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YOU REALLY WANT A BRIARD?

by Martine Huslig zie: http://www.briardsbriards.com/really_a_briard.htm

Many people see a Briard and exclaim---“what a beautiful dog!!!” They may see one in a movie or meet

one in their community and think---“what a terrific personality---what a character!!!” They may see one

at a herding exhibition, or agility or obedience trial and be amazed at the terrific performance of a well

trained Briard (or thoroughly entertained by the antics of a less than perfectly trained one.) It is well

known in the Briard community that a Briard inspired George Lucas' creation of the Star Wars race, the

Wookie, and the character, Chewy Chewbacca. However---even though the first Briard litter was

registered in 1922 and it is believed that Thomas Jefferson brought Briards to the United States, there are

good reasons that the breed remains relatively uncommon in the United States today. Click on BREED

HISTORY to learn more about the history of the Briard. To date less than 50 litters of Briards are

registered with the AKC each year.

The Temperament

Briards are generally extremely intelligent and loyal to those they know and love. However---their

intelligence requires a dedicated and equally intelligent owner. A Briard does best with someone they

believe is capable of being their master. Briards are an old WORKING breed. They are NOT big Shih

Tzus and they are NOT Labrador Retrievers with long hair. They were initially used to defend their

charges against wolves and poachers and then later as boundary style herding dogs in France. As a breed

they retain their instinct to guard their home and family. Due to this history, early socialization and

training are EXTREMELY important. Without socialization, they can become overprotective. Without a

LEADER they can decide to take charge attempting to protect those that they think might be vulnerable.

The AKC Standard states that the Briard is " a dog of heart, with spirit and initiative, wise and fearless

with no trace of timidity. Intelligent, easily trained, faithful, gentle, and obedient, the Briard possesses an

excellent memory and an ardent desire to please his master. He retains a high degree of his ancestral

instinct to guard home and master. Although he is reserved with strangers, he is loving and loyal to those

he knows. Some will display a certain independence." Click here to read the entire Briard Standard. The

Briard is often described as a “heart wrapped in fur” (a quote by a French actress who owned the breed

many years ago) however they are not the right breed for everyone. Their incredible character can only

be developed when they are raised properly (see Puppy Raising) with the time, dedication and affection of

the breeder and the owner.

As with any breed, generalization about temperament are, just that, generalizations. The What's good

about 'em...What's bad about "em website puts it well; there are energetic Briards and placid Briards;

hard-headed Briards and sweet-natured Briards; serious Briards, and good natured goofballs; introverted

Briards and Briards who love everyone. Unfortunately, there are also even downright nasty Briards

(these, however, should not occur with proper dedication to breeding, socialization and training.)

Differences in temperament can exist in a litter, in a family of dogs or between breeders. Different

breeders focus on different things and value different qualities when breeding. Some breeders’ primary

goal is to breed a “show dog” dog that exudes confidence who is energetic and who will work for food.

Other breeders may value a more docile temperament while some are working to retain the keen drive and

desire to work and herd sheep. Still others value and expect the instinct to guard aggressively. Sadly

there are most likely some who do not pay attention to temperament in breeding at all. A good breeder

will ask the prospective buyer many questions to determine if they are equipped to raise a young Briard.

A buyer should also ask many questions and explain clearly and honestly their experience with dogs, the

time and energy they have to devote to their puppy and what qualities they are looking for in a dog.

Many breeders will refuse to sell to a home that they do not think is a good match with the breed or for

their particular litter. Temperament problems can arise when a person has a dog that is “too much” for

their time and abilities. Current research suggests that temperament is 35% genetic and 65% environment

(i.e. how they are raised.) See Puppy Raising.) I heard it explained a different way once. That there are

3 types of temperament and those are 1) too good to ruin, 2) too bad to fix and 3) somewhere in the

middle. The majority of dogs lie in category 3.

Most breeders attempt to be upfront about their temperaments and will attempt to match the right puppy

to the right home based on the experience and desires of the new owners. A first time owner with the

right dedication can be an excellent home for a Briard. Just as someone who is well trained, educated and

experienced can be a disaster if they do not have the proper devotion to the puppy.

