Briard FAQs
At SeaBries Berger de Brie, we believe that proper socialization includes a walk in a very public place almost everyday - to sidewalk cafes, esspresso bars and bistros; hardware stores and garden centers; pet stores; farmers markets, street fairs and festivals; banks; dry cleaning establishments; city parks and playgrounds; and the downtown commercial district. In Port Townsend we are lucky enough to even have a few retail stores that are dog-friendly. Because Briards are quite striking we are frequently stopped and asked questions about the breed.
What kind of dog is that?
A Briard (bree-ard), a French herding dog, un Chien Berger de Brie. The Briard has been known for some centuries. Charlemagne, Napolean, Thomas Jeffferson, and 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.There is some controversy regarding the origin of the name of the breed. Some believe the breed derives its name from the French province of Brie, like the well-known cheese, hence Chien Berger de Brie, or sheep-herding dog of Brie.
Others say that Briard, or Chien Berger de Brie is a corruption of Chien d'Aubrey. Sir Aubrey de Montdidier was a French aristocrat who was murdered in 1371 in front of his Briard. Every time the dog came across the assassin, the dog became enraged and tried to attack the killer. The King of France ordered that a duel should take place between the dog and the accused, Richard de Macaire. The dog was the victor. Macaire confessed and was beheaded.
Is that like a Bouvier?
Not exactly. The Bouvier des Flandres is the Belgian rough-coated, cattle-herder originating in southwest Flanders and on the French northern plain. Whereas, the Briard is one of several sheep-herding dogs from France, the others being the Beger Picard, Beauceron, and Pyrenean. The Briard is the large goat-haired variety, while the Beauceron is the smooth version. Both Briard and Beauceron have double dewclaws on the rear legs. The Pyrenean Sheepdog is the small hairy type, with the Smooth-faced Pyrenean Sheepdog less hairy, but not completely smooth-coated.
As for the Briard and the Bouvier, both are bearded herders from a similar part of Europe. Both are considered "head" breeds as there is considerable description of the head in both standards. Both are shown with either cropped or natural ears. The Briard topline is constructed with a very slight incline, downward from the prominent withers to the back which is straight, to the broad loin and the croup which is slightly inclined. The Bouvier must have a firm level topline. The briard tail is uncut, whereas the Bouvier tail is docked. While the Briard must have double dewclaws on the rear legs, if the Bouvier is born with any dewclaws, they are to be removed.
Additional similarities and differences can be found in the breed standards on the AKC website. Several articles comparing the breeds are available from the Briard Club of America .
As for the Briard and the Bouvier, both are bearded herders from a similar part of Europe. Both are considered "head" breeds as there is considerable description of the head in both standards. Both are shown with either cropped or natural ears. The Briard topline is constructed with a very slight incline, downward from the prominent withers to the back which is straight, to the broad loin and the croup which is slightly inclined. The Bouvier must have a firm level topline. The briard tail is uncut, whereas the Bouvier tail is docked. While the Briard must have double dewclaws on the rear legs, if the Bouvier is born with any dewclaws, they are to be removed.
Additional similarities and differences can be found in the breed standards on the AKC website. Several articles comparing the breeds are available from the Briard Club of America .
Is it a new breed?
No. When the first dog show was held in Paris in 1863, there were a dozen French sheepdogs entered, of diverse shape and size. The most numerous were dogs of a smooth-haired breed, black and tan in color, now known as the Beauceron. There were also two representatitves of the hairy sheepdog known as the Briard. The Briard was registered in the French Stud book in 1885, and the first Beauceron in 1893. The Beauceron and the Briard were not officially separated until 1896.
The American Kennel Club admitted the Briard to its ranks in 1928, the Bouvier in 1929, yet the the Beauceron was not admitted until 2007. Both the Berger Picard and the Pyrenean Shepherd have been accepted for recording in the AKC Foundation Stock Service.
The American Kennel Club admitted the Briard to its ranks in 1928, the Bouvier in 1929, yet the the Beauceron was not admitted until 2007. Both the Berger Picard and the Pyrenean Shepherd have been accepted for recording in the AKC Foundation Stock Service.
