Discover the rich history of the Briard, from its farm dog origins to its rise in popularity as a versatile companion.
Mary Lou Tingley, Terry Miller & Dominique Dube
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This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, October 2017 issue.
As with many other breeds, the origin of the Briard is obscure. We can say with some certainty that it arose from the varied farm dogs of Western Europe. Dogs were developed into separate breeds as their basic function emerged. The modern expression in dogs is that form follows function. This was truly born out in the development of the early breeds as they were separated, segregated, and labeled with a name.
Some of the possible cousins of the Briard, once believed to be closely related, were the Beauceron, Berger de Picard, and Berger des Pyrénées. The Briard and the Beauceron are the oldest of those breeds. Records show their first appearance in Paris at the Société Impériale d’Acclimatation, the premier dog exposition, in 1863.
The Briard was prized for his keen sense of hearing and acute awareness of his surroundings. Starting out as a guarding dog against poachers and predators, the advent of farming found them proving to be a versatile all-purpose farm dog. They drove stock down the road to graze, kept the stock within the boundaries, pulled carts, guarded the farm, and provided family companionship.
In 1789, Thomas Jefferson imported to the United States a “chienne bergère big with pup,” believed to be a Briard. So satisfied with the abilities of these dogs, and with the help of his friend Lafayette, Jefferson continued importing them through 1814, not only for his own farm but for friends and neighbors as well.
In 1896, Mr. E. Boulet created Le Club des Chiens de Bergers Français in France. A standard for the Briard was adopted in France in 1897. In the United States, the first Briard standard was adopted by the AKC in 1928, and the first Briard Champion of record in 1931.
During WWI and WWII, many Briards were enlisted as messengers, guards, carriers, and what we now know as Search and Rescue dogs. Not only were many dogs killed to near extinction as a result of the wars, but many records were lost due to the bombings.
Post-war, the breed was held in little esteem among dog fanciers, whether due to the coat care, the cow hocks so prevalent in the breed, or their strong personality. By the 1960s, there were only three or four breeders in the U.S., and most were owners of just one or two dogs. Few were shown, and Briard National Specialties consisted of only eight or ten dogs. The Briard had a bad reputation and was often unsocialized and unreliable.
As the years progressed, so did the popularity of the Briard. The stately carriage and handsome coat attracted fanciers in the dog world. Coat care and socialization, so essential in all breeds but even more so in the Briard, gave us a dog who is a contender in herding, tracking, Schutzhund, obedience, flyball, agility, and conformation, to say nothing of being a great companion.
The first Briard Champion was Regent de la Pommeraie. The first group winner in the U.S. was Ch Phobe Chez Phydeau, and the first Best in Show Briard was Ch Phydeaux Tambourine. There are probably 3,000-4,000 Briards in the U.S., and many more worldwide. American National Specialties now see 100-200 Briards. Briards are much better citizens today due to better understandings of management, socialization, and grooming.
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