Dog breed

Briard

The Briard, the French shepherd from the Brie region, is a large herding dog with a long, slightly wavy coat, a fall of hair over its eyes and distinctive double dewclaws on its hind legs. It is intelligent, alert and very attached to its family, and aloof with strangers. It needs a lot of grooming and consistent training.

FCI Group I · Sheepdogs · standard no. 113

Weight: 25–45 kg
Height: 56–68 cm
Lifespan: 11–13 years
Origin: France

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Photo: Birgit Balzer, Deutschland (uploaded by Caronna 17:00, 10 Feb 2005 (UTC)), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Briard is not an easy dog, though it is a very loving one. It forms a very strong bond with its family, watches over everyone at home and happily joins in whatever they are doing. It is reserved with strangers and can be firm, because for centuries it not only drove flocks but also guarded them. It is intelligent and learns quickly, but it has a mind of its own and handles force and monotony badly, so training must be consistent, calm and built on cooperation. Its herding instinct may show up as rounding up children or other animals. It is usually patient and protective with the family's children, although it may guard visiting children too zealously. Without socialization from puppyhood, a Briard easily becomes overly suspicious. It matures slowly, and a young dog can be boisterous and unruly.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

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Who is the Briard for?

The Briard is a dog for an active person or family with a house and yard who enjoy grooming a long coat, want to train with their dog and are looking for a watchful guardian. It does well with a somewhat experienced, calm and consistent owner. Do not choose it if you have no time for daily brushing, live in a small apartment, or want a dog that will like every visitor.

Pros

very devoted to its family
alert watchdog
intelligent and versatile
handles cold well

Challenges

very demanding coat care
wary of strangers
stubborn to train
risk of bloat

Size and looks

Size and looks: Briard
Height at the withers	males 62–68 cm, females 56–64 cm
Weight	males 25–45 kg, females 25–45 kg
Lifespan	11–13 years
Coat	long
Colors	black, fawn, fawn with black overlay (often with a mask), gray, blue
Country of origin	France
Classification	Group I: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Also known as	Berger de Brie, Berger Briard

Care and exercise

90–120minof exercise a day

5/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

A Briard needs at least an hour and a half to two hours of exercise a day plus mental work: obedience, agility, competitive obedience, tracking or herding. Left with nothing to do, it gets bored and finds its own entertainment. Grooming takes the most time: the long, dry, slightly wavy coat with undercoat needs thorough brushing down to the skin several times a week, ideally daily, or mats form, especially behind the ears, in the armpits and on the trousers. The Kennel Club states that grooming should be daily. Regularly trim the hair between the paw pads and check the double dewclaws on the hind legs, which need clipping. Feed twice a day and avoid hard exercise right after meals because of the risk of bloat. In summer the dense coat makes overheating more likely, so plan walks for the cooler parts of the day.

How much should the Briard eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Briard usually lives 11–13 years; the AKC gives 12 years, and in a British study the median was 12.6 years. The US breed club considers Briards generally healthy but warns about bloat and stomach torsion, which require immediate help. A disease particular to this breed is congenital stationary night blindness, an inherited retinal disease. Thanks to a DNA test it has been largely brought under control, and the UK Kennel Club requires the test for imported dogs so it is not reintroduced into the population. Recommended tests also include hip X-rays and an eye exam. When buying a puppy, ask for both parents' CSNB test results.

bloat (GDV)The breed club names bloat and stomach torsion as the main health threat.
congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB)An inherited retinal disease; the Kennel Club requires a DNA test for imported dogs.
hip dysplasiaThe Kennel Club and the breed club recommend hip X-rays for breeding dogs.
eye diseasesThe US breed club recommends regular eye exams.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip X-rays (HD)
CSNB DNA test
eye exam (ECVO)

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The FCI standard notes that the Briard was long known as the French plains sheepdog (Chien de Berger français de Plaine). The name "chien de Brie" first appeared in 1809 in Abbé Rozier's Course in Agriculture. The dogs were bred and selected for their ability to drive flocks and protect them from danger. The French army used Briards in both world wars as sentry dogs and as medical dogs that searched for the wounded on battlefields. Today Briards work livestock, compete in dog sports and, above all, live with families as watchful house dogs.

Fun facts

The FCI standard requires the Briard to have double dewclaws on the hind legs; missing or single dewclaws are a disqualifying fault.
The name "chien de Brie" appeared in print in 1809 in a work by Abbé Rozier.
During both world wars, Briards searched battlefields for wounded soldiers.
The standard allows signs of graying in all coat colors.

Frequently asked questions

Do Briards shed?

Yes, but the hair stays mostly in the coat, forming mats if it is not brushed out regularly. That is why thorough brushing several times a week, ideally daily, is so important. The Briard is not a dog for people who want easy grooming.

How big do Briards get?

The FCI standard gives only height: 62–68 cm for males and 56–64 cm for females. The AKC gives a weight of 55–100 pounds, about 25–45 kg, depending on height and build.

Why do Briards have double dewclaws?

It is a traditional breed trait that shepherds wanted to keep. The FCI standard requires two dewclaws on each hind leg, and a dog without them is disqualified at shows. They need regular clipping because they do not wear down when the dog walks.

How long do Briards live?

Usually 11–13 years. In a large British study the median was 12.6 years, and the AKC gives about 12 years. Knowing the signs of bloat and genetic testing of the parents are the most important parts of prevention.