Originally from France, the Briard herding dog; was also used as a guard in medieval times.
Their existence has been documented in French works dating back to the medieval period.
Their innate capability to hunt and track down things came in handy during times of war, where they began to gain popularity as a dog breed that helped in locating wounded soldiers on the field.
Their tracking skills extended to wounded animals as well. The Briard’s skills ensured its position as the official dog of the French army.
Now that wars are not as relevant as they were during the past times, the Briad has relinquished its role in armies and is slowly taking up households with their playful and loving personalities.
They can be the perfect playmate as well as the perfect guard to their family. The briards excel at keeping children safe.
They are natural herders, very agile, and very competitive. Their shaggy coat can be a little difficult to maintain, but with consistent grooming and care, that won’t be much of a problem.
About The Breed
The Braird is a high-maintenance dog breed that needs daily grooming. Their long fur can get tangled easily, and these tangles, if left as they are, will form nasty matt.
Therefore it is very important that you can afford the time and money to groom them every day.
When properly trained, these pups can grow up into loyal and independent dogs, and if they are not trained, they can be unmanageable and very hard to raise.
Even though they are generally known to be caring dogs, you should understand that this behavior is a result of early socializing and training.
Otherwise, they might get aggressive with strangers as well as small animals.
They are not the type to get friendly fast and are always wary of strangers, which makes them excellent guard dogs.
The Briards are independent dogs, but they will be at their best when they are with the people they love and consider family.
Briard Dog Breed History
The dog has been known to exist since the 8th century. They have been depicted in several paintings as well as mentioned in many writings that date back to the 12th century.
The Briard is originally from France, and it is from the French word that means a working dog; they get their name Briard.
Their ancestors are believed to be rough-coated sheepdogs since their French name Berger de Brie means shepherd dog of Brie.
This theory is contrasted by those who believe that they were, at the start, known as chein d’Aubry, a reference to the famous owner of the breed Aubrey de Moontdidier.
It was only in the 1800s that the Braird began to be called Braiard. They were popular herding dogs who protected the sheep from wolves.
They later began guarding not just the folks but the entire farm. During war times, they were deputed to find wounded soldiers.
They are known for their excellent hunting and tracking skills. It was Marquis de Lafayette who brought the Briard from the French plains to the United States.
The Briard has since then been a popular dog with the breeders of the US. They were registered by the American Kennel Club in 1928.
Their popularity on French soil has not dimmed even after all these centuries.
Briard Dog Breed Job Card/Overview
Breed Name | Braird |
Other Name | Berger BriardBerger de Brai |
Dog Breed Type | Purebred |
Origin | France |
Parent Breeds | Berger Briard |
Height | 22 – 27 inches |
Weight | 70 – 100 pounds |
Life Expectancy | 10 – 12 years |
Coat Type | Long, dense, wavy |
Common Colors | Black; Tawny; Gray |
Grooming Needs | Lots of grooming |
Shedding | Moderate |
Temperament | Brave; alert; playful and protective |
Apartment Living | Ideal for apartment living |
Pet Friendly | Yes |
Health Concerns | Bloating; obesity; hip dysplasia; diabetes; heart disease; patellar luxation; elbow dysplasia |
Overall Health | Healthy |
Intelligence Level | Very Intelligent |
Trainability | Easy to train |
Energy Level | High |
Activity | High; 60 minutes of daily activity |
Litter Size | 2 – 7 puppies |
What To Know
• Briards are known for their distinctive appearance, featuring a long, wavy double coat that can be of various colors, such as black, fawn, or gray. Their bushy eyebrows and beard give them a charming and expressive face.
• Briards are highly intelligent dogs, which makes them quick learners. However, they can be a bit independent at times, so consistent training and positive reinforcement methods work best with them.
• Despite their herding background, Briards are loving and loyal family dogs. They are protective of their loved ones and tend to get along well with children and other pets when socialized properly.
• Briards are active dogs that require regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. Daily walks, playtime, and mental stimulation are essential to keep them content. Be prepared for some fun outdoor activities with your Briard!
Characteristics
Adaptability
The Briard dog breed is renowned for its adaptability, making it a versatile choice for various lifestyles.
These furry pals thrive in both urban apartments and spacious countryside homes.
Their adaptable nature shines in different climates, as their thick double coat keeps them cozy in cold winters and cool in hot summers.
Briards eagerly adjust to family life, bonding closely with their humans, and are equally at ease in active households or quieter settings.
Whether it’s a bustling city or a peaceful countryside, these adaptable dogs offer unwavering companionship and love, adapting effortlessly to the pace of your life.
Adaptability
Adapts Well To Apartment Living
Good For Novice Owners
Sensitivity Level
Tolerates Being Alone
Tolerates Cold Weather
Tolerates Hot Weather
Friendliness
The Briard is not just a loyal pup; it’s a true friend! These furry friends are known for their warmth and affection.
