The Berger de Brie, or Briard, is a large, rustic, robust and muscular dog. Powerful and imposing, it is nonetheless endowed with remarkable suppleness and harmonious proportions. Its long thick coat, slightly wavy and with hair covering the eyes is a characteristic trait of the breed.
Breed History
Formerly known as the Chien de Berger français de Plaine, the Berger de Brie did not begin to receive its current name until the beginning of the end of the 18th century, with the publication of the “Cours complet d’agriculture” by Abbé Rozier (Jean-Baptiste Francois Rozier). It is, in fact, in this work that the Briard is mentioned as such. It would seem that the Berger de Brie is the result of crosses between old breeds of sheepdogs and the Barbet. He quickly asserted his ease in the tasks of driving, guarding and protecting the herds.
He was then employed in the French army in the interwar period. Today, the Berger de Brie continues to lend a hand to shepherds, but it is also used as a companion dog thanks to its balanced temperament. The Berger de Brie breed was definitively recognized by the FCI on December 14, 1954. Its current standard was published on November 4, 2008.
Physical peculiarities
His hair: long, supple, dry, reminiscent of goat hair. Associated with a slight undercoat.
Its color: black, fawn, charred fawn, gray or blue. Black, gray, blue and warm fawn coats may feature tone-on-tone lightening.
His head: long, strong, with hair partially covering the eyes, a beard and a mustache. Strong and slightly rounded skull, marked stop.
Its ears: relatively short, flat, covered with long fringes, attached high and not flattened.
Its eyes: oval in shape, large in size, wide open and dark in color (possibly lighter in dogs with blue coats.
His body: solidly built, with a straight back, a short and firm loin, a slightly sloping and slightly rounded croup, a broad chest, long and slightly down to the elbows.
Its tail: carried low, of good length (going down to the point of the hock), never deviated, but forming a slight hook. Reach higher when the dog is in action.
