Briard - breed description and dog character

Shaggy breed Briard means a native of France related to shepherd dogs. However, in the modern world they are brought not only as a “workhorse”, but also as a person’s faithful friend. Briard is famous for his love of children and incredible devotion to the owner. The dog has a lot of talents, which we will talk about in more detail. Let's get started.

Origin history

Judging by the data from the historical summary, the first mention of shaggy dogs, similar to the briar, occurred in the middle of the 12th century. In those days, dogs were described as the best helpers of the shepherds, and this is not surprising. The breed can collect livestock in one pack and will not allow it to disintegrate.

It is difficult to say for sure whether these data directly related to the representatives of the breed or their ancestors. According to some reports, it can be concluded that the briar was descended from a Persian dog. Also, beauceron belongs to the closest relatives of dogs of this breed, but they are only connected by purpose and size.

Initially, briards were used exclusively for shepherding purposes, they grazed sheep. There is no information regarding the fact that representatives of the breed were derived artificially. Breeders came to the conclusion that dogs appeared only thanks to mother nature. In confirmation of this, it is worth evaluating the organizational abilities of dogs and the ability to handle a flock of sheep.

Until the 19th century, Briard did not have its own standards, but soon the situation changed. Dogs were spotted at international shows and appreciated. In our country, breeders are not eager to breed briars for unknown reasons, but they are very common in Europe.

In the war years, dogs were used as helpers, they went to the front. Due to the increased sense of smell and fearlessness, pets were assigned to search and reconnaissance units. They served cartridges, and also found wounded soldiers, served in the hospital.

Today, under this nondescript, at first glance, breed, everyone’s favorite pet is hiding. The dog gets along well with the person, shows unprecedented courage and good nature.

Generally accepted standards

1. Height and weight. The breed differs from all its fellow tribesmen in a rather large size. Briards can reach 58–70 cm in height. Gender superiority in this regard is poorly developed, therefore females with males are almost the same height. As for the weight category, body weight is 30–45 kg. (males), 26-30 kg. (bitches). But this criterion is not fixed by standards, the main thing is that the dog is well-built and harmonious.
2. Wool. A distinctive feature of individuals of this breed is considered high quality wool. It consists of two layers: the undercoat is dense and soft, has a certain impregnation to protect it from moisture. The upper row is more rigid, it can slightly curl in waves. The dog is completely covered with hair, which falls over the body and gives off a powerful physique. In some places, the coat is longer, for example, in the shoulders it can reach 15 cm or more. Unlike other breeds, briars even have long hairs on their heads. She covers her eyes, protecting them from the sun and wind. But according to standard characteristics, excessive vegetation is not allowed, which will interfere.
3. Coloring. The main colors of the presented breed are gray, black and red. Possible shades based on them are allowed. If you adhere to the standard of the international standard, the richer and deeper the tone, the better the coat.If the dog has a two-color color, it means that the two shades should be connected together very smoothly, without sharp boundaries. It is also extremely important to maintain symmetry. According to the standard, spotting is considered to be defect, as well as white coat without any shade. A spot in the chest area and the presence of several white hairs on the body will not be considered a disadvantage.
4. The ears. Ever since the ears of the breed, the ears have been stopped by the representatives of the breed, so they proudly towered up, but today in almost all of Europe such blasphemy is forbidden, so the ears hang down and are pressed to the head. They are covered with a fairly thick and elongated coat, have a rounded shape and large size.
5. Head. The bite is correct; one of the jaws cannot be advanced forward. The teeth are complete, the grip is carried out by fangs. The lips fit tightly to the jaws, they are selected and dry. Pigmentation of black or so is allowed. The muzzle itself is neat, the nostrils are wide, the nose is strictly black. The eyes are wide apart, have a dark brown or black color. The look is wary.

Based on the many reviews of the owners, briards have soft movements. Dogs are agile, they can easily break from a step to a run, and vice versa, stop if necessary. They are not fat, stable, control their movements and radiate positive in everything.

