Briard: Dog Breed Information, Facts and Pictures

Hypoallergenic: No
Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
Temperament: Fearless, Loyal, Obedient, Intelligent, Faithful, Protective
Weight: Female: 23–34 kg, Male: 27–41 kg
Height: Female: 56–65 cm, Male: 58–69 cm
Colors: Black, White, Tawny, Black & Gray, Black & Tawny

Basically, the Briard is an active and intelligent dog who loves to have tasks and to be useful. But despite his liveliness, he manages to radiate an inner peace and authority. He is a dog who is particularly good with children, with whom he likes to play and with an angelic patience to endure all their whims. However, he must not have made any bad experiences with them, because these remembers the intelligent Briard very carefully. As a typical shepherd dog, he has an inexhaustible stamina in everything he does and has the ability to concentrate immensely. If you can tell him exactly what his job is, then he usually needs very little practice. He will pursue a task once learned conscientiously and with a decided obstinacy.

In general, the Briard is of a balanced character and shows neither anxiety nor aggressiveness. His excessive energy should, however, be steered in the right direction, which, however, should cause little problems for these sports-loving dogs. Only the necessary time must bring the holder. Just as important is a loving consequence and the right instinct in these dogs, with sheer hardness can not achieve much here.

In the past, the Briard was mainly used as a shepherd who was to guard, guide and defend the flocks of wolves. Later he was then used as a war dog for guarding and as a medical dog. 

Nowadays, the Briard finds little use as a German Shepherd and is mainly kept for guarding and as a family dog. But also as a therapy and rescue dog, the Berger de Brie is used successfully. As a pure domestic dog, however, this workhorse will not be happy. He needs a task that he can fully devote himself to. The energetic Briard often finds these in athletic competitions in which he can fully live out his positive qualities.

The Briard comes originally from the French plains, where it originated from the local farm and farm dogs - probably from a cross between Picard and Barbet. The first mention in French literature was the breed in 1809 in Abbé Rozier's "Manual of Agriculture" under the name "dog from Brie". But as early as the 14th century, Briard-like white dogs appeared in a hunting textbook by Gaston Phoebus. Also shows a painting by the painter Andrea Mantegna from the 15th century - The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian - two dogs that resemble today's Briard. The breed received its official recognition only in 1896. Although these dogs have been shown at dog shows since 1863,

The original task of Briards was to guard and protect the flocks of sheep. During the two world wars, the French army also used it as a guard dog and a medical dog, the injured soldiers sought on the battlefields.

The back of the Briards runs straight and turns into a firm and short loin. His long and strong chest has well rounded ribs. The only slightly sloping croup goes into a deeply carried rod, which should reach at least to the hock. In the movement, it may be carried up to the height of the back line, but never above it. 

All four runs are well muscled and straight. The shoulder is well angled and fits tight to the chest, the elbow is in the body axis. The hindquarters are concisely angled and lowered in the ankle joint. The toes are well closed, close and wear, with the exception of the gray Briards, always black claws. Traditionally, the double dewclaws were preserved in this breed.