temperament, structure, working ability, raising these puppies, evaluating them, and trying to make the best possible matches. I’m not producing puppies to fill color orders.

I’m trying to produce good Beaucerons.

Sometimes the puppy that checks every box for your family may not be wearing the color you pictured when you first started looking.

And sometimes the flashy puppy you had your heart set on may be completely wrong for your household.

I will always listen to preferences. Color, sex, activities, goals, all of it. Preferences matter when I’m making placements.

But I really wish more conversations started with:

“Can you tell me about your puppies?”

“What are their temperaments like?”

“What do you look for in a home?”

“What is your process?”

“I’m new to Beaucerons. Can you help me understand what I should be looking for?”

Those are conversations I LOVE having.

I welcome first-time Beauceron owners. I even welcome first-time dog owners when the home, expectations, commitment, and individual puppy are the right fit. You do not have to come to me already knowing everything.

But please come looking for the right dog first and the right color second.

Because when wonderful puppies are overlooked solely because they are black & rust, it is discouraging enough to make me seriously question whether I want to continue breeding future litters.

I love this breed. I love raising these puppies. And I want them appreciated for everything they are capable of becoming, not simply for the pattern of the coat they happened to be born wearing.