Briard

Briard is a peasant herding breed from France. These dogs are not only great workers, but also the cleverest, bravest creatures that have become excellent companions of man in the modern world. Having a large size and appearance of decorative breeds, they attract the attention of dog breeders around the world.

Where did the breed come from?

The original sources of the breed originate from the 12th century, it was then that a dog was described with a funny appearance, thick coat and excellent shepherd qualities. This may apply to both the ancestors and the Briards themselves. It is believed that the modern dogs of this breed are descended from the Persian dog. The closest relatives of the Briards are the dogs of the shepherd’s breed Beauceron , although besides their purpose and size there are few of them that bind them.

From the very beginning of appearance, the breed was actively used for herding, mainly sheep. Nowhere was there any information that the breed was artificially bred; therefore, researchers assume that the Briards once lived in the wild. This confirms their organizational ability, the ability to collect animals in a herd, as life in a flock implies precisely this behavior.

Back in the late 19th century, the breed did not have a standard, but when it was established, dogs became regular exhibitors at the international level. At the same time, representatives of this breed got into the Russian Empire for the purpose of further breeding. But for some reason, selection work with briards did not become popular.

Dogs of this breed were actively used during the war for service at the front. Here their excellent sense of smell and obedience came in handy. They were engaged in search activities, finding soldiers who were injured, and also filed ammunition during shelling.

Today briar is not a shepherd, but an intelligent and good-natured member of the family. Pet such a breed was have Napoleon, Henry Lafayette.

Breed of Briar

Purebred representatives are quite large. The growth of dogs varies from 58 to 69 cm. Ear cupping of the ears was previously laid, then they were in a standing position and had a triangular shape. Today, many European countries have banned this procedure, and dogs' ears hang loosely along the head. They are thick, completely covered with a coat of wool.

As with other service breeds, the briards' weight is not limited to the standard, for males it varies from 30 to 45 kg, for females from 25 to 30 kg.

Briards' coat is chic, the top layer is hard and coarse. The fur covers the body of the dog, forming soft curls. In some places, the hair is lengthened, for example, in the shoulder area, its length reaches 15 cm. The undercoat is short, compacted throughout the body. The muzzle of dogs is also abundantly covered with hair, their eyebrows “cover” their eyes. But the standard does not allow excessive overgrowth, completely hiding the eyes.

The color of the briards can be different:

• ginger;
• black
• gray;
• include variations of these colors.

The deeper and richer the color, the better. If the dog is two-colored, then a smooth transition from one tone to another is required with respect for symmetry. Not allowed by the standard spotty dogs, as well as with pure white wool. Only individual white hairs or a small white spot in the sternum area are allowed.

Briards' eyes are wide apart, black or dark brown. The look is always read dumb question.

The muzzle is neat, with a black square lobe and large nostrils.

Lips have a tight fit, pigmented by black color. Bite like "scissors".

Many owners are marked by a soft, feline gait of their pets. And indeed, the movements of the Briards are light, sliding. But at the same time they are very mobile, they can change the trajectory with lightning speed, turn around or stop running.

The nature of the dog breed Briar

Dogs are inquisitive, friendly, very loyal. Their decorative look is deceptive, they need physical work and emotional stress. Otherwise, the dog becomes lethargic, apathetic.

If Briard lives in an apartment, then he needs long active walking tours. This is a great companion, but not for sharing the TV. The pet will be happy to accompany the owner on a run, while riding a bike, he will even be happy to swim nearby. Without physical training, the animal may become embittered.

Briards cannot fully exist without human intercourse, and separation is given to dogs very hard. They are so well socialized that it is difficult to embarrass them by walking to new, even crowded places. They are happy to meet with the guests and are always happy to participate in new games and fun.

On the Briard paddock - the very interest and concern. Pets always follow the company so that no one is left behind or lost. This is the behavior of many sheepdogs. Dogs belonging to this breed are excellent travelers, who calmly tolerate movement on any transport and at the same time behave approximately.

In the Briards' blood, the guarding qualities, despite the gaiety, the dogs do not cease to monitor the movement of households and other members of the company. If a dog is shy or aggression without apparent reason, then it will be disqualified for such defects.