Briards tend have high prey drive which is required for a good herding dog. This can be a nightmare in a

dog who is “out of control” Again, this trait can be modified with socialization and training. Briards can

do fine with dogs, cats and active children. (Note--some Briards are not good with cats-but those who are

raised with them from an early age and taught appropriate behavior generally are.) Briards are a

DOMINANT breed. They can be convinced that they have a proper place in the family with the proper

attitude and kind but firm training techniques. Ultimately many Briards are wonderful companions for

the family including those with small children. General Training (Also see article on Kids and Briards)

Socialization Requirements

All breeds must be raised and socialized properly to live optimally with their family. This is especially

true of large herding breeds like Briards that tend to be intelligent and naturally protective. Unsocialized

dogs can be aggressive, fearful or shy. These issues are a problem in a small dog but MUCH more

problematic in a large powerful dog. An unsocialized Briard can guard inappropriately, be aggressive

due to fear or a lack of being taught at an early age what is acceptable behavior or be shy and just overall

fearful of new situations and new people. Early socialization should involve exposure as a puppy to

anything that you expect the dog to encounter as an adult. Dogs do not “generalize” lessons well so just

because they like people in their own backyard, does not mean they will like them in public and the other

way around. It is not uncommon for Briards to have positive encounters with people they do not know in

public but responded poorly when people to come to their house. If you expect Briards to welcome

visitors—then you have visitors when they are a puppy and teach them to interact with those visitor

appropriately. Many people with large naturally dominant herding breeds set a goal for that dog to meet

100 people in their first six months of life. These are often people who want that dog to be very happy to

see all of the nice “judges” but this example gives a general idea of the amount of work that can go into

socializing a dog to be 100%. The key to effective socialization is that the dog be taught that new

situations are not something to be frightened of. If the dog is exposed to new situations, acts fearful and

is rewarded for this fear by being removed from the stressful situation or by being coddled-there is no

point to doing the socialization. During effective socialization the dog’s fear reactions should be ignored

and the dog should be taught to investigate and learn “that’s not scary.” During these young ages and

critical ages of development---it is important to try to shelter the puppies from bad experiences. Dogs go

through known developmental stages. Dogs that have been well socialized can suddenly seem to regress.

During “adolescence” (6 months to 2 years in some) there is a second fear period. The owner must not be

impatient and should go back to the same types of socialization and reinforcement of positive behavior

that they did early on and should attempt to shelter the dog from traumatic experiences during this stage if

possible. Training should be less demanding and the owner should take a few “steps back.” The signal

that this period has arrived is the change in the dog’s behavior and this stage generally coincides with

sexual maturity in that dog. The good news is that this phase too will pass.

The Dominance

Briards are a dominant breed. Some breeds are “submissive.” When challenged submissive dogs tend to

roll on their back and say—“oh my-you are the boss.” A Briard is more likely to respond with some

version of “HA-you can’t tell ME what to do.” In an article by trainer Robin Bovary dominance as it

applies to Briards is nicely described “A dominant dog knows what he wants, and sets out to get it, any

way he can. He's got charm, lots of it. When that doesn't work, he's got persistence with a capital "P."

And when all else fails him, he's got attitude.” For more of her excellent training suggestions go to

Taming the Dominant Dog Well trained and well socialized Briards can behave inappropriately or

display aggressive behavior if they feel the need to protect their owner. This is especially true of

dominant males with a female owner that he may perceive as needing protection. This can be especially

pronounced when other dogs are around and can be mistaken as dog aggression. Briards are not the best

breed for people who cannot be dominant or who lack leadership skills. Again, someone who wants to

coddle their dog or give into their every wish is not likely to have the best results with their Briard’s

temperament.

Space and the activity level

Briards are companions by nature which makes them excellent house dogs. Briards are not outside dogs

(unless you are outside with them), yard dogs or, to be ignored dogs. They are way too sensitive and

intelligent for any of that. Briards are intelligent and require mental stimulation. They want to be near

their people and as a result they can live successfully in a small house or an apartment. Briards thrive on

human companionship and always want to be near their “people” or person. (Some Briards are more “one

person” dogs while others are happy as long as they are with any of their people and most will take on a

very bonded role toward the children in the family.) See Briards and Children. That is not to say they can

never be alone. Many people work full time jobs and successfully live with Briards. But, if you want a

dog that will leave you alone and go outside and play then a Briard is most likely not the right breed for

you. As with most dogs, left unattended outside they can find trouble or danger such as chasing passers