They love spending time with their family and are often friendly towards kids and other pets.
Briards have a protective streak too, making them excellent companions. Whether you need a cuddle buddy or a playmate, this breed’s friendliness shines through! ❤️
All About Friendliness
Affectionate With Family
Kid-Friendly
Dog Friendly
Friendly Toward Strangers
Personality
The Briard is an energetic, playful dog known for its deep sense of loyalty, faithfulness, and devotion towards its family.
The Briard likes to please his family and finds happiness in doing so. They are very intelligent as well as independent dogs, perhaps because of their long history as herding dogs.
Their herding traits also make them extremely protective. This will lead them to be aggressive towards strangers or other animals that they deem as a threat to them or their families.
This behavior, with proper training and socialization, can make them perfect as guard dogs.
These dogs are especially protective of younger children and will jump you if you seem to be a danger to them.
You shouldn’t punish your child if they have a Briard as their protector.
This love and protectiveness towards children are lacking when it comes to smaller animals like cats; the Briards perceive them as prey.
Positive reinforcement is the best way to go when it comes to training your Briard. Without proper training, the Braird can be unmanageable and untameable.
Early training is not enough for this breed, they would require continuous training, or they would go back to their herding personalities. Give them enough space to run about.
Temperament
Friendly with Children
The Briard is known to be super friendly with kids. They’re like furry big siblings, always looking out for their little pals.
Their patient and gentle nature makes them a perfect match for families. So, if you have little ones at home, a Briard could be your ultimate four-legged friend! ❤️
Amicable to Other Pets
The Briard dog breed is known for being amicable to other pets. They often get along well with other dogs and even cats if introduced properly.
Their gentle and friendly nature makes them great companions for a multi-pet household.
Proper socialization from an early age can help ensure peaceful coexistence with furry friends.
Barking Tendencies
Briard dogs are known for their moderate barking tendencies. While they can alert you to strangers or unusual sounds, they aren’t excessively noisy.
Proper training and socialization can help manage their barking habits. Remember, a well-exercised and mentally stimulated Briard is less likely to bark excessively, making them pleasant and peaceful companions.
Possibilities of Staying Alone
Briards are known to adapt well to solo living if necessary. They’re independent and loyal, making them comfortable with alone time.
However, they thrive on human companionship and prefer being with their families. Regular exercise and mental stimulation are crucial to prevent loneliness.
Make sure your Briard feels loved and engaged even when you’re not around! ❤️
Pros And Cons Of The Briard Dog Breed
Pros
- Loyal and protective nature.
- Low grooming maintenance is required.
- Intelligent and trainable breed.
- Excellent herding instincts.
- Great family watchdog.
Cons
- Requires regular exercise and stimulation.
- May be reserved with strangers.
- Prone to hip dysplasia.
- Heavy shedding seasonally.
- Potential for stubbornness in training.
Male Vs. Female Attitude
In terms of size, the female Braird is often of smaller stature than a male Briard.
The behavior and attitude of the Briard breed will mostly depend on how they are trained and how often they are trained.
Their environments are also extremely decisive, as is early socialization. No differences based on gender have been identified.
Appearance
General Appearance
The Briard, known for its distinctive appearance, is a sturdy and charming dog breed.
These fluffy canines boast a strong and muscular body, with a height of about 22 to 27 inches (56-69 cm) at the shoulder.
Their expressive faces are adorned with bushy eyebrows and a prominent beard, giving them a dignified look.
Their double coat is soft and wavy, coming in various colors like black, gray, or fawn. A plume-like tail completes their elegant appearance.
Briards exude an air of intelligence and alertness, making them not only beautiful but also great companions for those seeking an affectionate and loyal furry friend.
Coat Color
The Briards are usually monotone but sometimes can have markings.
Some of the common colors seen in these breeds are black; gray; brindle; black and gray; tawny; black and tawny; white; tawny and gray; etc.
The Briards have long, dense, and coarse furs. Their healthy maintenance will require regular grooming.
A Briard will require grooming regularly. Be sure to brush your Briard every day to untangle knots.
Clip and shorten the hair around their footpad. Clean their ears and check for any kind of skin issues regularly.
Shedding
The Briard is not a hypoallergenic breed and will shed often. The range of shedding could be low or moderate, and it depends on how you take care of your Briard.
With regular brushing and grooming, the shedding can be kept to a minimum.
They are prone to skin conditions such as seasonal alopecia, and this can be controlled only through a proper diet plan.
Size
The average height of a Briard ranges between 22 inches to 27 inches from the shoulder.
The female Briards are slightly smaller and have an average height range between 22 and 25 inches.
An adult Briard male can weigh between 70 to 100 pounds. They are large dogs with powerful and sturdy bodies softened by their shaggy manes.
