Best Bully Sticks Breed Spotlight: Briard
Best Bully Sticks has seen some furry dogs, some fuzzy dogs, but today’s Breed Spotlight is all about a shaggy dog! BBS is talking about the Briard, a French herding dog with a lot of spunk and a lot of heart. Read more about this shaggy dog below!
History & Background: It seems the Briard has been a popular dog for many ages. The dog originated as a French herding dog, as a mix between the sleek Beauceron and the wooly Barbet. During the Middle Ages, the Briard was a beloved dog that has been seen in tapestries and written records. The breed was used mostly as a livestock herder and guard that was more prone to bite a stranger in defense of its breed, but became a “softer” dog through selective breeding. The Briard was used in the French Revolution & WWI as a messenger, sentry and to search for wounded soldiers. However, they’re most commonly used as pastoral dogs and served as herders, watchdogs and guard dogs. It’s said that Charlemagne, Napoleon, Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette all owned Briards. The stories are conflicting about who, Jefferson or Lafayette, introduced the Briard to America.
Today, the Briard serves in many roles, such as police, military and search and rescue dogs. The Briard breed has also had a handful of on-screen roles that have included appearances on Dennis the Menace, My Three Sons, Get Smart, Married…with Children and Dharma & Greg.
Height: 23 – 27 inches (males); 22 – 25 ½ inches (females)
Weight: 66-88 pounds (males); 55-77 pounds (females)
Coat: The Briard’s coat is one if its most distinctive features, truly making it a shaggy dog. The long outer coat is dry and hard, so much so that it even makes a scratchy noise if strands of fur are rubbed together between fingers. Even though the coat is dry, a good coat will have sheen, denoting healthy hair. The hair falls flat on the body in long wavy locks, including the head. The head’s hair naturally lies flat and has a natural part down the middle, however the Briard’s long eyebrows do not lie flat and curve up and out to create a light cover over the eyes. The Briard also sports a mustache and beard. The undercoat is fine and tight against the whole body. As much hair as this dog has, it’s never so much that it covers up the dog’s shape or impedes vision. This dog needs steady grooming to look ideal and also be comfortable. An ungroomed Briard can develop matted fur. Read more
