All about Briards!

Todays SpokesdDoggie is: the Briard! (a.k.a. Berger de Brie). This means Shepherd of Brie.

Briards are amazing herding and gaurd dogs who have a devoted following. That's probably why the breed is affectionately nicknamed "a heart wrapped in fur."

Fun Facts: The show,'Married with Children' had a Briard named Buck as the family pet. Another Briard appeared as "Rosie" from Dennis the Menace (1993). Briards have have two dewclaws on each hind foot! The Beauceron is another french herding dog that the Briard is related to. This makes the Briard and Beauceron kissing cousins to Doberman Pinschers and Rottweilers! **CORRECTION** A couple corrections/comments re: your Briard info. Dennis the Menace’s dog was named “Ruff” – “Rosie” was the “Briard actress” who played Ruff.” Also, in the Chuck Norris movie Top Dog, “Reno” (Top Dog) was a Briard, I believe played by Flynn of Bon Jovis Briards), and Tramp of My Three Sons (60’s sitcom) was a Briard also.
Anyway, nice site! Thanks for sharing.
CJ and Allie

Appearance, height and weight: males 23 to 27 inches at the withers; bitches 22 to 25 1/2 inches at the withers. Hmmm, I'm exactly 60 inches, so I don't quite make the standard. Unlike humans, a dog's height is measured at the shoulders, not the head. Average Weight: 60-75 pounds (35 kg.) Nope, I don't fit that requirement either!

Briards generally have a coarse, wavy, double layer coat with (wow!) minimal shedding if they are kept properly groomed. This means you should spend a total of 2 hours a week grooming! Be sure to keep the extra fur in their ears trimmed, as well as the fur between their toes. Colors vary from tawny to true black. This breed has a bushy look with a shaggy beard, eyebrows and mustache that makes the face so irresistable!

Briard fanciers have a choice of cropping or leaving their dog's ears natural. The AKC standard allows for both cropped and natural sets. These dogs have a curving, feathery tail that hooks at the end.

Life Expectancy: approximately 10-12 years....:( Unfortunately most large breed dogs don't have the longer life span that many smaller ones do.

Briards have owned some prestigious and powerful leaders throughout history, such as: Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon, Lafayette and Charlemagne! With such an incredible past, it's no small wonder that Briards are everything you would ask for in a dog. Some of their traits are: smart, loving, loyal, brave, fearless, protective, obedient and they have fantastic hearing!

*MOOF!* This is a Herding Dog so they do have an instinct to nip at heels to try and 'herd' others around him/her! Briards are sensitive and know their own minds! You MUST distinguish the difference between firm training and harsh training! Briards are damn smart so there's no excuse to scream or strike your dog! Patient and consistent training are the best thing you can give him/her. Briards have a 'karma' policy. If you love her, she will give it back a thousand times plus! They are so willing to learn and to please that you MUST give them firm guidelines in which to live by. They are Einsteins of the doggy world, so always keep one step ahead!*MOOF!*

Exercise is essential to the happy Briard! If you don't give them a LOT of physical and mental exercise, they will get bored and destructive. This paired with a lack of socialization can also lead to severe behavior problems, shyness and/or agression!

Far too many of this breed end up in shelters and rescues because not everyone understands their needs. Briard crave order, behavior cues, training and discipline. Love simply isn't enough! If you truly love your Briard, you must be their ALPHA, or they will (unwillingly) take that position because you've left it open!

Health issues: They are generally healthy however there are exceptions to every rule. As a large breed dog, they are prone to hip dysplasia, bloat and stomach torsion, which is fatal if not treated immediately. In rare cases, some might have cataracts or PRA--Progessive Retinal Atrophy.

In conclusion, Briards have an excellent memory and trainablity so they are enjoy (duh)Herding, watchdog or gaurd dog work, Service, Police and Military work. For these dogs, the sky's the limit, but most of all, their favorite job is to love you.

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*disclaimer* There are always exceptions to the rules. Any discrepancies noted should be mentioned to the author. 'MOOF!' is placed in the same way dogs bark 'moof.' It's a way of saying, Hey! What's That?! Look!*
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*REFERENCES* http://www.mahalo.com/Briard
Briard picture and other info from the American Kennel Club at: http://www.akc.org/breeds/briard/photos.cfm
http://www.akc.org/breeds/briard/history.cfm
http://www.briard.com/about.html