History

Named after the dairy food making community of Brie in northern France, briards were originally bred to protect and guard sheep flock, it served in many herding situations because of its ability to understand and learn commands thereby performing every task. 

They were also used as farm dogs and allowed to graze the crowded farm valleys to make strips for the sheep to pass through the farm without feasting on the crops. This they successfully did by going two-dogs-in-row to keep the sheep from straying off and at night, they kept a keen watch on the herds protecting them from wolves and other farm enemies. 

In 1865, briards got introduced into the dog show and during the first world war, they played major roles in finding wounded soldiers and towing supply carts to the soldiers. The dog found its way into the United States through Thomas Jefferson, having purchased home a pregnant briard at the end of his diplomatic service in France. 

Temperament

Briards are very intelligent dogs, they are brave, smart, and devoted to their owners. If you are looking for a serious-minded dog without a humorous attitude, you can trust this breed as it will hardly respond to games when it doesn’t feel the need for games. 

They are stubborn like most breeds and find it hard to tolerate other dogs, animals and strangers they perceive as a threat. But if properly handled and exposed to early socialization, they can cope well with other animals and people. The briards are very fearless and protective, the many reasons French farmers employed them as sheep-guards and they are faithful dogs too. 

Briards can be emotionally affected with soft punishment, they are also a little uncomfortable with frequent visits from strangers but a wonderful companion they remain to their owners.

Environment

Briards are social dogs, they love having their family members and animals around, being left alone is what the briards doesn’t tolerate. They are not an apartment kind of dogs because originally they stayed close to herd stalls, so confining them a whole day in an apartment may not be a good idea. 

But a house, yes and a large backyard for it to move about as it likes. Another care to take in breeding the briards is to ensure the leash is used because it loves to wander unless you have trained it to be sensitive to the  “home time” command. Sometimes, even with a well-fenced area, it is still necessary to use the briards leash.

Exercise

Briards are easy to train dogs, they take commands and instructions swiftly. Like most dog breeds, briards crave for engagement most of its time, a daily assignment of a task will fulfill its exercise needs and going on hiking, jogging or cycling with it will certainly gladden its harmless heart a great deal. 

Also useful is having a large fenced area at home for your dog to run around, chase birds and balls and play fetch are the numerous ways to entertain it at home. Remember, a regular dose of exercise is what your dog needs to remain mentally sound and vibrant.

Grooming

A dog with such a thick coat will need a lot of fur brushing to keep it looking great the whole time. For Briards, regular combing and brushing of the hair down to the skin with a pin brush and an undercoat rake to remove the dead hair and minimize shedding is part of a good grooming practice. 

For bathing, briards bathing routine is based on the kind of work it does, it varies from weekly to monthly bath routine. The inside of its ears needs to be checked and clean from time to time to prevent wax buildup as well as keeping tabs against excess hair around the ears and the feet-pads.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Briard