by, guarding the property, barking etc. Briards are not typically runners or dogs that tear off like some

breeds but any dog can wander off in search of adventure. If you want a large constant companion in the

bathroom, in the car and in general close to you at all times—then you are more on the mark in

considering a Briard. This is why a large house or property is not necessary with a Briard, because no

matter how much space they have-they will want to be close to you when you are around. They want and

need to be an important PART OF YOUR LIFE. The best thing about Briards is that they can run, hike,

or herd etc all day long and have the strength and ability to do this OR they can hang out by your side all

day on a rainy day and be couch potatoes. Of course if you are an especially active person and are getting

a Briard because you want an active dog—then your Briard will learn to expect constant activity (which is

fine unless you become ill or injured.) Briards enjoy mental games like hide and seek (you hide and call

your Briard) and like having jobs to do (guarding the bird feeder from squirrels or keeping the cat off the

counter or from a certain room in the house.) Being large and smart they are generally easy to

housebreak. Most generally adopt good household manners but MANY are guilty of “counter surfing”

especially if they are successful a few times. “Counter surfing” involves a large dog with paws or a face

on the counter searching for a free tasty morsel of food. The key to successfully raising a Briard is a

devoted owner and an active and interesting life. A typical Briard will want more interesting activity than

a walk on a leash once or twice a day but for most Briards the key to happiness is attention and that

emotional bond with their “family.”

That said....Briards can be prone to becoming TOO bonded and can develop separation anxiety and over

attachments to their owner. Briards WANT to be your constant companion but it is a good idea for them

to have "alone time." With a puppy this is best spent in a crate with safe and appropriate toys. Some

people want to ensure that their dogs is bonded to them. This is rarely an issue with a Briard. Early

socialization should involve the Briard having positive experiences with other people with the owner not

around. You never know when a personal or family emergency (or even the chance for a really fun "dog

free" vacation) may require that someone else take care of your Briard. No one does their dog any favors

by allowing their dogs to think that the sun rises and sets on "their people" and only their people.

The typical Briard has an exuberance and a zest for life. This can often translate into them stepping on

feet, greeting loved ones happily with flying paws, bumping into knees, knocking down small children (or

on special occasions grown adults), flying through the air etc. They are not bouncy per se nor are they

hyperactive. They are powerful and energetic and they tend to use their paws excessively and frequently.

Their attempts to herd can translate into bumping you in the back of the legs with their head to direct your

movements (this is how they would move sheep, by actually bumping them with their head and shoulders

or, when drastic measure were required, slamming into them with their bodies.) As a result Briards tend

to be very “physical” dogs. Controlling the jumping and the batting you with the paws is EXTREMELY

important in a young puppy. Puppies should be rewarded with 100% of your attention and happiness for

a greeting that involves all 4 paws on the ground. Any amount of time separated from you can be the

reason for a party on the part of your Briard. Controlling this behavior in a relatively small puppy is

much better than attempting to limit this behavior in a full grown Briard. An adult will be especially hard

to break of this habit if they have been allowed to get away with it as a young dog. Pawing you happily

when they are so very pleased to see you is kinda cute in a young puppy. It is much less attractive in a 70

pound dog.

Do They Bark?

Generally Briards are not “barkers” although some would argue this point. The more appropriate term to

describe Briards is they are boisterous. They can be loud and generally use their booming bark to

announce something of interest like someone walking by in front of the house or some sort of danger (real

or perceived.) With a Briard around chances are you will not be surprised by an unknown visitor. It is;

however, the rare Briard that barks incessantly just to hear themselves bark. Briards are generally very

aware of strangers and many will decide quickly if someone is to be trusted or not. If a Briard normally

accepts strangers willingly—and takes unusual issue with a specific individual-the owner is wise to be

suspicious of that person. If the owner insists on that individual’s presence then the Briard will generally

keep a watchful eye and will occasionally “announce” if that person makes any suspicious movements.

The Briard will generally position their body between a deemed potential threat and anyone they deem

vulnerable (owner, children or a smaller or less dominant canine companion.) Biting is not acceptable

and the well raised Briard knows this but “warning” of various sorts are certainly acceptable to a threat

they deem real in their mind.

