Briard
Herding Group
Height at Shoulders
Females 22-25.5 in, Males 23-27 in
Weight
55-100 lbs
Life Expectancy
10-12 yrs
History
The Briard originated in the dairy belt of northern France around the region of Brie from which it gets its name. It is believed that the breed might date back to the year 800 AD. Briards were bred by dairy farmers to do two jobs: herd and guard the flocks from thieves or predators. Over the years, the Briard has found work in many places such as pulling carts, doing sentry work, and finding wounding soldiers for the French army during WWI.
Breed Characteristics
While not all Briards will display the exact characteristics typical of the breed, most share a personality and temperament can be generalized by the characteristic rankings below.
Intelligence
Affection Towards Family
Friendliness Towards Strangers
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
Exercise Needs
★★★★☆
★★★★☆
★★☆☆☆
★★★★★
★★★★☆
Energy Level
Sensitivity
Noise Level
Prey Drive
Shedding
★★★★☆
★★★★☆
★★★★☆
★★★☆☆
★☆☆☆☆
Intelligence
★★★★☆
Affection Towards Family
★★★★☆
Friendliness Towards Strangers
★★☆☆☆
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
★★★★★
Exercise Needs
★★★★☆
Energy Level
★★★★☆
Sensitivity
★★★★☆
Noise Level
★★★★☆
Prey Drive
★★★☆☆
Shedding
★☆☆☆☆
Common Traits
Friendly, sweet, and gentle (especially with children)
Have double dewclaws
Very loving and devoted to their family without being overly affectionate or clingy
Intelligent and quick learners who are generally eager to please but are also independent with a bit of a stubborn streak
Very protective and make natural guard dogs, but may be uneasy around strangers or other animals if not sufficiently socialized early