Briard: breed description and content

Briard is a shepherd dog native to France. This is a smart, hardworking, bold creature that has become a faithful companion for man. The combination of large sizes and external decorative appearance attracts the attention of dog breeders around the world to briars.

The Briard breed appeared in France in the X century and was known as the French Shepherd Shepherd Dog from Brie, because the province of the same name was considered the birthplace of the dogs. Although shepherd dogs were common throughout France. A few years later, the first official description of a shepherd dog of a funny appearance appeared, covered with thick wool and being an excellent keeper of the herd. Perhaps this does not apply to the briars themselves, but to their ancestors.

There is another option for the origin of the breed. Perhaps the predecessors of modern briards are Persian dogs. Their closest relatives are Beaucerons, shepherd dogs. But, in addition to the purpose of grazing sheep and large size, they have little in common. Initially, the breed was actively used for corral flocks of sheep.

So far, there is no reason to consider the Briards artificially bred breed. Therefore, researchers have speculated that previously the dogs were inmates of the wild. Confirmation of this is their ability to organize, collect the herd and the ability to live in the pack.

By the end of the 19th century, the breed did not have a specific standard, but as soon as it was established, dogs began to be regularly shown at international exhibitions. In the same period, the briars appeared on the territory of the Russian Empire for further breeding. For some reason, breeding work with the breed has not gained popularity. But shepherd dogs were actively used at the front during the war. For the good of the army, their exceptional sense of smell and obedience served. Briards were allowed to follow in the footsteps of the soldiers, they searched for the wounded, courageously and deftly delivered ammunition during the shelling.

Many experts consider briard a mixture of barbet and beauceron. The breed was first mentioned in writing in the 12th century. It was described in more detail in the XIV century in the manuscript work "A Course in Agriculture" by Abbot Rosier.

In the XIX century. in France there were 14 varieties of thoroughbred shepherd dogs. In 1809, to designate a new breed, it was decided to call it the Briar Shepherd.

Briard began his exhibition career in 1863. And only after 32 years, the Club of French Shepherd Dog Lovers was created. In 1897, an initial standard was described that describes two thoroughbred varieties: with wavy and straight hair.

The first type of wool was compared with sheep’s, and the second with goat’s. Briard with a stiff straight fur coat became the predominant species. In 1988, the first amendments were made to the standard, after which the FCI (International Cynological Federation) recognized the breed. However, in 1995, it became known about the next edition of the standard, which was officially recorded.

Today, briar does not graze sheep, and often lives in the family as a pet. Such a pet once accompanied Napoleon and lived in the house of Henry Lafayette. The shepherd’s breed is appreciated not only in France but also throughout Europe, and in Switzerland such dogs serve on the staff of Civil Defense units to help locate victims in the rubble (earthquakes, caving, avalanches). In Sweden, dogs are considered to be recognized as representatives of dog breeds.

Thoroughbred shaggy dog differs in rather large size. The growth of a standard briar varies between 58-69 cm. Previously, the standard implied stopping the ears of representatives of the shepherd breed. The ears were upright and triangular in shape. Today in European countries a different description of the ears of these dogs is accepted: freely hanging down along the head, fleshy, completely covered with hair.

Like other service breeds, the weight of French briards does not have a strict standard, the mass of males is about 30-45 kg, females weigh slightly less - 25-30 kg. The coat of shepherd dogs looks chic, even despite the fact that the top coat is hard and rough. The hair covers the body of the briar with soft curls, elongating in places (in the shoulders the length can increase to 15 cm).

The undercoat is short and dense. Muzzle densely overgrown with hair. Briar's eyebrows thickly cover the eyes. According to the standard, excessive overgrowing when the eyes are completely hidden is an unacceptable phenomenon.

Briard may have a different color:

• ginger;
• the black;
• grey;
• in variations of the listed colors.

The deeper the color of the coat, the better. Two-color individuals are characterized by a smooth transition in tones with a unique symmetry. Spotted and white dogs are not standard. Individual whitish hairs or a small speck of white in the sternum are allowed.

