The history of the Briard breed, external parameters, character traits of the animal and its health, the nuances of care: walks, nutrition, training, interesting facts. Buying a puppy. The dog looks like a big stuffed animal or hippie. An animal with a colorful appearance. Not a single person will just pass by him. They have long bangs that seem to cover their eyes. But she absolutely does not prevent the dog from seeing. If you think you haven't seen it yet, think again. Many films and TV series were shot with their participation. And how amazingly this dog looks like the hero of the comedy series, the alien Alpha. I wonder who served as the prototype for the hero, are these dogs really? It is said that Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, was the first to bring Briards to America. So where are they from? Of course from France.
The history of the emergence of the Briard breed
This variety appeared in the 8th century. Her story as a shepherd dog and watchman goes back centuries. There are written testimonies about the briards from the 14th century by Gaston Phoebus in his book on hunting. Charlemagne, Napoleon, Thomas Jefferson and Lafayette all had pets of this breed. Some theories say that the briard comes from Asian dogs brought to the region as a result of the barbarian invasions that rocked Europe in the Middle Ages. The Briard is one of the most amazing animals from the Brie region of France. You guessed it, it got its name in honor of the French province, where it was bred.
French Shepherds were originally bred to guard flocks of sheep. These are peasant dogs that helped and facilitated the hard work of farmers. Briards often made their own decisions in order to accomplish the tasks assigned to them. This distinguishes such dogs from those breeds that only guarded or looked after livestock. Canines that graze herds are often smaller, more agile, and quick-footed. Those species that were engaged in protective functions, as a rule, are larger and heavier. Briards, on the other hand, were used in all types of grazing and in different situations, getting the opportunity to learn many commands and complete the tasks assigned to them.
The Briard was a farm dog most often kept in the densely populated agricultural valleys of France, where row crops were grown. The sheep were allowed to graze on the grass - strips between the grains. Moving along these strips, briards were responsible for the conservation of livestock, and also protected crops from being eaten by sheep. Shepherd dogs drove livestock daily from farms to pastures and back. On the farm, these dogs were partners with the shepherds, helping with livestock matters.
Briards were also used in the seasonal summer distillation of large flocks of sheep in areas of France that had wide mountain pastures. These dogs usually worked in conjunction with one or more other breeds to keep the sheep together and guide the flock properly. At night, they were alert and vigilant watchdogs, protecting shepherds and herds from wolves and thieves.
Many Briards are now serving in the police force. They work in rescue teams. The breed is still used today as livestock herders and as pet guards. These French Shepherds are also used, in the French Navy, as sentinels, messengers and because of their good hearing in the search for wounded soldiers. Briards were indispensable during the First World War. They helped to find and save people.
This breed was on the verge of extinction, but it survived and became better over time than before. Their external data left much to be desired. To improve their exterior, they used such varieties as beauceron and berabet. Only after such a transformation does the French Shepherd Dog become a winner at an exhibition in Paris called "Paris Dog Show" and is rapidly gaining popularity. Formally, in the United States of America, briards were recognized in the early twenties of the last century. The breed came to Britain only in the late sixties.
Description of the external parameters of the French Shepherd Briard
The Briard is a lively dog of medium size, strong, with thick long hair. Throughout history, it maintains an optimal balance of size and structure for herding and herd protection. The dogs are not too big to tire while grazing, but large enough to fend off predators such as foxes and wolves. They are distinguished by great intelligence and a stable nervous system. With the right upbringing, they are obedient and loyal to the whole family.
According to the norms, the height at the withers in males is from 58 kg to 69 kg, in bitches from 56 kg to 65 kg. Parameters can vary within 1-2 cm. Males weigh 24 kg, and females 36 kg. They move harmoniously, flexibly and softly - "lengthened trot". The animal lifts the front legs with excellent amplitude and the hind legs have excellent propulsion.
- Head large, voluminous and elongated. Seen in profile, it has parallel lines with the muzzle. The frontal part is slightly rounded. The furrow on the forehead is not visible. The cheekbones and brows are covered by the falling bangs in the form of an arch, mustache and beard.
