The Briard is a large, powerful dog with a long, shaggy coat. The ears may be cropped and erect or left natural. Briards often have double dewclaws on their back legs which makes pivoting turns required with herding easier. The coat comes in all colors except for white. Common colors include black, various shades of gray and various shades of tawny. The tawny coat usually lightens from the time the dog is born to the time it is a year old, when the coat deepens to a richer adult color. Adult coats are 6 or more inches long, giving the dog a bushy look with a shaggy beard, eyebrows and mustache.
The Biard was developed in France in the same region that Brie cheese comes from. The breed was nearly decimated when it was used as a war dog for sending messages, finding the wounded, detecting mines, and guarding supplies. Napoleon and Thomas Jefferson were Briard owners.
The Briard is a highly intelligent herding dog that also makes a great family companion. Easily learns tricks, as you will see on the video below. They are very loyal and protective.
Breed Club Links: Briard Club of America
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Photo courtesy of tinabasgen.
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