Thought to originate from the Province of Brie, in France, the Briard was originally developed to protect against wolf attacks. Eventually, they became beloved pets and herding dogs.

History

The Briard has been known for some centuries. Charlemagne, Napoleon, Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette all owned Briards. This ancient sheep guard and herder has also been used by the French Army as a sentry, messenger, and to search for wounded soldiers because of its fine sense of hearing. They were used in the First World War to the point of extinction. It became popular only after the Paris dog show of 1863 - in large part due to the improvement of the dog's looks achieved by crosses with the Beauceron and the Barbet. The Briard is named either for Aubry of Montdidier, a man who was supposed to have owned an early Briard, or for the French province of Brie, although the dog probably does not originate in that locale. The Briard still serves as a herder and flock guardian today, as well as an esteemed companion dog. Some of the Briards talents are search & rescue, police work, military work, herding, watchdogging and guarding. Currently the Population of Briards are slowly recovering. Experts state they are related to the Berger Picard

Appearance and Size

The most distinguishing characteristics of the Briard are the eyebrows, moustache and beard. These characteristics give the Briard an almost human-like quality. Coupled with the small hook at the end of the tail, called the crochet, the Briard has an immensely unique appearance among breeds. The Briard's hair is a wavy, course, double coat usually around 6 inches long. The colors range from fawn to black. The tail hair usually feathered. The hair on the high set ears is clipped into a round shape. The Briard has an exceptionally powerful body. His strong neck and squared nose make for a commanding presence. His eyes are positioned well apart with a self-assured gaze. The AKC requires these dogs to have two dewclaws on each rear foot. The adult Briard stands 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder. They range in weight from 74 to 76 pounds.

Personality

The Briard is a very intelligent breed. They are faithful and obedient, making them easily trainable. They have a very high herding instinct, and may tend to herd young children and other animals. They are attentive and gentle when dealing with their "flock." Briards can be very protective of children. They need to be heavily socialized at a very early age; a poorly socialized Briard can be independent, stubborn and even fearful. Most are leery of strangers. They are eager to please, but owners must be firm. These dogs love to work. They have heightened hearing abilities making them a first-rate guard dog. These dogs can be dog-aggressive. They require a lot of distraction and activity to keep them busy. A bored Briard is a destructive Briard.

Wikipedia and GNU

The content of this entry is from the Wikipedia article "Briard" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.