Briard Dog Breed Information
| Briard Quick Facts | ||
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| Breed Group: | Herding | |
| Origen: | France | |
| Nickname: | Berger de Brie, Berger Briard | |
| Weight: | 75-100 lbs | |
| Height: | 23-27 inches | |
| Color(s): | All uniform colors except white (includes black, tawny, and gray shades)/td> | |
Briard Appearance
The Briard is a large and muscular dog, with a curious and confident expression. His overall appearance is one of handsome form. They are square proportioned. The head is large, long and rectangular in shape. He has large dark eyes that are wide apart. His ears are cropped or left natural, set high and lying away from the head and covered with hair. The tail is carried low and ending in a curve.
The Briard double coat is very coarse and strong. The length of the coat gives it a very attractive bushy appearance with a beard, moustache, and eyebrows. All uniform colors are permitted except white. Common colors include black, various shades of gray and various shades of tawny. The weight of the Briard is around 75-100 pounds and the height is around 23-27 inches.
Briard Temperament
The Briard was originally bred to herd as well as guard flocks of sheep. They are very loyal and protective breed. They are eager to please, learn quickly, have excellent memory for commands and are able to work independently. Although he is reserved with strangers, is loving and loyal to the family and is proven to be a very good breed to have around children of all ages. They can be very stubborn, independent and sometimes very unfriendly when is not raised properly. Socialization should start an early age and should consist of meeting all different kinds of people and going to several different types of places. The Briard is known to be a bit dog aggressive, but with proper socialization and handling can get along well with other pets and animals.
Is Briard the Right Dog Breed for Me?
The Briard will do okay in an apartment if enough exercise is provided but will do best with access to at least an average-sized yard. This breed is not well-suited for someone who is looking for a quiet dog. This is an active and energetic breed that needs a great deal of exercise. They are athletic, agile, and fast, and enjoy agility, carting, herding, tracking, and obedience work. The Briard daily exercise needs could be met with a long walk on leash, or a vigorous game in a safe area. They could live outside in temperate to cool climates as long as they have access to house to spend some time inside with the family.
Briard Life expectancy
The life expectancy of the Briard is around 10-12 years.
Briard Health problems
The Briard is a relatively healthy breed. The major concern associate with them are CHD (Coronary Heart Disease) and Bloat (Gastric Torsion). They could also be prone to nightblindness, cataracts and hip dysplasia. As with all breeds the Briard will need regular vaccinations, worming, flea and tick treatment to keep him healthy.
Briard Care & Grooming
The Briard long coat requires an extensive amount of grooming. He needs to be brushing and combing every other day to prevent matting. Brush with a firm bristle and dry shampoo occasionally. Bathe in mild soap only when necessary. Over bathing or frequent bathing your dog will strip the oils from the coat and may cause severe skin irritations and possible allergy type reactions. 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. To avoid gastric torsion is a good idea to feed them two or three small meals a day instead of one large meal.
Briard Shedding
When properly maintained the Briard coat sheds very little to no hair and therefore may be suited for those with allergies.