Briards are a medium to large breed with a robust and athletic build. Most weigh 48 to 97 pounds and stand 22 to 27 inches tall, with most males being larger than females.

Briards have hair, not fur. Briards have a double coat with a dense undercoat and a longer topcoat with a shaggy appearance.

Briards stop growing around 18 to 24 months of age. While they may be physically mature by 18 months, Briards retain a playful energy well into their second year and beyond. Regular exercise and proper nutrition are important throughout their growth to ensure healthy development.

Briards come in a variety of coat colors, including black, tawny, and gray.

Yes, Briards shed, but their shedding is minimal. Their hair usually gets caught in their long outer coat rather than all over the house and furniture.

Briards can live peacefully alongside cats, but you might also find they like to give chase to them. Of course, each dog (and cat) has their own preferences and temperament, but you can feel fairly confident your Briard, if properly socialized to your cat and/or introduced at a young age, should get along well.

No, Briards don’t bark a lot. With their strong guarding instincts, Briards bark to alert their families to strangers or unusual activity, but they are not indiscriminate, nuisance barkers. As with any dog, they can be discouraged from barking as frequently with proper training and exercise.

Yes, Briards make marvelous family companions. Known as “hearts wrapped in fur,” they are affectionate, loyal, devoted dogs who are highly intelligent and love to please. They do have an independent streak that demands strong boundaries and need a lot of exercise, so frequent runs or romps off-leash are necessary.

Briards are very intelligent animals with a penchant for pleasing their families and, thus, are highly trainable. They do need to have stimulating training sessions and plenty of positive reinforcement.

Yes, Briards are smart dogs. Their strong work ethic, problem-solving skills, and ability to learn new skills quickly are all signs of their intelligence. Briards also display social intelligence in their abilities to read human emotions and express empathy with their families.

Yes, Briards are a touch high-maintenance. Their long, thick coats require consistent care, and their high exercise needs could be high-maintenance for some families. This dog does well in a family that will be happy to play and spend time together.

Yes, Briards make good service dogs. Their intelligence, strong work ethic, and trainability are all assets in service roles. This breed is also loyal, adaptable, and can remain calm and composed in crowded public settings.

Yes, Briards are good with kids. The Briard’s playful energy is a perfect match for the youthful exuberance of children, while also being a patient and gentle breed. 

As with any breed, it is recommended that your child is always supervised when interacting with your dog to keep both the child and dog safe. Teaching children how to properly approach and handle dogs is crucial to ensure positive experiences for both the dog and the child, as is teaching dogs how to interact gently with children.

Briards are a healthy, rugged breed overall, but like any dog, they can be prone to certain health issues.

Briards are prone to diseases including:

• Hip and/or elbow dysplasia: Hip and elbow dysplasia are two of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. They are similar diseases in which either the hip or elbow joint has grown abnormally or is misshapen. The abnormal shape prevents the joints and sockets from adequately meeting one another, resulting in rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly. Though the main complication with hip dysplasia is joint instability, the abnormalities present in elbow dysplasia often result in pieces of bone and/or cartilage breaking loose and irritating the joint tissues. Over time, the rubbing from dysplasia can cause a variety of issues, such as pain, lameness, and secondary osteoarthritis. Surgery can fix the joint if diagnosed before the onset of arthritis. If you are rescuing a Briard, have them checked out by a vet to see if they are prone to dysplasia.

• Eye issues: Stationary night blindness; cataracts, a common eye condition that causes cloudiness in the eye and obstructs vision; and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a progressive degenerative disease affecting the retina that eventually leads to blindness.

• Von Willebrand disease: Von Willebrand's disease (vWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder seen in dogs. It happens when a dog does not produce enough of a specific protein that helps the blood cells used in clotting stick together. This results in dogs that are unable to clot properly and could cause hemorrhages or other bleeding issues. The deficient protein is called von Willebrand factor (vWF).

• Hypothyroidism: This thyroid malfunction results in low hormone production and could cause obesity, low energy, and a brittle coat.

• Gastric dilatation-volvulus: This is a sudden, painful, and life-threatening swelling and twisting of the abdomen. 

To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may recommend hip, eye, and imaging tests.

No, Briards are not hypoallergenic. (No dog is!) Briards have a long, shaggy coat that produces dander, which can trigger allergies in sensitive individuals. If you’re interested in bringing a Briard home, spend time with one before moving them in for good to see how you react.

The easiest way to adopt a Briard would be through a rescue that specializes in Briards. A great place to start is to create a breed search on Adopt a Pet. The search will show you all the available Briards in your area.

Yes, you need to groom a Briard — and often. Briards need to be brushed almost daily, as their shedded hair can become easily tangled and matted in their outer coat. Additionally, brushing teeth helps prevent dental problems such as tartar buildup, gingivitis, and bad breath. It’s recommended to brush your dog’s teeth at least a few times a week.

Yes, Briards are rare compared to more common dogs in the United States. Their rarity is mainly geographical. This breed is more commonly found in France and a few other European countries than in North America.

Briards are from France. The beloved Briard is one of the country’s oldest herding breeds with a history stretching back centuries. The breed has appeared in paintings and tapestries, historical documents, and the writings of the Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire, who was a fan. 

Briards live around 12 years. Individual lifespans will vary based on genetics, overall health, diet, exercise, and quality of veterinary care.