THE
BRIARD (2006 edition of Encyclopedia of Dogs)
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The Briard is French with ancestry dating back to the eighth century; he was bred as a guard or herding dog and is therefore intelligent and independent, representing one of the few breeds that prefer to consider you their companion rather than their master. In fact, it is not uncommon for a Briard to routinely disagree. One of the challenges facing the mentor of a Briard is creating ingenious ways of persuading the Briard to share their opinion. Herding dogs are bred to make decisions on their own and are therefore, in the field, relied upon to do just that ... persuasion, motivation and praise, not harsh treatment, are the only tactics that will work with the Briard.
This breed has an intense sense of fair play; if your Briard senses that you've chosen a correction that is excessive or unfair he will likely shut down. You can rely on the Briard to learn very quickly, to have an exceptional memory, and to amass a vocabulary in excess of 200 words PLUS the ability to interpret an endless array of body language and vocal inflections.
A Briard may be dignified, a tease, a show-off, many are clowns, and some assume a philosophical attitude but all are independent and intelligent. The AKC Standard uses the words "spirit and initiative, wise and fearless with no trace of timidity. Intelligent, easily trained, faithful, gentle, and obedient...". Regardless, a Briard is a dog with many faces and abilities who will, given the investment of devotion he deserves, provide you with a 10-fold return on your investment.
The personality of the Briard is alluring and hard to resist. The furry face, with hidden eyes creating the illusion of being a “cuddle-bear” makes it almost impossible to resist the temptation to think of him as anything more than a big teddy bear. While the Briard is wonderfully devoted and loving it is imperative to keep in mind that he is, first and foremost, a sheep herder ... independent but devoted and loyal, intelligent and anxious to learn, stubborn yet eager to please. These qualities can become hard to handle in the absence of extensive socialization and training at a very early age. Adequate socialization provides the Briard with the opportunity to establish a sense of confidence.
The Briard is genetically programmed to be an independent thinker demanding a job of his own and an environment supporting his natural abilities. If you choose to become a Briard mentor you should prepare to restructure your life to allow time for your new family member.
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