Briard

The Briard (pronounced Bree-Ard) is a large, well built herding dog with a coarse, long double coat that is somewhat wavy. These dogs are usually black, grey or tawny colored. The coat of a full grown dog can be more than 6 inches long, giving the coat a bushy, attractive look. These dogs look like they have shaggy beards, eyebrows and a moustache. The ears can be cropped or left to grow or clipped to a round shape to let the hair cascade down on to the coat. The muzzle is square shaped and rather long. These dogs have black noses. The tail is long, feathered and the tip resembles a crochet hook. These dogs have a gracefully agile way of carrying themselves and sometimes look as if their feet don’t touch the ground while walking or running.

These dogs have strong herding instincts and make good workers on any farm. They are also endowed with exceptional hearing, which makes them useful in war zones for finding wounded soldiers. They also make good watch dogs because they are very alert by nature. They are playful yet obedient. Their long association with humans and their friendly disposition has made them easily trainable. These dogs need to be actively involved with their family and their owners and should not be neglected or left alone for long periods of time. They do not respond well to harsh training or teasing. The owner should be firm, encouraging and consistent while training the dog. If treated poorly, these dogs may even become aggressive. They can be somewhat suspicious of strangers but this behavior can be controlled with positive training.

Briards can grow up to 24-27 inches in height and their average weight is about 75 pounds. They are generally healthy dogs but can be sometimes prone to cataracts, PRA and hip dysplasia. Like other large chested dogs, Briards can be vulnerable to bloating. This condition can be fatal if left untreated. These dogs are able to survive in apartments but should be given enough exercise. They are not suited to being indoors or in a kennel all the time. They are happiest being part of a family but also love to be outdoors from time to time.

Briards require about 2 hours per week of grooming to prevent matting. The inside of the ears should be kept free of dirt and excess hair.

The Briard has been well known as a breed for several centuries. Famous personalities like Charlemagne, Napoleon, Thomas Jefferson and General Lafayette were all Briard owners. These dogs were used by the French army for sentry duty and as a messenger. In Paris, these dogs gained widespread popularity after the dog show of 1863. This was largely made possible due to the improvements that were made in the dog’s looks by cross breeding it with Barbets and Beaucerons. These dogs still serve as herders and guard dogs for flocks of livestock. Other uses include police work, search and rescues, military work and companion dogs.