The Briard is an ancient breed of large herding dog,
originally from France. A Briard-type dog appears in Gaston Febus' Livre de
chasse ("Book of the Hunt"), written in the late 14th century.
According to legend, about the same time, a Briard fought a judicial duel with
Robert Macaire to avenge its owner's murder, Aubry of Montdidier. Charlemagne,
Napoleon, Thomas Jefferson, and Lafayette are all said to have owned Briards.
It became popular after the Paris dog show of 1863, after the breed had been
fixed, with crosses with the Beauceron and the Barbet. During the First World
War, the Briard was used, almost to the point of extinction, by the French army
as a sentry, messenger, and to search for wounded soldiers. The Briard's modern-day
roles include police, military and search-and-rescue work, as well as companion
dog.
Description
Appearance
The
Briard can be tawny, black, grey or blue however there are variations in each
color. Briards stand 58 to 69 cm (22 to 27 inches) at the withers. Ear cropping
has been common in the breed, although more breeders are leaving the ears in
their natural state since ear cropping is becoming illegal in most European
countries, including the Briard's land of origin, France. When cropped, the
ears should stand erect and parallel with the base being wide and tapering to a
rounded point with hair covering the opening. Their long coat requires an
extensive amount of grooming. The outer coat is coarse, hard and dry (making a
dry rasping sound between the fingers). It lies down flat, falling naturally in
long, slightly waving locks, having the sheen of good health. On the shoulders
the length of the hair is generally six inches or more. The undercoat is fine
and tight on all the body. The head is well covered with hair which lies down,
forming a natural part in the center. The eyebrows do not lie flat but, instead,
arch up and out in a curve that lightly veils the eyes. The hair is never so
abundant that it masks the form of the head or completely covers the eyes.
Briards come in a variety from different colors.
The
breed characteristics of the Briard, are of a medium-sized, rugged, agile dog,
having harsh coat and double dewclaws mounted low on each rear leg, resembling
additional toes. Each double dew claw should have bone substance and nail,
giving the appearance of a wider rear foot. Bred for centuries to herd, the
additional digits on each rear foot give the Briard the ability of pivoting on
one foot for quick turns and complete turn-arounds, which are necessary when
herding and guarding their flocks.[citation needed] Throughout history, the
Briard has retained an appropriate balance of size and build that is required
for both herding and protection of their flocks. They are not too large to tire
during herding yet large enough to fend off predators such as foxes and wolves.
Temperament
The
Briard is a very loyal and protective breed, and is sometimes called "a
heart of gold wrapped in fur". Once they have bonded to their family
members, they will be very protective. They can be aloof with strangers - new
introductions should be on the dog's terms, including furniture or the addition
of a new baby into the household. They require showing that the new intrusion
is friendly and free of conflict. They must be taught that it is a good thing
and not harmful. They have proven to be a very good breed to have around
children of all ages. Indeed, these dogs rapidly develop an affection to their
owners. They are very emotional, capable of crying for a long time after their
owners' departure and celebrate their return in a very enthusiastic way.
It is
also important that the Briard be introduced to several different individuals
of all ages and in all types of situations. Socialization starting at a very
young age is mandatory. Briards should be walked as often as possible, to many
different places, and they will develop into a well rounded animal. Pet stores,
city parks and malls are a good place to start.
The
Briard has been bred for centuries to herd and to protect their flocks. To
domesticated briards, their family is the flock and all strangers may appear to
be predators. Letting them know that the public in general are friendly and not
harmful will help them establish a lifelong socialization pattern which will
result in an outgoing and happy dog. This socialization with the public in
general will not diminish their capacity for protecting and guarding their
family.
The
Briard has a very good memory. Once a lesson is learned, good or bad, the
knowledge will be retained for a long time to come. Sometimes they may appear
to be strong minded and stubborn but these are a few of the Briard's
characteristics. They were bred for centuries to think for themselves and to
act upon their conclusions, sometimes to the point of thinking what the
"flock" will do ahead of time.
These
are some of the traits that the Briard has retained throughout history. Even if
a Briard is a city dweller, they have a degree of herding ability within them.
If ever, during their lifetime, they are introduced to sheep or cattle, they
will automatically start doing what they were bred to do, herding. They will
even herd humans by nibbling on their ankles or guiding with their heads and
guide them to his master if ordered.
Service and therapy roles
Briards
have been used in a variety of service and therapy roles to help those with
disabilities and comfort those in hospitals, schools and retirement
communities. Briards are also being trained as autism service dogs and PTSD
service dogs for both adults and children. With their keen intelligence, tactile
coat interaction, and loyalty, they make a huge difference in the quality of
life for those with disabilities or in recovery.
Activities
Briards
can compete in dog agility trials, obedience, showmanship, flyball, Schutzhund,
tracking, and herding events. Herding instincts and trainability can be
measured at noncompetitive herding tests. Briards exhibiting basic herding
instincts can be trained to compete in herding trials.
Study on blindness using Briards
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