The Briard
The Briard
Origins
The Briard (also named Berger Briard or Berger de Brie) is known since the times of Napoleon. This breed originates from the France regions. It was one of the main assets of the French Army and later on, in the World War I, as message carrier or wounded searcher. The Briard is used as a sheep herder and guardian, police dog, watchdog, or search and rescue actions.
Appearance
The Berger Briard belongs to the big dog breeds category, with a height of 57-68 cm at the withers and a weight of 24-65 kg. The body structure is compact, strong, agile, all covered with a long and rugged coat colored in black, brown or fawn. The face area coat is colored sometimes in light nuances and it covers the eyes. The ears should be uncropped and slightly positioned in the back of the head. The muzzle is semi-blunt and it ends in a black nose, powerful jaws. The tail should be long and furry, just like the legs.
Grooming
The Berger de Brie needs special grooming attention because of his dense and long coat. This breed is a medium shedder and the coat needs combing and clipping twice a week and even more in the shedding season. You should clip the pads area for any long hair to keep the feet clean. This grooming attention is also required for small Briard pups, even if they don’t shed alot.
Health Facts
The Briard dogs are known to live about 9-12 years and even more. The litter size is about 2-4 puppies. They can suffer from various health disorders, ranging from eye infections (mainly caused by improper care of the eyes area that is covered by fur), neck problems (thyroid disorders), gastrointestinal (bloat). This breed will never suffer from obesity if it’s used to constant exercise and a proper alimentation.
Temperament and Lifestyle
The Briard is an intelligent, independent, devoted and loving breed. These dogs can be very protective, very efficient watchdogs indeed. They can adapt to any situation or people, and they need constant attention and things to do, so they could stay alert and interested. They behave well with other animals and children, although their instictual herding behavior could kick in. They are good candidate for a proper dog training effort, but because they are sometimes stubborn and independent, it could prove somewhat tricky.
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