BRIARD Breed Standards
The Briard is French in origin and dates back as far as the 8th century. In the beginning, these dogs were used to defend their owners from hazards like poachers and wolves. Later, however, the division of the land and a jump in population after the French Revolution changed the duties of the Briard to that of herder and watchdog. In 1897, the very first Briard standard was created by a group of sheepdog fanciers. The French association Les Amis du Briard was created in 1909, and although it broke up during the first World War it was reformed in 1923. The standards created by this club were adopted by the Briard Club of America which was started in 1928.
The history of the Briard in the United States is rather contentious. Some believe that the Marquis de Lafayette brought the breed to the States, while others credit Thomas Jefferson with doing so. In 1922, Barbara Danielson registered the first litter of Briard puppies with the American Kennel Club, and in 1928 the AKC officially recognized the breed. Today, the Briard remains among the most popular of the herding breeds in France, though it has yet to really catch on in America.
SKILLS: A dog of handsome form. Vigorous and alert, powerful without coarseness, strong in bone and muscle, exhibiting the strength and agility required of the herding dog. Dogs lacking these qualities, however concealed by the coat, are to be penalized.
SIZE: The shoulder-height is 62 –68cm (24 ½ -26 ¾ in) for dogs and 56 – 64cm(22 – 25 ¼ in) for bitches.
COAT: The Briard has a long wavy coat of rather dry hair and a light undercoat. All plain colors are permitted with the exception of white and chestnut. The most usual colors are black and fawn. The tawny puppy coat turns to a lighter yearling coat. Then the coat deepens in color again to a richer adult coat. The hair of an adult coat is 6 or more inches (16 cm.) giving the coat an attractive, bushy look with a shaggy beard, eyebrows and mustache. The ears can be cropped or left natural and are usually clipped into a rounded shape so the hair cascades from them into the rest of the coat. The muzzle is square and long and the nose is black. The long, feathered tail has a crochet hook at the tip. Briards, like many other French shepherds, have two dewclaws on each hind foot. The Briard's elegant gait is floating and agile - the dog almost seems to not touch the ground.
CARE REQUIRED: The Briard`s coat is coarse and strong similar to a goat's coat. Dirt and water do not readily cling to it, and if well-groomed it sheds very little. Take time for grooming to have an attractive and healthy dog. Expect the minimum time required to be two hours a week and much longer if you have been remiss. The well-groomed Briard is a beautiful animal, and, more important, a comfortable one. The Briard`s coat can become matted without regular attention. The inside of the ears must be kept clean and any excessive hair in the ears or between the pads of the feet should be removed. A well groomed coat sheds very little. Briards require weekly grooming with brush and comb. This is also true of the excessive hair which grows between the pads of their feet.
CHARACTER: Intelligent and prepared to work, tough, brave, alert, loyal, slightly dominant, and totally unsuitable for a life in a kennel. The Briard has no sense of humor, so do not tease it. They are very trainable. Eager to please its master but needs a firm owner able to show leadership. This is definitely not a breed for everyone. Too often they wind up in shelters because people don't realize what a challenge they can be to raise and live with. They are very stubborn and can be fearful, extremely unfriendly, or both, if not raised properly. They need a lot of entertainment and activity to be happy, and are not the sort you can pat on the head and ignore the rest of the day. Briards are really dedicated to their families and tend to be, at best, disinterested in other people. They should be socialized early - especially with children. They are good-natured and very adaptable to living with children if they are raised together.
TRAINING: Training of the Briard must be consistent, with much patience and love combined with a firm hand. Severe, unjust training will have the same result as none at all. With poor handling and training the Briard becomes withdrawn and even aggressive. They are happiest in the house as part of the family.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: With the right handler the Briard blossoms as a first-class pet who can happily coexist with other pets. They can be slightly aggressive towards other dogs. Strangers are viewed with suspicion.
EXERCISE: This breed needs reasonable amounts of exercise. This can be a simple country walk but swimming and running alongside a bicycle are also excellent forms of exercise for them. They are ideally suited to defense dog/police dog trials.