Activities to do with a Briard

Briards generally excel at most activities and can be taught to do most things that dogs and humans

enjoy. They are physical, smart and athletic. Based on their history of herding large groups of sheep they

are not great Frisbee dogs nor are they great at catching a small ball out of the air. Their eyes were

designed to survey large groups at a distance not to see small objects close up. Otherwise, Briards like to

go and do and will enjoy and excel at most dog activities like herding, agility, tracking and obedience

(although the owner must avoid too much repetition of easy exercises to avoid boring their Briard.) Most

Briards are typically EXCELLENT agility dogs. There dominance sometimes interferes with them

following the course directed to do and the one they would choose but with a clear handler who runs well

they are typically IMPRESSIVE at this particular sport. Briards love outdoor activities with their people

like boating, hiking, running, jogging, camping etc.... Briards LOVE pulling especially a cart and years

ago were used frequently for this work in Europe. (They also enjoy pulling on the leash and walking

calmly on a leash is an important skill to teach them.) Briards were war dogs in World War I and World

War II and were used as medics and messengers. Legend says that Briards were used to differentiate the

living from those that had been lost on the battlefields. The quote was something like:”if the Briard

passes you on the field of battle then there is no hope for you.” This smart and intelligent breed is

capable of almost any activity that an owner would like to encounter and a Briard who was well

socialized as a pup is generally game for any new activity their companions may think of participating in

with them.

The Hair

Let’s face it-the Briards has a LOT of hair and it requires maintenance to retain the beautiful appearance.

If you are interested in a Briard then the hair really should be part of the appeal. If you are hoping to get a

Briard with the plans of keeping them shaved down---then there are a number of other breeds to be

considered. As show dogs Briards do not require as much skill as many of the breeds with “hair.” The

typical big shedding dogs like Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds etc. have fur. The “non-shedding”

breeds have hair and they matt and the portion of their hair that does fall out tangles in their coat. Briards

are easier to groom for show than Poodles and Bichon Frises. Those who are most successful at keeping

their Briards coat beautiful and matt free will have a consistent regular grooming routine. Most adult

Briards with good coat can be maintained with 2-3 hours of brushing per week. Those who have not

regularly maintained the coat will discover the need for long and potentially expensive dematting sessions

(if expecting a professional groomer to do it---if one can be found who will de-matt at all.) Or they will

be confronted with the need to shave the dog down. As a side note here---if using a professional groomer

—it is extremely important to be CLEAR about what should be done to a Briard when they drop the dog

off. Many a devastated Briard owner has arrived at their groomers to pick up their ”beautiful” Briard to

discover them looking something like a cross between a Lab and a greyhound. Also—if planning to use a

professional to maintain coat—the puppy should be “socialized” to the groomer when they are young

even if they do not need it yet.

Adolescent Briards will go through a period of “coat change” where they will transfer between the

relatively low maintenance puppy coat to their potentially long, flowing adult coat. So, they transition

relatively quickly from a period of relatively low coat maintenance to the worst matting they will do in

their lives. If you are not “paying attention” when this transition sets in (generally between 6 and 12

months of age) you can have a solidly matted dog in what appears to be almost overnight. Puppy owners

should be working with their puppy regularly to train and “socialize” them to accept grooming by having

them lay on their side to be brushed. Many Briard lovers find this to be a wonderful “bonding” time and

many Briards LOVE their grooming sessions. Even if the puppy’s coat does not yet need the

maintenance that it will need when they get older, this is a good habit to get into. By doing this regularly

the matting ie “coat change” will be spotted when it begins.

Different people with different families of Briards will have different opinions on how often and “how” a

Briard SHOULD be bathed and groomed. The opinions on bathing range from they MUST be bathed

every 3 days (to put a show dog into show coat) to once a year or almost never. These preferences

depend partly on the family of dogs and the “genetic” coat they are likely to have and on the individual

preference of the breeder/owner. Each person tends to have their own “right” way to groom a Briard.

Many Briard breeders and exhibitor are emphatic that a Briard should be shown “naturally.” This

generally means that the dog is matt free and has their feet trimmed and that is about it. Others insist that

the competitive show dog must be bathed frequently, blown “straight”, numerous hair products used,

large amount of hair cut from in between the eyes and various techniques employed for “sculpting” coat

to enhance features or hide faults. The debate on this is a topic that can result in lengthy and heated

discussions. The typical pet puppy buyer does not have a great interest in this debate. The typical pet

puppy buyer needs to understand that a certain amount of brushing will be required to keep their Briard’s

coat beautiful, healthy and matt free. HOW much brushing is required will depend on the individual dog

and their coat. The person who is interested in a show potential puppy should discuss this topic with

different breeders that they speak to and decide how they feel about the topic and the reason for each

point of view.