Another interesting nuance regarding the color of briard is that all puppies are born dark and brighten as they grow. By the age of 3, the color of the dog's coat becomes stable. In rare cases, the process is delayed for a longer period. This does not apply to black, since this color is unchanged from birth.

The eyes of the shepherd dog are wide apart, they are black or dark brown. The look always looks questioning. On a large face is a large nose with a black lobe and wide nostrils. Lips fit tight and are characterized by black pigmentation.

Many dog ​​breeders compare the soft, graceful gait of their four-legged pets with a cat. Actually, Briards move with ease, as if gliding. These are very mobile dogs, capable of changing the trajectory with lightning speed or stopping on the run.

Dogs are distinguished by an inquisitive disposition, friendliness and devotion. Despite their decorative appearance, briards need emotional and physical stress. Otherwise, the dog becomes lethargic and lethargic. Briard living in the apartment, you must provide the opportunity often and for a long time to walk in the air.

The dog of this breed is an excellent companion, but not for lying with the owner in front of the TV. She will be happy to support the owner on jogging, cycling and even in heats. And without physical activity, the dog can become embittered.

Briars need full communication with a person for a full-fledged existence. Individuals of this breed are difficult to tolerate separation. The level of their socialization is so high that they easily adapt in unfamiliar places and among crowds.

Briards are happy to welcome guests and always “for” play and have fun with adults and children. During the walk, the briar is interested and makes sure that none of those accompanying him are behind the company. This behavior is typical of most shepherd dogs.

Shepherd dogs are great travel companions, since they remain calm when moving on different types of vehicles. The need to protect is in the blood of these shaggy shepherds. Despite the outward display of fun, the dogs tirelessly track the movement of households and all other members of the company.

It is important for briar owners to understand that a pet belongs to service breeds, therefore an adult needs to be engaged in its upbringing. No need to put a training on children. Even if the dog communicates excellently with younger members of the family, still he needs to feel the authority of the owner, who will deserve the respect of the dog. This is an important point, as the growing dog will attempt to lead, wanting to climb to the top of the hierarchical ladder. This situation cannot be tolerated.

A dynamic, agile dog is characterized by extreme endurance. The dog can tirelessly overcome 70-80 km daily. This exquisite runner is a maneuverable and obedient dog. This is a reliable, slightly dominant, mentally gifted dog.

Briard is less aggressive than the representative of the Beauceron breed and more affectionate for the host. This French breed is powerful, but sensitive. Briard is called in the homeland "a heart wrapped in furs." It’s unacceptable to tease the dogs, as they are likely to be aggressive in response.

The family in which they live, the Briards are sincerely devoted, will never refuse to play with their children. But the kids need to be taught how to communicate with the dog so that the kids, through negligence, do not hurt her.

The dog can be aggressive with regards to other dogs. You also need to understand that by nature, the briar is a shepherd dog, so he will implement this task with everything that moves. Some representatives of the breed can not stand cats, with the exception of those with whom they grew up. Instinctively, they seek to control other animals by pinching them by the legs, as their ancestors did in nature with sheep. In the city it is better to walk the dogs on a leash.

If the dog is shy in nature or aggressive for no reason, then you will have to forget about dog shows with her. Briards are disqualified for such qualities.

A well-bred breed representative is a wonderful pet. It is important for him to contact a person. This brings the dog a real puppy joy.Briard can be easily started in a family where children grow up.

The Briard breed is not widespread in Russia. But there are nurseries in almost all major cities. So to get a puppy of a French shepherd dog in the Russian Federation is real and quite affordable. You will have to pay for a pet from 15,000 to 30,000 rubles (2019).

If breeding is planned in the future, then the price for a doggie will be at least 25,000 rubles. For a reference puppy without flaws, the planned exhibitor, the breeders will ask for an amount in the region of 45,000 rubles.

The puppy's health is characterized by its coat, which normally should be radiant and pleasant to the touch. Rigidity appears a little later, as the pet grows older. If the look of the coat is dull, and when stroking the doggie, the hair remains on the hand, then the puppy experiences a lack of vitamins, the baby's body is weakened.

