Odile Smith | Fairytale Briards

Interview with Odile Smith, Breeder of Fairytale Briards

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? What is your kennel name?
2. What are the hallmarks of your breed and why are they important for maintaining breed type?
3. In your opinion, are there enough puppy homes to support breeding a litter this year?
4. How have you implemented new technologies in science and communications as a breeder?
5. In your community, have you noticed a change in the public’s perception of purebred dogs?
6. Have you noticed any trends in the sport? Anything to be concerned about?
7. What are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in the sport in recent years?

Odile Smith

1. My name is Odile Smith. I was raised with large hunting dogs, but I fell in love with Briards and decided that I would have one when I would be living in a house well-suited for dogs. I never turned back. Briards have been my breed for 30 years. Nowadays, we live in Massachusetts, not too far from Boston, and I breed under my kennel name, Fairytale. You can check us out at: Fairytalebriards.com.

My best-known dogs would include Fr. Can. AKC BISS BIS CH Fairytale’s Balthazar le Sage, aka “Sage.” He was a Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show winner, No. 1 ranked US and Canadian Briard, and sired many Champions in the US and several European countries. In current times, I would mention Can. NBISS CH AKC BISS GCHS Fairytale’s Oxford BN RA IT FDC CGC, currently shown by Joanne Thibault, and MBIS MRBIS GCHG Fairytale’s Ria Verde, who just retired to become a mother.

2. Our Breed Standard describes some specific attributes that give that boxy silhouette, with a beautiful carriage: “Vigorous and alert, powerful without coarseness, strong in bone and muscle, exhibiting the strength and agility required of the herding dog.” There are many variations being presented today. Some I love, and some I find not fitting Briard type. I personally love the correct head of the Briard with a beautiful stop, parallel ears placed high on the head, and a wide muzzle, finishing in a 90-degree angle, with strong jaws. The head sits on a long and strong conic neck, providing that beautiful silhouette. We have a coated breed and should expect proper condition and correct coat to be rewarded. Color is not a priority, since “all uniform colors are permitted except white (black, various shades of gray and various shades of tawny).”

3. The puppy buyers have largely evolved over the past four years. It is now a puppy-supermarket approach for many buyers, and honestly, the scariest and most discouraging part of breeding is hoping to find great homes for puppies.

4. I live and breathe sciences every day in my professional life and have always used scientific approaches for everything in my life and, of course, in breeding. Breeding also remains an art. It is about mixing the scientific side (the genes, pedigrees, and health information) to the artistic side (the phenotype). That is not new for me. The use of digital tools has largely increased and is driving the ways to engage with puppy buyers and other breeders. It has positively expanded the outreach, but it also supports the spread of misinformation. You have to balance the benefits with the disadvantages.

5. In my close community, I do not see changes. I see the same hard-working owners, club members, trainers, and handlers with the same focus on purebred dogs. What I do see, of course, are more opinions about animal rights in general, but that has been happening for many years now.

6. Our entries are low and decreasing; majors are rare. Even Nationals and Specialties have very low participation rates. Judging is negatively impacted by the loss of many knowledgeable Briard judges in recent years. Recognizing type, understanding how to handle a Briard, and solid knowledge of anatomy should be key priorities for any judge. The positives of our sport are the circle of dear friends, some being truly a second family, and the continued educative conversations with experienced breeders, handlers, or trainers.

7. I do like the increase in types of activities. Briards are extremely smart and can participate in any sport. I have expanded what I do beyond Conformation and very much enjoy Rally, Obedience, and experimenting in new venues. I also want to commend the clubs that do a fantastic job promoting our sport and purebred dogs. The Westminster Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of Philadelphia are obvious ones on the East Coast. I do see this as a huge positive in our sport.