Do his ears do that all by themselves?
Now they do, but Nash's were cropped. In this country they can be shown with either a natural or a cropped ear. The first Briard we met was English, where cropping is not done. It was the look we first fell in love with and so our first two Briards had natural ears.
At the time, we were a strong advocates of the natural ear, preferring the look and believing it not right to crop. After losing Bones and Houlette before their time, health record and longevity of the line became a priority when we searched for our third Briard. Nash's breeder has a strong preference for cropped ears and in the big scheme of considerations, cropping fell to the bottom of our list.
Now that we've had it both ways, I've come to prefer the look of the cropped ears. They are much more expressive. With regard to the impact of the procedure on the pup, I think it is about as traumatic as piercing your ears. And the post-cropping care of the Briard is not as invasive as one might assume. Unlike Dobermans and Danes, the Briards do not require taping and sticks to support the ears. A little glue in the hair between the ears in the begining, and voila, beautifully erect and wonderfully emotive ears! Thom still prefers the look of natural ear. It probably was the best choice for Bones, who at 29" would have looked like a pony with cropped ears.
The AKC Briard standards says: "The natural ear must not lie flat against the head, and, when alert, the ears are lifted slightly, giving a square look to the top of the skull. The ears when cropped should be carried upright and parallel, emphasizing the parallel lines of the head; when alert, they should face forward, well open with long hair falling over the opening. The cropped ear should be long, broad at the base, tapering gradually to a rounded tip."
At the time, we were a strong advocates of the natural ear, preferring the look and believing it not right to crop. After losing Bones and Houlette before their time, health record and longevity of the line became a priority when we searched for our third Briard. Nash's breeder has a strong preference for cropped ears and in the big scheme of considerations, cropping fell to the bottom of our list.
Now that we've had it both ways, I've come to prefer the look of the cropped ears. They are much more expressive. With regard to the impact of the procedure on the pup, I think it is about as traumatic as piercing your ears. And the post-cropping care of the Briard is not as invasive as one might assume. Unlike Dobermans and Danes, the Briards do not require taping and sticks to support the ears. A little glue in the hair between the ears in the begining, and voila, beautifully erect and wonderfully emotive ears! Thom still prefers the look of natural ear. It probably was the best choice for Bones, who at 29" would have looked like a pony with cropped ears.
The AKC Briard standards says: "The natural ear must not lie flat against the head, and, when alert, the ears are lifted slightly, giving a square look to the top of the skull. The ears when cropped should be carried upright and parallel, emphasizing the parallel lines of the head; when alert, they should face forward, well open with long hair falling over the opening. The cropped ear should be long, broad at the base, tapering gradually to a rounded tip."
How much does he shed?
Briards are not a "shedding" breed. Briards have hair. The Briard coat does not shed off the body and fly around your house and clothes the way seasonally shedding coats do. I have heard that some families of Briards “blow” their undercoat seasonally. I have not observed this in any of the Briards I have owned which came from 3 distinctly different lines. Instead, my dogs have lost a bit of undercoat on a regular baisis. Ocassionally I will find a little clumps or hair but rest assured this is nothing like living with a German Shorthair Pointer, Shepherd, or, for that matter, any of the other dogs I have owned.
The outer coat is coarse, hard and dry (making a dry rasping sound between the fingers). Some have described it as goat-like in texture. I do not have goats. I can tell you, however, that when I had the hair from two differrent briards spun into yarn by two different spinners, both spinners commented that the hair reminded them of goat. The skeins in the photo to the right were spun from brushings collected over a three-year period.
The outer coat is coarse, hard and dry (making a dry rasping sound between the fingers). Some have described it as goat-like in texture. I do not have goats. I can tell you, however, that when I had the hair from two differrent briards spun into yarn by two different spinners, both spinners commented that the hair reminded them of goat. The skeins in the photo to the right were spun from brushings collected over a three-year period.
How often do you brush him?
Brushing is a weekly commitment, at a minimum. I find it is easier if I brush more frequenlty and typically do so every other day. If you don't like to brush, this is probably not the breed for you. It is a life long commitment to the dog's health and general well being. Otherwise you subject the dog to the discomfort of knotted hair constantly pulling at the dog's scalp.
