| By :
Brent McCoy
The Briard (sometimes called the "Berger Briard" or "Berger de Brie") is among the oldest French herding breeds and features a shaggy black, gray or tawny coat that has often led to them being mistaken for a haystack. The breed can be traced back to the 1300s, and they were first raised for the core goal of guarding homes and sheep from intruders and predators. Some of their more distinguishing qualities are known to be their fearless and protective temperament - which assist in making the Briard a regular option for a family guard dog, herding and guarding sheep, military or police work and search and rescue. The Briard is believed to have originated in France during the 1300s and was bred with the initial function of guarding homes and flocks of sheep from wolves and human intruders but later was primarily used for herding sheep. In World War I they were used for delivering messages and locating wounded soldiers, and during this time they nearly became extinct. They are
assumed to be a descendant of the Berger Picard with later cross-breeding occurring with the Beauceron and Barbet. Briards are classified as a large-sized breed. The suggested standard size for the Briard male is 23-27 inches high from paw to shoulder and a weight of 75-100 pounds, while the recommended size for female Briards is 22-25.5 inches tall from paw to shoulder with a weight of 50-65 pounds. The Briard is famous for their protective, fearless and loyal temperament. They are usually reserved with people they don't know, which often means they are highly suitable as a guard dog. The Briard is also known to be quite intelligent - scoring equal 30th compared to other dogs in terms of their capability to learn obedience instructions. They are also known to be gentle with children but may try to herd them without proper training - making them fairly suitable as a family pet. The Briard is not always pleasant with other dogs and may become aggressive due to their protective nature but when socialized properly they can learn to get along with other pets. The Briard enjoys having at least an average-sized yard to provide them with enough space, but they can be somewhat suitable for living in an apartment just as long as they are taken for daily walks. They love the outdoors but feel most at home wherever their family is. The Briard benefits from pastimes like agility, flyball, herding, tracking, swimming or going for a jog alongside a bicycle. They possess a medium level of energy and this calls for daily exercise in the form of long walks or jogs to keep them in good physical and mental health. The Briard could make the right dog for an active owner who will be their firm and confident leader. They are fitting to anybody that is keen to do a high amount of grooming and set aside time to provide them with early socialization with children or other pets and obedience training to establish leadership as well as take them on long walks every day and provide a very high sum of companionship and attention - they thrive on human contact and do not like to be left alone all day. Though they may be fairly out of place in many households, if you are able to meet their needs for firm guidance and attention then the Briard may perhaps be the ultimate dog for you.
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