Briard - description of the breed and character of the dog

Under the shaggy breed Briard means a native of France, referring to the shepherd dogs. However, in the modern world they are turned on not only as a “workhorse”, but also as a true friend of man. Briard is famous for its love of children and incredible devotion to the owner. The dog has more talents, which we will discuss in more detail. Let's get started.

History of origin

Judging by the data from the historical report, the first mentions of shaggy dogs, similar to Briar, fall in the middle of the 12th century. According to local times, dogs were described as the best assistants to shepherds, and this is not surprising. The breed can collect cattle in one pack and will not allow it to disintegrate.

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

Originally, the Briards were used exclusively for herding purposes, they were herding sheep. There is no information about the fact that representatives of the breed were artificially removed. Breeders came to the conclusion that dogs appeared only thanks to Mother Nature. In confirmation of this is to evaluate the organizational skills 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 noticed at the exhibitions of international standard and appreciated. In our country, breeders are not eager to breed briards for unknown reasons, but they are very common in Europe.

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

Today, under this seemingly inconspicuous 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 tribesmen by its rather large size. Briards can reach 58–70 cm in height. Gender superiority in this regard is poorly developed, therefore bitches with male dogs 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 wool of high quality. It consists of two layers: the undercoat is dense and soft, has some kind of impregnation to protect against moisture. The upper row is more rigid, it may slightly curl in waves. The dog is completely covered with wool, which falls on 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 and more. Unlike other breeds, briards even have long hair on their heads. She closes 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 represented breed are gray, black and red. Possible shades based on them are allowed. If you adhere to an international standard, the richer and deeper the tone, the better the wool. If the dog has a two-color color, it means that two shades should be interconnected very smoothly, without sharp borders. Symmetry is also essential. According to the standard for the defect is considered spotting, as well as white without any shade of wool. For the deficiency, the stain in the chest area and the presence of several white hairs on the body are not considered.
4. Ears. Since ancient times, representatives of the breed have stopped their ears, so they proudly towered high, but today, in almost all of Europe, such blasphemy is prohibited, so the ears are hanging down and pressed to the head. They are covered with rather thick and elongated hair, have a rounded shape and large size.
5. Head. The bite is correct; it is not allowed to advance one of the jaws. The teeth are in full set, the grip is carried out by the canines.The lips are tight to the jaws, they are picked up and dry. Pigmentation of black or about that shade is allowed. The muzzle itself is neat, the nostrils are wide, the nose is strictly black. The eyes are widely spaced, have a dark brown or black color. Look wary.

If we proceed from the numerous reviews of the owners, the Briards have soft movements. Dogs are clever, they can easily break from step to run, and vice versa, stop if necessary. They are not fat, stable, control their movements and emit a positive in everything.

Breed character

1. A distinctive feature of the dogs of the breed in question is curiosity. It doesn’t matter at what age the dog is, he will always be interested to get acquainted with new places, explore the situation and relax in nature. Dogs are faithful, accustomed to complex physical labor, withstand long training and are emotionally stable. Without activity, the dog quickly “blown away”, becomes apathetic and sad.
2. If the intention is to keep an animal in a residential environment, it is imperative that long walks be included in the daily routine.You can take a dog for a run or go to the mountains to play. In spite of their convivial qualities, the briar is not turned on so that he lies with the owner at the TV. If the animal doesn’t have enough physical training, it will begin to look for an energy output on its own.
3. Every dog ​​needs constant human attention and communication. Therefore, it is necessary 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 the rapid habituation to society, the dog does not at all confuse being in crowded and new places. Briard keeps an eye on his partner, always follows people, ideally gets along with a big company. It can be taken on a hike, so that the dog watches the situation and drives the lagging behind.
4. By nature, the representatives of the breed are true travelers. The dog will endure a tiring journey by car, will lean out of the window towards the wind. Pets love to swim, so you should definitely take the family pet with you to the water sources. It is also worth mentioning that animals of this breed are put on guard qualities.
5. Do not forget that the briar belongs to the breeds of working dogs.Because of this feature, an experienced person should be engaged in raising an animal. The child simply can not cope with this task. Such a pet gets along well with children, but it will not obey them.
6. Briaru needs a leader who can cope with it. A pet must respect its owner. You also need to earn the respect of the animal. Education must be practiced from an early age of the dog. Pet will be in every way to show leadership qualities that must be stopped. In no case do not allow this.
7. The presented breed possesses high intelligence and inquisitiveness. Therefore, to teach your pet anything will not be difficult. Consider, you will not be able to achieve anything if you apply physical punishment and harsh treatment of an animal. Such dogs will not blindly obey.
8. Briards do not perform all the commands unconditionally, they ponder before doing what you want from him. If you gave the animal for professional training, the dog can easily be left alone at the door of the store or pharmacy. Briards have a balanced psyche.
9. However, here there are some individuals whose temperament rolls over. In this case, help only professional courses on learning excerpts. Therefore, the case should be trusted with a professional. It is very rare to find phlegmatic briards.
10. If you are going to bring the dog to the competition, then the breed will be an excellent option. Briards are known for very fast response, flexibility, endurance and agility. Such a pet will be able to pass the most difficult tests and become a champion in many standards. In addition, this breed often gets titles for a beautiful appearance.

Content and features of care

1. In Briards wool is considered their pride. Therefore, keep in mind that the dog always looks great, the owner will need to make some effort. It is not necessary to exclude from the attention a big plus, the breed lacks a seasonal molt. Therefore, you can be calm, wool in the house will not.
2. It should be understood that the breed of dogs simply needs systematic grooming. Briards need to be combed every day.Keep in mind, the procedure is quite tedious, as it can take up to 2 hours. If you follow the simple rules, a dog will always have an amazing coat that will not roll into mats.
3. If you do not adhere to the fact that the dog needs to be prepared for exhibitions, it can be trimmed, excess wool to anything. In this case, care for the animal will be somewhat reduced. Try to visit a professional groomer with a pet 1 time in 2 months. Only in this way briar will be irresistible.
4. As for bathing, a pet should be provided with regular water procedures, approximately once a month or as the wool is contaminated. Such recommendations relate exclusively to those animals that live in the apartment. If the dog lives in an open-air cage, then it can be bathed several times a year.
5. Also worth noting is a small feature of the breed in question. If the briar gets wet in the rain, there will be a perceptible sheep odor from its wool. Also such pets need careful care for their eyes, ears and paws. If necessary, always clean these parts from dirt and dust.
6. This way you can prevent the development of an infectious disease in an animal.It is mandatory to walk with such a pet for a long time and actively. Walking must 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 great friendly dogs. Keep in mind, such pets need daily care and active walks. You must also have a strong character to subdue the animal. Otherwise, you run the risk of acquiring a naughty booby of impressive size. In addition, this breed loves to eat, this is also worth preparing.

Video: Briar dog breed