Other things to consider about Briard hair: Briard hair does tend to pick up much from the outside and

bring it inside. A Briard’s hair tends to repel dirt that catches in their coat. If a Briard goes out and gets

damp and dirty---as that dirt dries it does tend to fall out of the hair (and all over the house.) Depending

on the dirt where they live this can leave a thin layer of dust in a room. Also---most Briards will get a

beard full of water when they take a drink. Relatively few leave this water in the water bowl (and many

transfer it to your lap as they greet you with a happy hello right after taking a nice long drink.) Many

people with beautiful and well maintained homes however manage to live happily with Briards. (Of

course they most likely also have beautiful and well maintained lawns.)

The Nails

This topic does warrant a whole section as it is an issue for MOST new and some older Briard owners.

Briards have black nails. Having black nails—the quick is easy to cut when trimming. Many Briards do

not have a high threshold for pain especially when it comes to trimming their nails. Being the large

dominant dogs that they are—many people have Briards whose nails they cannot trim. Some people who

successfully trim Briard nails use a dremel (an electric dog nail “sander.”) A hand dremel is a challenge

with a Briard because of the hair. A stocking can be used and the nails poked though the nylon. Some

people trim the nail a bit at a time to avoid cutting the quick. Some people are talented enough to find the

exact spot without hitting the quick. Other people are dominant enough that they expect the dog to

tolerate without too much fuss getting the occasional quick cut. Nevertheless—this is a topic and skill

that a new puppy owner should learn about from their breeder.

Do they shed?

This is actually a subject of some debate. The truth be told—certain families of Briards seem to “blow”

their undercoat seasonally and their potential matting will be much more pronounced during this time. Is

this TECHNICALLY shedding? Some Briards loose a certain amount of undercoat regularly. Some

Briards have more undercoat than others. Briards are NOT a “shedding” breed like Labs, Shepherds

Goldens, Huskies etc. Briards have hair. The do not leave masses of hair behind when they lay in a spot

nor do handfuls of hair come off in ones hand when they are petted. They do have a LOT of hair and to

expect that they will not lose a certain amount of it to stick to clothes etc is unrealistic.

Are they hypoallergenic?

To my knowledge there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog yet some will swear that some breeds

elicit less of an allergic response and it seems that they believe that breeds with hair instead of fur are less

allergenic. There may or may not be truth to this belief. Briards are large energetic dogs who like to run

and play outside when given the opportunity. Many potential allergens can be brought into the house on a

Briards hair. Many Briards keep a few days worth of food, water or some sort of muck in their beards.

So the beard is a potential source of mildew and therefore of allergic reactions. Interestingly some

Briards have relatively clean beards whereas others have beards that are generally messy unless bathed or

brushed out frequently.

Briard ears

As with any breed, routine ear cleaning is recommended. Most Briards weather “natural” or cropped

have relatively healthy ears that do not require increased maintenance compared to other breeds. Some

people pull or remove excess hair from the ear canal while others leave this alone. Again this is a matter

of personal preference. To crop or not to crop is another potential debate and also a matter of personal

preference. Some people are absolutely opposed to what they feel is an unnecessary surgical procedure

that they feel puts the puppy through unnecessary discomfort. Others feel strongly that the Briards ears

are cropped at a relatively young age and that the puppies do not particularly remember this pain nor are

they the particularly traumatized by the experience. The key is certainly that the crop is done by

experienced individuals under appropriate conditions with a skilled veterinarian.

The person interested in a show Briard will likely find it more difficult to finish their Briard with natural

ears but Briards with natural ears can and do finish their championships. Many people understandably

prefer the look of the erect ear on a Briard. Proper crop and crop maintenance is required for the cropped

ear to stand and this can be a headache and heartache to a Briard puppy owner. Generally a well cropped

puppy will have beautiful ears with relatively little maintenance. Puppy buyers should listen to their

breeder and follow all of breeders instructions regarding getting the ears to stand—Here is a nice link on

Briard Cropped Ear Maintenance

Can they see through that hair?