Breed character

1. A distinctive feature of dogs of the breed in question is curiosity. No matter what age the dog is, he will always be interested in exploring new places, exploring the situation and relaxing in nature. Dogs are faithful, accustomed to complex physical labor, can withstand long trainings and are emotionally stable. Without activity, the dog quickly “deflates”, becomes apathetic and sad.
2. If you intend to keep the animal in an apartment, it is mandatory to include long walks in the daily routine. You can take a dog for a run or go out into the mountains to play. Despite his companionable qualities, briards do not start so that he lies with the owner at the TV. If the animal does not have enough physical training, he will begin to search for energy output on his own.
3. Any dog ​​needs constant human attention and communication. Therefore, you need to communicate with the dog, it is extremely difficult for him to be separated for several days, and even more so a week. Due to quick getting used to society, the dog will not be confused by being in crowded and new places. Briard does not take his eyes off his partners, always follows people, gets along perfectly with a big company. It can be taken on a hike so that the dog monitors the situation and drives laggards.
4. By nature, the representatives of the breed are true travelers. The dog will endure a tiring journey by car, will protrude from the window towards the wind. Pets love to swim, so you should definitely take your family's favorite with you to water sources. It is also worth mentioning that the animals of this breed are placed in protective qualities.
5. Do not forget that the briar belongs to the breeds of service dogs. Because of this feature, an experienced person should be engaged in raising an animal. The child simply can not cope with such a task. Such a pet gets along well with children, only it will not obey.
6. Briard needs a leader who can control him. The pet must respect its owner. You also need to earn the respect of the animal. It is necessary to educate a dog from an early age. The pet will in every possible way show leadership qualities that must be suppressed. In no case do not allow this.
7. The presented breed has high intelligence and curiosity. Therefore, to teach a pet something is not difficult.Keep in mind that you can’t achieve anything if you apply physical punishment and rough treatment of the animal. Such dogs will not blindly obey.
8. Briards do not execute all commands unconditionally, they ponder in advance before completing what you want from him. If you gave the animal for professional training, then the dog can easily remain alone near the doors of the store or pharmacy. Briards have a balanced psyche.
9. However, here there are some individuals whose temperament rolls over. In this case, only professional endurance training courses will help. Therefore, it is worth entrusting to a professional. Very rarely you can meet phlegmatic briars.
10. If you are going to bring the dog to the competition, then the breed presented will be a great option. Briards are famous for their very quick reaction, flexibility, endurance and dexterity. Such a pet will be able to pass the most difficult tests and become a champion in many standards. In addition, this breed often receives titles for a beautiful appearance.

Content and features of care

1. In briards, wool is considered their pride. Therefore, consider that the dog always looked excellent, the owner will need to make some effort. A big plus should not be excluded from the attention, the breed has no seasonal molt. Therefore, you can be calm, there will be no wool in the house.
2. It should be understood that the breed of dogs simply needs a systematic grooming. Briards need to be combed every day. Keep in mind that the procedure is rather tedious, as it can take up to 2 hours. If you adhere to simple rules, the dog will always have a terrific coat that will not roll into tangles.
3. If you do not adhere to the fact that the dog needs to be prepared for exhibitions, it can be trimmed, excess hair is useless. In this case, caring for the animal will be somewhat reduced. Try to visit a professional groomer with a pet once every 2 months. Only in this way will the briar be irresistible.
4. As for swimming, the pet should provide regular water procedures, about 1 time per month or as the coat becomes dirty. Such recommendations apply exclusively to animals that live in the apartment. If the dog lives in an aviary, then you can bathe him several times a year.
5. It is also worth noting a small feature of the breed in question. If the briar gets wet in the rain, a tangible sheep scent will come from his coat. Also, such pets need careful care for their eyes, ears and paws. If necessary, always clean these parts from dirt and dust.
6. Thus, you can prevent the development of infectious diseases in the animal. Without fail, with such a pet you need to walk for a long time and actively. Walking should be at least 1.5 hours twice a day. With briar, you definitely need to engage in training, jogging and various games.

Briards are considered excellent friendly dogs. Keep in mind that such pets need daily care and active walks. You must also have a strong character in order to subjugate the animal. Otherwise, you run the risk of acquiring a naughty dunce of an impressive size. In addition, this breed likes to eat, it is also worth preparing for this.

Video: Briard dog breed