To restore the health of such a dog will have to spend a lot of money. And you need to be prepared for this. Otherwise, you should look after another puppy.

Another sign of probable problems is the apathy of the animal and its insecure, sometimes limping movements when moving. If you are not sure about the knowledge of the breed standard, as well as that it will be possible to independently determine the choice of a puppy, it is better to involve a specialist in the purchase. He will check the dog for possible flaws and pathologies, clarify all information on vaccinations and check the documents for authenticity.

The dog needs to provide at least moderate activity daily. This need can be met by a long walk or jogging. Every day you need to do exercises with a dog for at least half an hour, ideally 60 minutes. If the briar is not provided with sufficient mobility, it can begin to harm, spoiling things. In addition to chewing things, the dogs begin to bark for no reason and undermine on the site.

In addition to activity, briar needs grooming. The coat of shepherd dogs is their property, of course, its beauty and health must be maintained. Dogs have to be combed daily and long enough. The procedure sometimes takes about two hours. Thanks to such care, the dog's coat becomes shiny and smooth.

If it is not planned to drive the dog to the exhibition, it is permissible to shorten the coat slightly. This approach minimizes problems and facilitates pet care. Professional grooming is necessary for shaggy "shepherd" at least once every 2-2.5 months.

You need to wash the briar regularly. At least once in 4 weeks and even more often when the dog got dirty. This applies only to apartment dogs, and briars living in enclosures, it is enough to bathe only a few times a year.

It is important to care for the ears, eyes and paws of shepherd dogs. They must be carefully inspected and promptly cleaned of dirt and dust. Thus, the prevention of infectious diseases. A large shepherd dog has a tendency to such diseases:

• hip and elbow dysplasia;
• congenital night blindness;
• hypothyroidism;
• retinal atrophy;
• von Willebrand disease;
• cancer;
• torsion in the stomach.

When getting a large dog, it is important to realize that such a pet will eat a lot. This aspect needs special attention. Like most other breeds, briar can be fed with natural products or dry prepared food.

But mixed food for the pet is not suitable. Moreover, it can adversely affect canine health. Briard needs a balanced menu. The main food in the diet of a large dog is meat. You can optionally cook porridge: from vegetables (carrots, pumpkins), herbs, cereals (millet, buckwheat, oatmeal).

How much to give food depends on the weight of the dog and its activity. Briard has excellent digestion, so dogs of this breed do not suffer from indigestion. In hot weather, dogs become less active, so you should reduce the amount of protein food in your diet by introducing more vitamin E and yeast.

In addition, a small amount is allowed in food peanut butter. If it was decided to feed the dog with industrial feeds, you need to make every effort to ensure that it is the highest quality product (premium, and preferably super-premium or holistic). Dry food should be suitable for long haired dogs.

If the pet does not receive vitamins and minerals, his coat immediately responds to a lack of nutrients. Briard fur coat dims, rolls, glossy. And if the diet is changing for the better, but the coat still remains groomed outwardly, you need to consult a veterinarian.

Briards are dogs with increased curiosity and pronounced intelligence. They are easy to train teams, but unless you apply brutal methods using exacting treatment without physical punishment. The pet will not be thoughtlessly submissive, it is common for him to pre-reflect, and not act unconditionally.

Starting from the puppy period, it is necessary to intensively and extensively socialize the pet. It is necessary to train him consistently, showing great patience and not demonstrating cruelty, but only perseverance and moderate rigidity. Otherwise, there will be no results, because without proper preparation it will be a vicious and aggressive dog.

For a trained dog it’s not a problem to calmly wait for the owner alone, for example, at the door of a supermarket or clinic. Most briards exhibit a balanced character, but there are extremely many breed representatives. temperamental individualswho simply need special training courses to develop exposure. Also found phlegmatic briarsbut extremely rare.

If you intend to have a pet - a competitor, the briar will be a win-win option. Instant reaction, agility, endurance and flexibility make it capable of training any type of training. He will be able to master the test course and lead in most regulatory requirements, including towing.

See more about breed features in the next video.