The short answer to this is sometimes. Some Briards have less hair over their eyes, nice “eyebrows” and

ultimately see fine without other intervention. Most have some trouble especially with seeing things that

are close up or right in front of them. Many people keep the “fall” tied, braided or clipped up with

various sorts of scrunchies, bands or barrettes. Some trim various amount of hair between the eyes and

“strip” the hair of the fall so that the dog can see better.

The Size

Briards are a “large dog.” According to the AKC standard males should be 23-27 inches and females

should be 22-25 1⁄2 inches. Undersize is a disqualification in the show ring while oversized is not. Many

Briards are over the recommended top height (although many breeders are beginning to attempt to breed

for “correct” size.) The standard refers to the Briard as “Vigorous and alert, powerful without

coarseness, strong in bone and muscle, exhibiting the strength and agility required of the herding dog.”

So—the Briard should not only be large but they should be strong in bone and in attitude. For the most

part Briards ACT and should act LARGE. They also are meant to have exceptionally large heads. With

all of this and their hair, Briards can give the overall presentation of an extremely large dog at times but

the typical Briard weighs between 65 and 90 pounds. As discussed above under Space and the activity

level Briard personalities can be “larger than life” which can make them seem that much larger than they

really are. In essence this is a big dog with a big and exuberant personality. When they are serious or feel

a loved one is threatened they can appear equally big imposing. Some people will be afraid of a Briards

simply due to their sometimes imposing appearance. The females tend as a whole to be a bit smaller and

less imposing but that is not always the case.

The Expense

Briards are not inexpensive to purchase but a cheap Briard is not necessarily a cheap Briard. Briards tend

to be bred by people who are devoted to the breed, who compete in multiple expensive activities with

their dogs and who complete health clearances before doing a breeding. Many are committed to doing a

breeding that improves the breed which may involve breeding to a dog who is across the country or half

way across the world. A responsible breeder will insist on taking the puppy back should the owner for

any reason be unable to keep the puppy. All of this involves great expense and few Briard breeders are

“making money.” The cost for a new Briard puppy can be expected to be $1000 and up. A $400 Briard

puppy should lead a savvy buyer to some questions about why. It may be an accidental breeding from

parents who do not have health clearances or who are dysplastic. The puppies may be older and therefore

more difficult to place. The breeder may be a breeder with no access to sell puppies. Even “expensive”

puppies may have parents who do not have health clearances or who are dysplastic. The responsible

Briard breeder is available to the buyer as a support for training, education and information for the life of

the Briard and this is a valuable resource with such an uncommon breed of dog.

In general the purchase price is a minor portion of the potential expense of a new puppy. After routine

health checks/vaccinations, training classes, grooming, supplies, crates, books, shipping etc, the purchase

prices can begin to pale in comparison. If health issues such as hip dysplasia occur or if special training

is required because of temperament problems, then the expenses are increased significantly. It is best for

the new owner to do their homework and get their new puppy from the most responsible breeder

possible. Puppies can still develop health problems and have issues but the responsible and supportive

breeder will help the puppy buyer weed through these issues and find appropriate resolutions.

Be warned—Briards can get VERY expensive. It is not uncommon for people to fall so in love with their

Briard that they are soon buying a special car for them to travel appropriately in, land to have enough

space for their new sheep for them to herd. One puppy buyer selected her new house because it had the

right kind of windows for her Briard to look out of.

Health Issues/Health clearances

Briards are overall a healthy breed but not without their problems. Health issues in the Briard are

discussed on theBriard Healthpage of this website. Bloat (gastic dilatation and volvulus), cancer, hip

dysplasia, and autoimmune problems (such as hypothyroidism, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, idiopathic

thrombocytopenia purpura rarely diabetes) are all seen. Cancer is unfortunately common in all breeds and

occurs frequently in Briards (and in all dogs) who are 10 and over. Bloat is a serious problem in the

breed. The genetic predispositions or prevalence of such disorders are difficult to determine but these are

conditions that affect many large breeds of dogs. Hereditary eye diseases are uncommon in the Briard but

do occur. Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB) which is a hereditary eye disease unique to

Briards (with a corresponding disease in human) can now be eliminated in the breed due to a direct

genetic test for the gene responsible for this condition. Briards being bred should have a hip clearance

and a CERF examination at a minimum done above the age of 2 years. Some people will breed to a dog

under the age of 2 years. These must have an OFA prelim. Some would say that an OFA prelim plus a

PennHip result would be better. IDEALLY any dog that is bred should have hip and elbow clearances, a

CERF examination, a thyroid test to an OFA approved laboratory and have a CSNB test on them or

negative results on both of their parents or all four of their grandparents. See CHIC or the Briard Health

page of this website for more information on the health clearances recommended on the Briard.

