Briard
Group: Herding
Lifespan: 10-12 Years
Pups per Litter: 8-10
Average Weight: 75 lbs.
Average Height: 22-27 inches
Exercise/Actvity Level: High
Temperment with:
Children 
Other Dogs 
Other Animals
History
The Briard originated in France. It was created to herd sheep and was actually used in the War to sniff out soldiers! To this day, the Briard is used for herding, search and rescue, guarding, and even as a watch dog.
Traits
The Briard is a sweet and loving breed, that is known for its incredible sense of hearing! They are used primarily as herders and are a great team with people. The are very bright and therefore easy to train if the owner is experienced with this breed or in obedience training, as these dogs can be dominant. Briards need a lot of attention and exercise and is said to be one of the most attentive dogs. They are affectionate with family members but will be aloof and uncaring of anyone else.
Appearance
Weighing in at around 75 lbs (35 kgs) and averaging 22-27 inches high, the Briard is a significant, athletic dog. They have a long double coat with the outer layer being wavy and the under coat being thick and soft. The coat comes in gray, tawny or black. The ears can be either cropped or floppy, and the fur on the face of the dog resembles that of a moustache and beard. The Briard is known for having two hind dewclaws per hind leg. They have muscular bodies and their tail is long and has a hook at the end.
Health
The Briard is a generally healthy breed, prone to Cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Bloat and Hip Dysplasia. Since they are deep chested, they should be fed a few smaller meals a day rather then one or two large meals, to prevent stomach bloat.
Training
The Briard is a fairly easy dog to train but they need an owner with experience as they can be quite dominant as pups and need that to be trained to prevent them as dominant adults. They are bright dogs and excel in obedience trials, agility, and herding as they love to work. When training a Briard, they need gentle, positive training methods as they will become aggressive. They should also be socialized with other animals, and children at a very early age to ensure they will not become fearful of these as adults. This breed is definitely not for a first time owner.
Care
The Briard is a high maintenance breed as their coat is very long and needs daily brushing to prevent tangles or mats. But if kept well groomed, this dog will not shed nearly as much. The ears need to be cleaned regularly and the hair from the ears should be plucked as well. This breed will require a few hours a week of grooming.
Breed
This breed is categorized in the Herding Group. They would do well in an apartment if they are exercised regularly. They will need regular walking or outdoor activity and a yard would be preferable to run around in. They are dogs that love to be outside and do outdoor activities if its with the family. The Briard has a lifespan of about 10-12 years. They have on average 8-10 pups per litter. When obtaining a puppy Briard., keep in mind that every puppy is different and to research your breed before bringing the baby home!
Reference pages for Information:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/briard.htm Briard Breed Information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briard Briard Information
http://www.briardrescue.com Briard Rescue
http://www.thebritishbriardclub.org.uk Briard Club
https://www.akc.org/breeds/briard/ Briard AKC Standards