Do not forget that these dogs belong to service dogs, so you do not need to bring up the pet in children's hands. They communicate perfectly with children, but Briar needs a reputable owner who can earn the respect of a pet. This is important, as the growing dog will try to show leadership qualities, trying to climb higher up the hierarchy. This can not be allowed.

Briards are highly intelligent and inquisitive dogs that are easy to train. But only in the event that not to apply rough treatment and physical punishments. Pet does not obey blindly and unconditionally, he pre-ponders how to do it.

If the dog has been trained , it will quietly remain alone, for example, at the door of the pharmacy or store. Most Briards have a balanced psyche, but there are representatives of the breed that are too temperamental, they need to undergo special courses on endurance training. There are also phlegmatic briards, but this is such a rarity.

If you need a pet to participate in competitions, then Briar is ideal. With a lightning reaction, agility, flexibility and endurance, he is able to undergo training of any type. He is able to undergo a test of dogs and be a champion in many regulatory requirements, including towing. In addition, the Briards often receive champion titles for external beauty.

See also: how to call the boy Briar and the girl .

Features care and maintenance

Briards' wool is their pride and, naturally, so that it looks beautiful and well-groomed, some efforts from the owners are required. But here you can note a definite plus - representatives of this breed lack a seasonal molt , which means that there will be no wool in the house.

Grooming Briards require regular. They should be combed daily, and this procedure can take up to 2 hours. Only in this case, the wool will not be tangled, it will become smooth and shiny, and will remain clean for a long time. If the dog is not a participant in the exhibits, the coat may be shortened somewhat. This will simplify the care of the appearance of the pet. It is necessary to visit a professional groomer with your pet at least once in 2-2.5 months.

Bathing requires regular - 1 time in 4-5 weeks or more often if the dog becomes dirty. But this applies to apartment dogs; it is enough to wash captive briards several times a year. Another feature of the Briards is that a sheep smell is emanated from the wool when wet.

The care of dog ears, eyes and paws is important. Be sure to inspect these parts and clean from dirt and dust. This is a great way to prevent the development of an infectious disease in an animal.

But the most important are the mandatory long walks in the fresh air. They must be performed twice a day, and they should last 1.5-2 hours. It is important to occupy the briar with training, outdoor games, jogging.

How to feed briar

Taking into the house of a large dog, it is worth considering that eating such a four-legged friend is a lot. Therefore, this aspect requires special attention. Like most breeds, briards can be fed with natural food or ready-made rations. Only for them is not suitable mixed food, as it can undermine the health of a pet.

Briard needs a balanced meal. The basis of the diet is meat. Additional ingredients are vegetables (carrots, pumpkins, zucchini), greens, cereals (millet, buckwheat, oatmeal, rolled oats). It is not recommended to give a pet potatoes, it is also desirable to remove from the menu rice, bread and other pastries, all pastries.

The amount of food depends on the dog's body weight and activity. Briards are characterized by excellent digestion, therefore, stomach disorders, they practically do not exist. It should be borne in mind that during hot periods the dogs move less, so it is advisable to reduce the amount of protein food consumed by enriching the ration with vitamin E and yeast. In addition, you can give a small amount of peanut butter.

If the owner chooses to feed the dog with production feed, then it should be a premium quality product, super premium or holistic class. You should also choose it for large dogs with long hair.

If the pet does not receive a sufficient amount of vitamins and trace elements , it immediately affects the state of coat. If the diet has changed for the better, but the appearance of the pet has deteriorated or remained at the same level, you should consult a veterinarian for advice.

Read more about briar feeding .

Photo briar

Briard Video

How much can you buy a puppy briar

Breed Briar is not very common in Russia, but still in large cities there are nurseries engaged in their breeding. You can buy a puppy as an ordinary pet for 15000-20000 rubles. Pet for further breeding will cost a bit more expensive - 25000-30000 rubles. Show-class puppy, without any flaws, which is the standard of the breed, costs about 45,000 rubles.

Briard is the perfect dog for the active and the restless. He, as they say, will follow the owner into the fire and into the water, and he does not agree to hang at the tail, but he will surely be proud to run alongside. Intelligent, energetic, loyal - the best qualities for a companion dog.