Page 21 - 2014 Le Mag 1st Qtr
P. 21
Briards and Who They Are Briard Temperament & Socialization
The Briard temperament is a surprise to many at first
The Briard temperament is a surprise to many at first contact with the breed. They are intensely affectionate to their
contact with the breed. They are intensely affectionate to their loved ones, devoted to a fault and exclusive in their loyalty. Most
loved ones, devoted to a fault and exclusive in their loyalty. Most Briards have strong opinions and are fairly assertive about their
Briards have strong opinions and are fairly assertive about their needs and expectations, requiring a clear and constant leader
needs and expectations, requiring a clear and constant leader with unwaivering boundaries. As expected when categorized as
with unwaivering boundaries. As expected when categorized as a herding/ guarding breed, the Briard is selective, discriminant,
a herding/guarding breed, the Briard is selective, discriminant, aware, reserved with strangers, job oriented and high drive . The
aware, reserved with strangers, job oriented and high drive . The breed is high maintenance by their basic grooming needs as any
breed is high maintenance by their basic grooming needs as any coated dog, but even higher maintenance because of theirsocial-
coated dog, but even higher maintenance because of their social- ization needs. This is a breed whose default setting is to know
ization needs. This is a breed whose default setting is to know and love the familiar-their family, their friends...and no one and
and love the familiar-their family, their friends...and no one and nothing else. The needs of the average urban lifestyle demand
nothing else. The needs of the average urban lifestyle demand a more extroverted and social animal, making the socializing
a more extroverted and social animal, making the socializing process a necessity to developing a dog who is a good citizen in
process a necessity to developing a dog who is a good citizen in the world. Good Briard raising practices include constant expo-
the world. Good Briard raising practices include constant expo- sure out of the home and away from the familiar surroundings
sure out of the home and away from the familiar surroundings to create contact with constantly changing situations and new
to create contact with constantly changing situations and new people. This is a process which needs constant reinforcement for
people. This is a process which needs constant reinforcement for the first year or more of a Briard's life.
the first year or more of a Briard's life. Briard social behavior is fraught with potential for won-
In their best form, the Briard is a remarkably easy and derfully positive things and equally negative things. Briards are
quiet house dog with a keen and developed sense of humor all warm kind and fuzzy therapy dogs for the needs of hospitalized
evident from an early age. They are smart and engaged, busy and and shut in individuals. The breed’s natural touchy/feely
involved when appropriate and quietly content to lay in a tendencies provide soothing tactile therapy to those in need of
heap on their loved one's feet for the rest of their day. a good dose of affection. However, the flip side can be coupling a
dog with a discriminant nature and high prey drive, and expos-
This Article was originally published in Show Site Magazine. It is ing that individual to dog parks or doggy day care. The recipe
reprinted here with permission of its author, Terry Miller. for a bad reputation is waiting to happen. Add in a dose of an
owner or handler not paying attention or exercising clear cut
impulse control rules...voila...dog fight, or dog chase...or
bullying...or recipient of bullying reacting extremly emotional....
sometimes igniting the prey reation of the Briard
even more.
Here is where the subjects of dog parks and doggy day
care enter the picture. A relatively new subject for dog owners,
but of realistic concerns to Briard owners in keeping their Bri-
ards safe and not adding to the statistics of BBB, “Bad Briard
Behavior”. Many Briard owners recognize that offering their
Briard the chance to run wildly in a dog park with others, can
often ad a spark to the already electric social dynamic of
multiple strange canines gathering 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.
This article was originally printed in the BCA DewClaw. It is reprinted
here with permission of the author, Terry Miller.
Le Magazine 19
The Briard temperament is a surprise to many at first
The Briard temperament is a surprise to many at first contact with the breed. They are intensely affectionate to their
contact with the breed. They are intensely affectionate to their loved ones, devoted to a fault and exclusive in their loyalty. Most
loved ones, devoted to a fault and exclusive in their loyalty. Most Briards have strong opinions and are fairly assertive about their
Briards have strong opinions and are fairly assertive about their needs and expectations, requiring a clear and constant leader
needs and expectations, requiring a clear and constant leader with unwaivering boundaries. As expected when categorized as
with unwaivering boundaries. As expected when categorized as a herding/ guarding breed, the Briard is selective, discriminant,
a herding/guarding breed, the Briard is selective, discriminant, aware, reserved with strangers, job oriented and high drive . The
aware, reserved with strangers, job oriented and high drive . The breed is high maintenance by their basic grooming needs as any
breed is high maintenance by their basic grooming needs as any coated dog, but even higher maintenance because of theirsocial-
coated dog, but even higher maintenance because of their social- ization needs. This is a breed whose default setting is to know
ization needs. This is a breed whose default setting is to know and love the familiar-their family, their friends...and no one and
and love the familiar-their family, their friends...and no one and nothing else. The needs of the average urban lifestyle demand
nothing else. The needs of the average urban lifestyle demand a more extroverted and social animal, making the socializing
a more extroverted and social animal, making the socializing process a necessity to developing a dog who is a good citizen in
process a necessity to developing a dog who is a good citizen in the world. Good Briard raising practices include constant expo-
the world. Good Briard raising practices include constant expo- sure out of the home and away from the familiar surroundings
sure out of the home and away from the familiar surroundings to create contact with constantly changing situations and new
to create contact with constantly changing situations and new people. This is a process which needs constant reinforcement for
people. This is a process which needs constant reinforcement for the first year or more of a Briard's life.
the first year or more of a Briard's life. Briard social behavior is fraught with potential for won-
In their best form, the Briard is a remarkably easy and derfully positive things and equally negative things. Briards are
quiet house dog with a keen and developed sense of humor all warm kind and fuzzy therapy dogs for the needs of hospitalized
evident from an early age. They are smart and engaged, busy and and shut in individuals. The breed’s natural touchy/feely
involved when appropriate and quietly content to lay in a tendencies provide soothing tactile therapy to those in need of
heap on their loved one's feet for the rest of their day. a good dose of affection. However, the flip side can be coupling a
dog with a discriminant nature and high prey drive, and expos-
This Article was originally published in Show Site Magazine. It is ing that individual to dog parks or doggy day care. The recipe
reprinted here with permission of its author, Terry Miller. for a bad reputation is waiting to happen. Add in a dose of an
owner or handler not paying attention or exercising clear cut
impulse control rules...voila...dog fight, or dog chase...or
bullying...or recipient of bullying reacting extremly emotional....
sometimes igniting the prey reation of the Briard
even more.
Here is where the subjects of dog parks and doggy day
care enter the picture. A relatively new subject for dog owners,
but of realistic concerns to Briard owners in keeping their Bri-
ards safe and not adding to the statistics of BBB, “Bad Briard
Behavior”. Many Briard owners recognize that offering their
Briard the chance to run wildly in a dog park with others, can
often ad a spark to the already electric social dynamic of
multiple strange canines gathering 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.
This article was originally printed in the BCA DewClaw. It is reprinted
here with permission of the author, Terry Miller.
Le Magazine 19
