Large
12 Years
41 Kg
Pastoral Dogs
Courageous, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective
The Briard is one of the ancient breeds of dogs that originated in France. It is a large breed typically weighing in around 25 to 40 kilos (males being heavier) and standing between 58 to 69 cm from withers (males standing higher than females). It has double dewclaws on each of the back legs, a characteristic of the breed. The double dewclaws are mounted low on each back leg and help the Briard pivot on one foot during quick turns or complete turnarounds when herding flocks. The double dewclaws also give the Briard the appearance of wider rear feet. Another characteristic of the Briard is its unique long and slightly wavy outer coat which is uniformly black, fawn or grey. The outer coat length is typically 7 cm or longer and very dry. The head carries a moustache, beard, and eyebrows which add to the rugged appearance of the Briard. A dense undercoat helps protect the breed from extreme weather. It also has a large black nose, large dark brown eyes that give an intelligent and gentle expression and fairly short ears covered in long hair. When the Briard is alert, the ears are lifted slightly and swing slightly forward. It also has a long tail and well covered with long hair with an upward hook at the tail tip.
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Briard or Chien Berger de Brie (sheepdog of Brie) as it is known in its native of France, is an old breed dating back in history as far back as Roman Emperor Charlemagne in the 800 AD, where it has been seen in tapestries and relics of that era. However, its ancestors most certainly originated much earlier and evolved through time by natural selection for the unique qualities required in its purpose. The Briard is said to have originated in the ancient region of Brie and is the most numerous among the breed of French sheepdogs. It has been used for many centuries as a working dog, helping farmers and herders flock sheep and guard homes. With its stature and independent nature, the Briard was an excellent guard dog, able to ward off wolves, other predators and thieves. In the 1780s, then US Ambassador to France Thomas Jefferson purchased a female Briard from Marquis de La Fayette and brought it back home to America. It is also written that Napoleon Bonaparte took in exile with him his two Briards when he was exiled in 1815. During the First World War, the Briard was extensively used by the French Army as a search and rescue dog, sentry dog, and carried ammunitions, supplies, and messages to the front lines. The first Briard imported to the UK arrived from Ireland in 1966 and was first shown publicly in the UK in 1967, while the first direct import from France was in 1969. That same year, the Briard qualified for Crufts which saw the formation of the breed’s club four years later. More recently, Briards helped in search and rescue efforts in Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010.
The Briard is a true working dog, highly intelligent, independent but with a gentle heart. It is highly protective of its home and family members because it was bred to guard both livestock and homestead in its native origin. As a guard dog, it is naturally aloof with strangers. It forms a very deep bond with its owners to the point of being emotional when left alone and jumping for joy upon the return of its owner. To the Briard, the family members are the flock and any stranger may be perceived as the predator so early socialisation is mandatory to correct or minimize this natural instinct to defend. As an independent thinker, it has a tendency to become strong minded and stubborn. A strong herding ability runs deep in the breed’s veins that even for a Briard raised in an urban environment, this attitude will manifest when the dog tries to nibble an ankle or bump its head into its master’s feet.
It is naturally aloof with strangers because of its instinct to protect so it is important that the Briard is introduced to different situations (people and places) at a very young age if it is to be kept solely as a well-balanced pet. Socialisation at an early age can be done through walking along areas where there are other dogs so that the Briard will become accustomed to seeing other animals and people. Pet stores, dog parks, and malls are good places to take the dog for socialisation purposes. It is a highly intelligent breed, quick to learn and has a sharp and good memory, which makes it fairly easy to train. Once a new experience or a new command is taught, it will remember it for a very long time. Dog agility trials, showmanship events, flyball, Schutzhund, tracking and herding events are some of the activities that the Briard can compete in.
The double coat of the Briard does not moult (shed) but it requires a considerable amount of grooming. Training the dog to be groomed should also start at an early age, preferably during 8 – 10 weeks so that the dog will be accustomed to being brushed. Inspect the feet for any debris that might have been stepped upon as well as for mats which must be removed to avoid discomfort. Brush the coat layer by layer, which means lifting the top hair to expose the inner coat, brushing it down until getting to the outer coat. This makes sure that all tangles are taken care of. To groom the face, hold the dog by the beard and brush the hair from the nose down to the sides of the mouth. Lift the ears up to brush the hairs behind the ears. The top of the head and around the eyes should also be clear of tangles. Clip the dew claws with dog nail clippers from time to time. Grooming must be done daily to prevent matting which can cause serious illness to the skin.
The double coat of the Briard does not moult (shed) but it requires a considerable amount of grooming. Training the dog to be groomed should also start at an early age, preferably during 8 – 10 weeks so that the dog will be accustomed to being brushed. Inspect the feet for any debris that might have been stepped upon as well as for mats which must be removed to avoid discomfort. Brush the coat layer by layer, which means lifting the top hair to expose the inner coat, brushing it down until getting to the outer coat. This makes sure that all tangles are taken care of. To groom the face, hold the dog by the beard and brush the hair from the nose down to the sides of the mouth. Lift the ears up to brush the hairs behind the ears. The top of the head and around the eyes should also be clear of tangles. Clip the dew claws with dog nail clippers from time to time. Grooming must be done daily to prevent matting which can cause serious illness to the skin.
The Briard matures when it is around 18 months old, so until this age, exercise must be kept to a minimum to prevent injuries. Short walks are enough up to this age. However, an adult Briard should have regular daily exercise routines to keep it healthy. Long walks or jogs for about an hour will make the Briard happy. It is best to live in a home with a large fenced yard or in a countryside setting where it can run free off the lead.
This highly affectionate and gentle giant has been proven to be a very good companion with children of all ages. Most Briards are territorial when it comes to other animals, owing to their natural guarding instinct. However, this breed is usually good with pets in its own home especially if raised with them from puppyhood.
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