Briard Dog Breed Information 101

The Briard comes from the Brie area of France, and his original purpose was as a farm dog, but he also had a knack for herding. As you would expect of a dog working on farms and herding, he has high energy levels and enjoys exercise activities.

These days, you'll often find him working in roles such as search and rescue operations, but mostly he's a genuinely lovable and happy family dog and companion.

Briard Quick Look

Personality: intelligent, loyal, protective, fearless, faithful, obedient, loving, and playful

Lifespan: up to 12 years

Size and Weight:
up to 27 inches in height and can weigh between 55 to 100 pounds (males)
up to 25.5 inches in height and can weigh between 55 to 100 pounds (females)

AKC (American Kennel Club) class: herding group

Characteristics: double coat, rough straight hair, with consistent coloring, all colors except white

The Briard is a big dog, and males can grow up to twenty-seven inches at the shoulder; they have a muscular build, and you can tell they worked for a living.

It only takes about eight months to reach their full height, but as is the case with many large dogs, they won't reach maturity until around two years of age.

Their coats grow long and thick and at least up to six inches. The coat feels rough to touch and has a wavy appearance. Most colors are acceptable but must be consistent; colors include gray, black, and several shades of brown; white is unacceptable.

Even though the coat is thick and difficult to penetrate, you'll still need to brush him two to three times each week, or he will develop mats and tangles; if you don’t brush them out, you'll end up cutting them out.

Briard Personality

Briards have a sensitive nature and require firm but kind treatment; they don't appreciate harsh treatment and will sulk if mishandled. As befits his original purpose as a herding dog, he has a natural tendency to be wary and watchful around strangers. If you adopt a puppy, help prevent this side of his personality from getting out of control by giving him early and continual socialization.

Briards tend to be okay with animals they've grown with, but they can be territorial with animals they don't know. Briards have a habit of using their heads to prod and push children and other pets; it's a kind of herding technique they use; you should stop this when you see it happening.

An intelligent breed, Briards are not a dog to be left outside or alone for hours; they want to be with their family. You'll also need to provide plenty of vigorous daily exercise to keep them in the best physical condition. But equally essential are mental exercises to keep them from getting lifeless and bored. If they don't get this, they can become hyperexcitable and chew or dog excessively.

Living With A Briard

While a Briard will be okay with pets such as cats or other dogs, when they grow together, tiny pets like birds, reptiles, or rodents are in danger around this dog.

Because of their intelligence, they are independent thinkers and prefer to do things their way, making them stubborn at times. Training is crucial to eliminate this behavior and attitude. Training should start very early, and owners should be patient and kind but firm and above all consistent.

Owners who themselves are very active outdoor types will love this dog. They thoroughly love all outdoor pursuits.

Briard History

In his French homeland, the Briard is known as Chien Berger de Brie, and history traces the breed back as far as the time of Charlemagne. As I'm sure everyone is aware, Brie is a famous French cheese, and both the dog and the cheese come from the same area in France.

French farmers are responsible for breeding the Briard; they needed a reliable and fearless guardian for their sheep flocks, but the Briard was also a capable herding dog.

By the 1800s, even Napoleon, who had a reputation for disliking dogs, was enamored by the Briard. During the First World War, the French government named the Briard as the official dog of the French army. Even Thomas Jefferson was a fan and imported the dog into America in 1789.

Today the Briard is the 132nd most popular dog in the USA.

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