Page 54 - ShowSight Presents - The Briard

Official Stan dard for th e
BR IAR D
COURTESY THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB
leg. Feet - if the rear toes turn out very slightly when the hocks and metatarsus are parallel, then the position of the feet is cor- rect.
Coat:The outer coat is coarse, hard and dry (making a dry rasp- ing sound between the fingers). It lies down flat, falling naturally in long, slightly waving locks, having the sheen of good health. On the shoulders the length of the hair is generally six inches or more. The undercoat is fine and tight on all the body. The head is well covered with hair which lies down, forming a natural part in the center. The eyebrows do not lie flat but, instead, arch up and out in a curve that lightly veils the eyes. The hair is never so abundant that it masks the form of the head or completely covers the eyes.
Color:All uniform colors are permitted except white. The colors are black, various shades of gray and various shades of tawny. The deeper shades of each color are preferred. Combinations of two of these colors are permitted, provided there are no marked spots and the transition from one color to another takes place gradually and symmetrically. The only permissible white: white hairs scattered throughout the coat and/or a white spot on the chest not to exceed one inch in diameter at the root of the hair. Disqualification - white coat, spotted coat, white spot on chest exceeding one inch in diameter.
Gait:The well-constructed Briard is a marvel of supple power. His movement has been described as "quicksilver", permitting him to make abrupt turns, springing starts and sudden stops required of the sheepherding dog. His gait is supple and light, almost like that of a large feline. The gait gives the impression that the dog glides along without touching the ground. Strong, flexible movement is essential to the sheepdog. He is above all a trotter, single-tracking, occasionally galloping and he frequently needs to change his speed to accomplish his work. His confor- mation is harmoniously balanced and strong to sustain him in the long day's work. Dogs with clumsy or inelegant gait must be penalized.
Temperament:He is a dog of heart, with spirit and initiative, wise and fearless with no trace of timidity. Intelligent, easily trained, faithful, gentle, and obedient, the Briard possesses an excellent memory and an ardent desire to please his master. He retains a high degree of his ancestral instinct to guard home and master. Although he is reserved with strangers, he is loving and loyal to those he knows. Some will display a certain indepen- dence.
Disqualifications:All dogs or bitches under the minimum size limits. Yellow eyes or spotted eyes. Nose any color other than black. Tail non-existent or cut. Less than two dewclaws on each rear leg. White coat. Spotted coat. White spot on chest exceeding one inch in diameter.
Approved February 8, 1975 Reformatted January 12, 1992
subject for dog owners, but of realistic concerns to Briard owners in keeping their Briards safe and not adding to the statistics of BBB, “Bad Briard Behav- ior.” Many Briard owners recognize that offering their Briard the chance to run wildly in a dog park with others, can often add a spark to the already electric social dynamic of multiple strange canines gather- ing to interact while their owners pay half attention. It becomes a bad habit to introduce and a bad precedent to set.
Likewise in doggy day care settings, if rigidly clear management is not applied and half attention paid, BBB, “Bad Briard Behavior” can rear its ugly head. The more sophisticated and educated of dog people avoid such dog/dog/dog settings to limit exposure to bad behavior learning opportunities and the liability of the blame.
In their best form, the Briard is a remarkably easy and quiet house dog with a keen and developed sense of humor all evident from an early age. They are smart and engaged, busy and involved when appropriate and quietly content to lay in a heap on their loved one’s feet for the rest of their day.
250 • SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2017