Never brush a dry or dirty coat. The ideal, is to bathe the dog first, then line brush through the layers of the hair. Of course I don't bathe Nash every other day, so when I brush his unbathed coat, I use a spray bottle filled with water and conditioner. I periodically mist the hair so that it is brushed while damp and moisturized, rather than dry which promotes breakage and damage.
Never brush a dry or dirty coat. The ideal, is to bathe the dog first, then line brush through the layers of the hair. Of course I don't bathe Nash every other day, so when I brush his unbathed coat, I use a spray bottle filled with water and conditioner. I periodically mist the hair so that it is brushed while damp and moisturized, rather than dry which promotes breakage and damage.
What does he weigh?
The coat is misleading. The Briard is a moderate sized dog, not a giant breed. Nash, at 17 months, weighed only 72 pounds. Bones, a much larger Briard with heavier bone, weighed in at 90 pounds when he was in top condition. Houlette, a spayed bitch, weighed 65 at her best. Most publications I have seen suggest an average weight of 70 - 85 pounds for an adult dog; 50-65 for bitches. The AKC standard does not specify weight.
What are they like?
I always answer this question by first asking what kind of dogs have you had, because it helps to have a frame of reference. I have had Dachshunds, a Lab-Pointer cross, a German Shepherd - Collie cross, Dobermans, and a German Shorthair Pointer. From my experience, the Briard is most like our German Shepherd-Collie cross. One of our trainers works predominently with German Shepherds and he finds many similarities in the traits and personalities of the two breeds.
The AKC Briard standard says it well: "He is a dog of heart, with spirit and initiative, wise and fearless with no trace of timidity. Intelligent, easily trained, faithful, gentle and obedient, the Briard possesses an excellent memory and an ardent desire to please his master. He retains a high degree of his ancestral instinct to guard home and master. Although he is reserved with strangers, he is loving and loyal to those he knows. Some will display a certain independence."
The AKC Briard standard says it well: "He is a dog of heart, with spirit and initiative, wise and fearless with no trace of timidity. Intelligent, easily trained, faithful, gentle and obedient, the Briard possesses an excellent memory and an ardent desire to please his master. He retains a high degree of his ancestral instinct to guard home and master. Although he is reserved with strangers, he is loving and loyal to those he knows. Some will display a certain independence."
Are they good with children?
Whenever I am asked this question, I am tempted to ask, have your children been socialized? By now it is clear to you that we do not have children. Nevertheless, Briards are good family dogs and companions if socialized from puppyhood. There are stories of Briards gently guiding small children from harms way and protecting them from would be assailants. Briards have a natural instinct to protect their “charges.” As herding dogs they also have a natural instinct to chase and to herd. Without socialization and training, these traits can lead to problems such as the Briard misinterpreting rough housing between kids as aggression or developing aggressive behaviors because they have grown overly protective of their children. If not kept in check, Briards can develop a desire to herd or nip at rowdy kids who are running in order to move them, keep them together like a flock, get their attention or keep them in line. Having said that, my Briards have always been wonderful around children - gentle, loving and extremely huggable.
What health issues do they have?
Occasionally PRA (progressive retinal atrophy); gastric torsion and bloat; canine hypothyroidism; and hip dysplasia. Bloat is a health issue to most dogs, being the second largest killer of dogs other than cancer, but Briards can be particularly susceptible to it because of their deep chests.
There are several good articles on bloat, hypothyroidism and hip dysplasia available from the Atlantic States Briard Club .
Ironically, although Bones and Houlette passed over the rainbow bridge before their time, they did not contract any of the health issues assoicated with the breed, so I cannot offer any first hand information. Bones died of lymphoma and Houlette died of complications arising from a failed laryngeal paralysis surgery.
There are several good articles on bloat, hypothyroidism and hip dysplasia available from the Atlantic States Briard Club .
Ironically, although Bones and Houlette passed over the rainbow bridge before their time, they did not contract any of the health issues assoicated with the breed, so I cannot offer any first hand information. Bones died of lymphoma and Houlette died of complications arising from a failed laryngeal paralysis surgery.
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