AKC Dog Breeds: Briard

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Herding Group
Height: 22-27 inches   Weight: 65-75  pounds  Color: black, grey, or tawny

The Briard originates from the Brie region in France, and his ancestry dates back over one thousand years. Bred as a herding dog, this dog was known as the Berger De Brie, which translates to the shepherd dog of Brie. The Briard was registered with the AKC in 1928. The Briard can be characterized as a large and muscular herding dog. In addition to the herding the Briard was also used as a guard dog. This makes the Briard a natural watch dog that has strong loyalties to its owner and family. They are very eager to please and learn tasks very quickly. Due to their history of being farm dogs they were taught many tasks. They have excellent memory for commands and are able to work independently. This independent personality does not take away from its loving and affectionate nature with its family.

General Appearance

The Briard is a large muscular herding dog with a coarse long, slightly wavy double coat. Briards are generally black, gray, or tawny.  The Briard's coat is very coarse and strong. It is slightly wavy double coat. It is really similar to the coat of goats. Dirt and water do not easily attach to the coat. The tawny puppy coat turns to a lighter yearling coat. Then the coat deepens in color again to a richer adult coat. The hair of an adult coat is 6 or more inches giving the coat an attractive, bushy look with a shaggy beard, eyebrows and mustache. The ears can be cropped or left natural and are usually clipped into a rounded shape so the hair cascades from them into the rest of the coat. The muzzle is square and long and the nose is black. The long, feathered tail has a crochet hook at the tip. Briards, like many other French shepherds, have two dewclaws on each hind foot. The Briard has a strong and powerful stature combined with the agility needed for a herding dog. The head of the Briard should give the impression of length with clean lines and no excess skin or jowls. The head should also be held high and alter and should connect to the neck at a 90 degree angle. Their muscular build is emphasized in their chest. The chest is broad and deep with moderately curved ribs. The shoulder blades are to be long and muscular.

Temperament

He is a dog of heart, with spirit and initiative, wise and fearless with no trace of timidity. Intelligent, easily trained, faithful, gentle, and obedient, the Briard possesses an excellent memory and an ardent desire to please his master. He retains a high degree of his ancestral instinct to guard home and master. Although he is reserved with strangers, he is loving and loyal to those he knows. Some will display a certain independence. The Briard is definitely not a dog for everyone. They can be very stubborn and independent and sometimes very unfriendly and fearful when not raised properly. They respond very poorly punishment or severe training. They can become very withdrawn and sometimes even violent when treated negatively. It is important to train them using a more positive approach. Clicker training and food reinforcement training are examples of positive training methods. This breed is very sensitive to being teased. Further to this, because of their training and history of being herding dogs, Briards are likely to nip at people's heels with the intentions of herding them where the dog thinks they should go.

Grooming
The Briard is a medium shedder, and his long, dense coat will need to be combed around twice a week, although this will have to be done more regularly during the periods when he is shedding more heavily. Puppies may need more regular grooming even when not shedding heavily. Bathing should only be done when absolutely necessary. Frequent bathing will harm the coat and make it more difficult to groom. Their ears must be kept clean.

Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The Briard has a life expectancy of around 10-12 years. A number of health problems and disorders are associated with this breed, and this includes thyroid problems, eye disorders, HD, PRA, and bloat.

Activity Level

Briards have a high energy level and are natural athletes. They require daily exercise and will become restless without it. This breed loves to swim and are ideal walking and jogging companions. They will do okay in an apartment if they are sufficiently exercised. They are moderately active indoors and do best with an average sized yard. This breed needs a great deal of activity, entertainment, and interaction. The Briard will not allow themselves to be ignored.






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Briard dog on dog encyclopedia
Briards profile on dog encyclopedia