Pet Puppy or Show Dog

Most breeders are highly motivated to see their quality puppies go to “show” homes. Most puppy buyers

want “just a pet.” Many puppy buyers think that a pet puppy should be inexpensive but if you understand

the concepts of supply and demand-then it is understandable why most pet puppies are not inexpensive.

The well bred, well raised pet puppy is generally worth every penny. The responsible breeder typically

sells a pet puppy on a limited registration. Most Briard breeders will want a contract signed by you and

by them. This is not a bad thing and serves to clarify what is expected of both parties. The terms of the

contract should be agreed upon before you get your puppy. The contract should be signed by you and the

breeder before you get your puppy or in person when you pick your puppy up from the breeder. If you

think that you might want a show puppy but have never been involved with dog shows before then I

recommend the book—Show Me! A Dog-Showing Primer by D. Caroline Coile. This book is a nice little

overview of the ins and out of dog shows. It misses the mark on a few things like who is the best person

to get a puppy from and can be a little idealistic in places but mostly it is right on the money. A Briard is

a nice breed to show because they are uncommon and most people can do well in the show ring with a

nice puppy. The biggest draw back to showing a Briard is, depending on where you live, it can be

difficult to find other Briards to show against for “points.” This is another place where a nice and

supportive breeder can be helpful.

Rescue/older dogs

Older dogs or rescues are a good possibility for many people. Many breeders will place older dogs if they

do not fit in their household or that did not turn out to be the show quality that they had hoped for. A dog

may also be available if they did not pass their health clearances. Sometimes breeders may have gotten a

puppy back from someone who could not longer keep the dog for various reasons. Briard rescue also

obtains many dogs for various reasons. Some of these Briards are delightful even if they did not have the

greatest start in life. Others may not be able to be salvaged as stable companions. There can be many

advantages to an older Briard. They may already be trained and housetrained and may already be settled

and less of a puppy. Many have issues and many people find it very rewarding to put in the efforts to

rehabilitate these dogs and turn them into model canine citizens. More information can be found about

adopting a rescue Briard at Briard Rescue.

Where to buy a Briard?

To date most Briard puppies are available through private hobby breeders who breed for show and pet

puppies. Those who want to “make money” will quickly learn that the Briard is not a good candidate for

such an endeavor. Some Briard breeders are more responsible and others are less responsible but most

legitimately care about the dogs in their care and are devoted to the breed. There are a few Briard

“breeders” who do not have the well being of the breed in mind and attempt to breed primarily to make

money. Thankfully those are well in the minority. If you want a Briard—chances are you will not find a

breeder with puppies available who lives close to you. Many breeders are willing to ship puppies and

others will encourage you to come and get your puppy. Since the Briard is such an unusual breed this can

be a good opportunity for the breeder to speak with you further and show you important tips on grooming

and training. If you are not willing to travel to get or to ship your puppy—you may have a difficult time

finding a Briard. Briard breeders can be found through the Briard Club of America or you can ask people

for recommendations.

Where can I learn more?

As you have probably already discovered-there is not a tons of written information available on the

Briard. A short reference list is available below:

The Briardby Diane McLeroth This book can be ordered directly form the author Diane McLeroth P.O.

Box 300 East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Briardsby Alice Bixler Clark has lots of pictures but the content is relatively generic

The Dewclawis the official magazine of the Briard Club of America. It is part of the membership benefits

of the club, or can be subscribed to separately by contactingChristi Leigh at cdleigh@nmia.com

The Briard Monthly Jounal is available through Barbe Lynch at bigtree@rochester.rr.com

AKC Briard video is available through AKC or Dogwise.

There are several Briard e-mail list including Briard-L, BriardTalk and BCA Discussion group (for BCA

members only)

This website is constantly being updated so return here for more information and new articles and links

on the bred. Again the best place to get information is from responsible and dedicated breeders. We are

always happy to answer your questions even though we may not always have puppies available. Please

feel free to contact us at Aladax Briards.