- Muzzle - impressive, not narrow, with a square ending. The bridge of the nose is flattened, even. The stop stands out noticeably. The lips are dry, compressed, black pigmented; light-colored briards may be dark-bodied. Scissor bite. The teeth are large, white, strong.
- Nose developed, convex, nostrils are dilated. Pigmentation of the nose in accordance with the main color of the dog, black or in blue individuals, bluish-flesh-colored.
- Eyes French Shepherd Dog of medium position, well open. They are oval and small in size. Their color ranges from dark brownish to amber or slightly yellowish in light-colored individuals. The eyelids are dry, flesh brown or dark pigmentation in dogs with dark coats. The look is smart and lively.
- Ears have a high placement. They are smaller than the average size if left in their natural state, in length no more than the length of the skull. A long, even, flowing guard hair grows on them. The cartilage is flat, the ends are slightly rounded. The ears can be cropped. Then they are located straight up, but do not diverge to the sides or converge inward.
- Neck of medium length, muscular, oval, set high, mobile. The withers are not highlighted, there is no dewlap.
- Frame athletic and muscular. The chest is wide, deep, oval, drooping down to the elbows. The back is straight and strong. The sides are deepened. The loin is shortened, knocked down. The croup is well muscled, rounded, slightly sloping. The ribs are harmoniously arched. The line of the abdomen is smoothly pulled up to the groin area.
- Tail low location, long, straight at the beginning of growth and curls up at the end. Its length ends at the level of the hocks. In a calm state, he goes down. When the dog moves, it is raised, but not above the line of the spine.
- Front limbs - well-muscled, erect, with strong bones. When judged from the front, they fit harmoniously. The shoulders are well muscled and close to the chest. The elbows are parallel to the body. The pasterns are slightly tilted. The hindquarters are powerful, athletic. Parallel to each other, even. When judged from behind, have a smaller distance between the forelegs and a greater length than the front legs. Strong muscles on the thighs. The knee joints are perfectly arched, not low. Metatarsus are vertical.
- Paws tight, round, strong. The fingers are strong, with curved hard claws, slightly spaced from one another. The nails are pigmented depending on the color of the briar - dark to dark, light to light. The pads are dense and elastic. The hind legs have double toes. They are low. This feature has been fixed for centuries. This gives the briar the added ability to turn quickly and move differently to graze and guard the herd.
- Coat has an elastic structure. The main guard hair is long and dry, reminiscent of goat hair. The undercoat is short.
- Leather - tight, fits well the dog's body.
- Color - monochromatic. Basically it is gray, fawn, black, charcoal gray, bluish color. Some individuals have a dark mask, gray, the color of the limbs of a lighter or darker tone.
Characteristic Behavior Traits of a Briard Dog
The Briard is a very loyal protective dog. They are sometimes referred to as "the heart of gold, dressed in furs." These are the smartest dogs in the world. They love to bring joy to their family. The animals have established themselves as an excellent breed for children of all ages. Indeed, these dogs are rapidly developing affection for their owners. They are very emotional, able to suffer for a long time after the departure of their owners and react with great enthusiasm to their return.
Briards can be taught anything: bring the TV remote, close the door, pick up toys for children, wipe their paws after a walk, wipe their mouth after drinking, and even ride a scooter. French Shepherds are excellent companion dogs that want to participate in all the life processes of the family. In capable hands, these are loyal, intelligent and versatile dogs. They need early socialization and training.
Adaptation to the environment is necessary to establish contact with other animals in the house where he lives. Otherwise, the dog will behave aggressively with his fellows. They also need to be socialized, so that their protective instinct is smoothed out, so that they are not so aggressive, protecting their family members.
Even if the Briards are city dwellers, they still have high herding abilities. If someday, during their life, they get to know sheep or other livestock, they will automatically begin to do what they were bred to do. Dogs have a natural predisposition to move quickly and grab everything on the fly. Therefore, active games with a ball or a flying saucer will benefit them. Without proper physical exertion, dogs can become destructive. Briards have a lot of lively energy and are easy to train. But the breed should not be taken lightly, even with its merits. It may not be the perfect choice for beginners. The owner must have activity and confidence in his abilities.
