Briard Dog Breed Information

Posted on Jun 18, 2019, Modified : Jun 26, 2021 Zina

Breeds

General Information

Dog Name	Briard
Other Names	Berger de Brie
Scientific Name	Canis lupus familiaris
Breed Type	Working
Group	Herding
Extinct	No
Country of Origin	France

Physical And Size

Min Life Span	10
Max Life Span	12
Min Ideal Weight for male	28
Max Ideal Weight for male	38
Min Ideal Weight for female	22
Max Ideal Weight for male	38

Ranking

Intelligent Rank
Trainability
Playfulness
Affection Level
Social Needs
Barking
Watchdog Ability
Territorial
Mouthiness
Adaptability

Characterisitics

Temperament	Alert, Courageous, Loyal
Prey Drive	No
Fighting Dog	No

Friendliness

Stranger Friendly	Low
Child Friendly	High
Cat Friendly	Medium
Apartment Friendly	Medium
Senior Citizens Friendly	Medium
Service Dog	Medium
Search and Rescue Dog	Medium
Biting Potential	Medium

Country of Origin	France
Nicknames and Other Names	Berger Briard Berger de Brie
Scientific Name	Canis lupus familiaris
Breed Type	Purebred
Group	Herding Group Working Group
Bred For	Herding cattle
Size	Large-sized
Recognized By	AKC, UKC, CKC, ANKC, NZKC, CKC, KC
Life Span	12 years
Ideal Weight	55-100 pounds (male and female)
Ideal Height	Male: 23-27 inches Female: 22-25.5 inches
Fur Type	Long, slightly wavy, dense
Common Colors	Black, Tawny, Gray
Markings	White markings
Availability	Moderately available
Achievements	Used as a police dog
Suitable for Apartments	No
Used in World War	Used in World War I by the French army as a sentry and messenger
Most Similar To	Schapendoes

Briard dog is a large-sized dog that was originated in France. It has an alert and handsome appearance. It is a herding dog that has a high activity level is suited in an apartment as long as it gets the required amount of exercise.

Briard has a strong body with a large head that is covered with flowing hair. The ears are erect, giving them an alert expression. The coat is silky, long, and straight.

Origin and History

Briard was bred to be a herding dog and also the guardian of the flocks. It is also known as Chien Berger de Brie in its homeland. It was known for its bravery that could even fight wolves to defend the livestock.

Briard was introduced to the United States by Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette. Jefferson even said that Briard is the finest house and farm dogs he has ever seen.

The American Kennel Club recognized Briard in 1928 as a member of the herding group. It currently ranks 132 of 193 AKC registered breed.

Is Briard Child-Friendly?

Briard is very tolerant of children and does not mind their rough behavior if raised together. They are very protective of them and are always by their side guarding. However, with strange children, they tend to herd them by nipping at the heel. So, while taking them out to a place with lots of children, always keep them on a leash.

Briard relaxing with a boy on the couch.
Image Source: Instagram-4paws4harrison

Temperament, Behavior, and Personality

Temperament: The temperament of the Briard is brave, alert, and faithful. They are very alert of the activities going on in the surrounding. Therefore, they make an excellent watchdog and also a guard dog. Protective of their family, they are not afraid to face anything while defending its people.

Behavior: As a herding dog and guarding dog, Briard to herd small animals sometime and chase them around. However, they are also protective of the pets at home and will look after them like a big brother.

Personality: The personality of the Briard is smart, friendly, and lively. They are very playful and friendly with their family and make a great companion for an active family. They are smart and are quick at learning new instruction or commands.

Trainability

Training Briard needs patience and firm leadership. Establish leadership on them when they are still young, so they see you as their leader and follow you. They tend to respond well to positive reinforcement, so reward them with delicious treats and use lots of vocal praises as the source of motivation and encouragement.

Never be harsh on them or use force hand. It will only lead to their aggression and they can even bite you. Train them with gentleness even if they make some mistakes.

Training Briard to be a service dog.

Facts

Briard dogs were used in World War I as a service dog that used to supply medicines and also work as a messenger.
Marquis de Lafayette was the person who introduced Briard to Thomas Jefferson and he, to the United States.

Health Issues

General Health	Healthy
Common Health Issues	bloat, Obesity, Hip Dysplasia, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Patellar Luxation, Elbow Dysplasia
Hypoallergenic	No
Vaccination Required	Rabies, Kennel Cough, Canine Coronavirus, Canine Distemper, Canine Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Canine Parainfluenza
Shedding	Moderate
Drooling	Low
Grooming	Hard and regularly required
Weight Gain Potential	Average
Separation Anxiety	High Chance
Allergies	None
Diets and Supplements	Protein: 25%-30% Fat: 8% Glucosamine Probiotics

The Briard is usually a healthy breed with only a few possible health problems.

Hip Dysplasia: It is a condition where your dog feels a sharp pain on its pack causing it painful to move from one place to another. It may be a genetic cause that happens due to dislocation or underdeveloped of the hip joints. Consult a vet for proper treatment.
Obesity: Obesity is caused due to overfeeding. Your dog gets fat and the extra weight that it gains caused obesity. It also invites many other bones and joints. So, do not overfeed your dog as it is bad for the health of your dog.