They have sloping shoulders and muscled legs. Below all that fuss, the Braird has a strong jaw and neck structure.
Vital Statistics
DOG BREED GROUP | PUREBRED DOGS |
HEIGHT | 22 – 27 INCHES |
WEIGHT | 70 – 100 POUNDS |
LIFE SPAN | 10 – 12 YEARS |
Health
The Berger de Briard is a healthy breed. They are not hypoallergenic and would need adequate care.
Other than that, regular checkups with the vet will ensure that they do not develop conditions such as Bloating; obesity; hip dysplasia; diabetes; heart disease; patellar luxation; or elbow dysplasia, which are commonly seen among these dog breeds.
Health And Grooming Requirements
Amount Of Shedding
Drooling Potential
Easy To Groom
General Health
Potential For Weight Gain
Size
Maintenance And Care
Your Briard will need lots and lots of care for them to be their happy selves. The shaggy manes of the Briard are easily matted.
Brush down the tangles that form on their coats; these tangles, if left unkempt, would clog with dirt and dead hair to form matted pieces that would cause the development of a skin condition known as hotspots on your dog’s skin.
These hotspots are extremely painful and will turn into other more threatening conditions if they are not treated.
Through consistent grooming, your Briard will be safe and healthy. The Briad is a breed that likes to run about in the open, which means they would get dirty very easily.
If your Briard gets dirty, bathe them or else leave a gap of two months between baths. Clean their face regularly, and keep their feet pads clean by trimming the hair around them.
Clean their ears and brush their teeth. Other than that, take them on walks and run, maybe even swim, because they are a very energetic breed and would need the opportunity to work off some of it.
The Briards don’t do well in extremely warm or cramped places.
Grooming
Grooming a Briard is a bit like giving them a spa day! This breed has a lovely, long, and wavy coat that needs attention.
Brushing them a few times a week keeps it tangle-free and prevents mats. Be ready to trim their fur and nails regularly, and clean their ears to keep them healthy.
Briards don’t shed much, but they do need your help to look their best.
Don’t forget to bath them every few months and show them lots of love during grooming sessions!
Food And Nutrition
A Briard dog would need to be fed two meals per day. Their diet should be balanced with adequate proteins and carbohydrates.
25 to 30 % of protein intake per day would be enough, and 8 % fat will keep them energetic and active throughout the day.
Other than that, add glucosamine and probiotics too. Dietary supplements are to be taken if needed.
Food Cost
For your dog, 2-3 cups of dog food is recommended daily. Just divide them into 2-3 meals.
Don’t make your dogs overeat. The average daily cost would be around $1.1-$1.5. The monthly costs come to be around $33-$50.
Exercise And Activity Level
The Briards were once herding dogs; they also were known for their hunting and tracking skills. All this history of athletics makes them an extremely energetic and activity-loving breed.
The Briards can get used to living in an apartment, but only if they have at least 60 minutes a day to run about and feel the earth.
Keeping them crammed will bring out their aggressive natures. Take your Briard for a run or a walk, or occasionally for swimming.
Physical Requirements
Energy Level
Intensity
Exercise Needs
Potential for Playfulness
Trainability
The Briard dog breed is quite clever and loves to learn! They’re like furry sponges, soaking up commands and tricks with enthusiasm.
While their intelligence is a plus, they can also be a tad stubborn, so patience is key in training.
Start early, and use positive reinforcement like treats and praise. Keep training sessions fun and varied to prevent boredom.
Socialization is vital too, as it helps them become well-rounded companions. With consistency, love, and a dash of humor, you’ll have a well-trained Briard that’ll impress you with its smarts and charm.
Trainability
Review 2
Intelligence
Potential For Mouthiness
Prey Drive
Tendency To Bark Or Howl
Wanderlust Potential
Conclusion
Briards are called Berger de Brie in France. There are several theories behind this name, and one is that it came from “chien berger de Brie,” roughly translated into “the shepherd dog of Brie.”
The other famous theory is that the name is actually “Chien d’Aubry,” a reference to the famous dog of a man called Aubry de Montdidier, who avenged his master’s death.
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FAQ On The Briard Dog Breed…
Why are Briards good guard dogs?
They were once herding dogs and are, therefore, wary of strangers.
How big can a Briard dog get?
A Briard can be as tall as 27 inches and can weigh up to 100 pounds.
Why are Briards called Briards?
The name comes from their homeland, where they were known as shepherds of Briard.
I am a passionate animal lover with a lifelong commitment to pet care. With over a decade of experience as a pet owner, I’ve nurtured a variety of furry and feathered friends, from cats and dogs to birds and reptiles. I possess a deep understanding of their unique needs, behavior, and health. My mission is to share my knowledge and insights to help fellow pet enthusiasts provide the best possible care for their beloved companions.