Briar health
In general, they have good health and the life expectancy of some individuals reaches fourteen years. But sometimes the dog has a stomach volvulus. The stomach fills with gas and twists. Therefore, they are fed in small portions after a walk. Cancer is rare, but it does happen.
The nuances of caring for a Briard dog
- Wool large volume French shepherd. It is thick and long, so you need to keep an eye on it. If the fur is not taken care of, it will become tangled. Therefore, the dog should be combed out as the hairline falls off and every day when the pet changes its coat. Briards should be bathed every three weeks. The dog is large and the more problems are not with bathing, but with drying. Drying the dog with a hairdryer takes about an hour to one and a half time. First, the dog is blotted well with a towel, and only then it is dried with a hairdryer in warm air mode, so as not to dry out the coat.
- Teeth French Shepherd Dog so that no stone is deposited on them and there is no periodontal disease, it is necessary to teach to clean from puppyhood. The procedure can be done with zoological pastes and brushes.
- Ears individuals that are not docked should be cleaned more often, as they are poorly ventilated. You can also trim them. With circumcised ears, manipulations are carried out less often.
- Feeding briara does not imply anything special in itself. Yes, these dogs eat a lot. When it comes to natural feeding, I doubt you will want to buy a lot of meat and other foods. Then carry it all from the store, cut it, cook it. Store large pots in the refrigerator. You will have to cook food every two days. In addition, you need to choose the right ratio of nutrients, buy a good vitamin and mineral complex. To do this, you will need to consult with the veterinarian or breeder from whom you purchased the dog. The most convenient and fastest way to buy professional dry concentrates is super premium. The pet will be in wonderful physical shape, and you will make it easier for yourself. To pamper your briar, you can serve frozen or scalded meats in separate portions. Such processing is necessary so that there are no parasites in it.
- Walking such dogs are long-lasting. They need to move and play a lot - to spend the accumulated energy. Otherwise, a partial "repair" in your home is guaranteed. On each walk, the briards are taught something new and reinforce the learned commands. Since adaptation is needed from an early age, they are taken not only to the park. Pets need to know what shops, transportation, other people and animals are.
Features of raising a briard
Briards lend themselves well to training, as they love their owners and want to please them, no matter what. But sometimes they are wayward and stubborn. It is imperative to start this process from an early age in the shepherd dog. Everything passes gradually. First, the puppy is accustomed to his nickname. Next come the household commands: sit, lie, place, stand, next to. While the briard is still small, it is necessary to repeat such commands on every walk, that is, three times a day.
As the dog matures, lessons learned will accumulate. Therefore, once a week for an hour and a half lessons is enough to fix everything and the dog does not forget the command. A briard trainer must understand the independent nature of the working breed. The trainer must earn the dog's respect. To lure a pet, all lessons must be done while playing.
Interesting facts about briar
Briards are used by various services in hospitals, schools and retirement organizations. They are also used as a kind of therapists to help people with disabilities, with certain psychological illnesses, for example, with post-traumatic stress disorder, autistic patients. The dogs do an excellent job with the task. Their keen intellect, tactile interactions of a wonderful coat, and loyalty, give a new impetus to the lives of people with disabilities and in the period of rehabilitation of patients. After communicating with such pets, many people not only get out of a state of depression, but also get themselves such four-legged healers.
The first amazing quality of briards, their luxurious coat consisting of a short undercoat and a long guard coat on the outside. They also have double primordia of the fifth toe - small dewclaws on the front and hind legs. Dogs have a long and curved tail, which begins to develop by six or eight months.
Buying a briard puppy
If you want a dog like this, you need space and time. If you do not have a large apartment or house, then such animals will be cramped there. Briards have a rather large size and coat, which must be constantly looked after so that the pet is in excellent external shape. But for mental and physical development, a set of exercises is needed. When you cannot handle everything on your own, you will have to hire trainers and groomers. The approximate price for a French Shepherd Dog ranges from $ 900 to $ 1400.
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