Overview

The Briard is another sheepdog. It is fairly large, and has been around in history for centuries. They have been owned by such historical greats as Napoleon or Charlemagne. They have a heightened sense of hearing, though their skills may be at first underestimated due to their fluffy appearances. These dogs make for excellent guard dogs.

Activity

Very energetic, Briard dogs need a way to constantly vent their collective energies. They do best outdoors in wide open environments. It's a good idea that if you are a person who has cattle or herds of some kind of animals, that you use this dog's natural instincts to herd the animals and defend them.

Care

The Briard is a mostly healthy dog breed, but you will need to keep their ears cleaned, and get the hair out of their eyes. Their long coats tend to attract dirt, and since it dangles in their ears and in front of their eyes, you will want to take a special precaution.

Character

The Briard dogs are shaggy and rugged looking. Their movements are quite sharp, however, and they are very light on their feet. On top of making for good guard and sheep herding dogs, they also make for good hunting companions. The dog is a jack of many trades and can be found useful for many different tasks.

Coat

The coats of the Briard, though long and ragged, will actually shed very little if their coats are well-maintained. Avoid excessive bathing, as too much soap can cause damage to the dog's coat. All shades and colors of the coats will vary from gray, brown, or black. Any one color that the coat is, will be suited with likewise colored shades.

Temperament

Briards are protective of their loved ones and are very affectionate with their owners. They will never betray their human family. These dogs actually crave and need human interaction. The Briard can become emotionally starved without human love and compassion. They are eager to make their masters happy, and are devoted to that sole purpose.

Training

Briards do very well if trained at a young age. Their memory retains things like almost no other dog's mind could ever hope to. They learn and rarely need to be told repeatedly what they need to do. Socialize them very early on so that they won't view other friends and family members as threats.