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.