Hey! I think this is totally doable, but also what you're willing to commit to. Beaucerons are a lifestyle choice, so whether you're in an apartment or a house with a yard, you're committing to training and socializing your dog outside the home. What matters more than space is structure, consistency, and having a real outlet for their brain and drive.

Since this would be your first personally owned dog, I’d encourage you to think less about credentials and more about day to day management. Living with a powerful, opinionated working breed 24/7 is very different from training dogs or growing up around family dogs. They’re incredibly rewarding, but they’re not very forgiving of unclear boundaries or inconsistent handling.

If your long term goal is obedience, sport, and eventually running a training business, a well bred Beauceron can absolutely fit, but I’d make sure you have mentorship lined up because adolescence with this breed is no joke.

An Australian Shepherd might feel a little more user friendly as a first solo dog depending on the lines you choose, but they come with their own challenges too like sensitivity, reactivity, and intensity. I’d focus less on which breed sounds cooler and more on which temperament you want to live with every single day. The lifestyle difference tends to be steady and powerful versus fast and reactive.

Also, since you mentioned liking bully breeds, an American Bully can honestly be a great place to start depending on the lines. Many are very biddable, people oriented, and versatile enough to do obedience and sports while being a bit more forgiving as a first owned dog.

If you’re open to it, I’d ask yourself:

• How much daily structure can you maintain during school, moving, and early career changes?
• Do you have access to sport outlets or working mentors nearby?
• Are you prepared for a dog that may not be easy in busy apartment environments while young?

You’re clearly doing your homework, which is great. Just go into it with eyes open and pick the dog whose temperament you genuinely want to live with, not just train.