Briards, French sheepdogs, date back to early history and are famous for their outstanding herding skills.
The Briard, or Chien Berger de Brie (sheepdog of Brie), is an ancient dog breed that dates back to the time of Charlemagne. Early tapestries depict these large dogs with the Emperor. Briards originated in the dairy-producing area of Brie in northern France, hence where they got their name. According to an old legend of the Middle Ages, the name came about when a big shaggy dog avenged his master's killer. Supposedly, when Sir Aubry de Montdidier was murdered, his dog went to such lengths to pursue the man who killed his master that the King ordered a judicial duel between the murderer and dog. The duel took place on the Isle de Notre Dame in 1371, and the dog won the duel.
French farmers bred Briards to herd and guard sheep. Their skills of watching over the sheep and protecting them from prey were so outstanding that it only took two or three of them to handle 700 head of sheep. Briards also have a protective eye toward family members, especially children whom the dogs regard as their flock. They have even been known to protect children from parental spankings. Because of their loving and loyal personality, they are often described as a "heart wrapped in fur" (a quote by a French actress who owned the breed long ago).
It was many years later before the Briard made it to the US. It was 1789, when Thomas Jefferson ended his tenure as America's ambassador to France. He bought back with him a pregnant Briard named Bergere. She and her pups proved to be excellent herders, but her primary role was becoming the founder of the American branch of her family. "Their extraordinary sagacity renders them extremely valuable, capable of being taught almost any duty that may be required of them, and the most anxious in the performance of that duty, the most watchful and faithful of all servants," wrote Jefferson.
Because of their vast intelligence and keen hearing, Briards were used in WWI. They served as sentry dogs and carried supplies to the front lines. They were also used as red cross dogs, leading the corpsmen to wounded soldiers on the battlefield. It is reported that they were so good with their job that any man the dog passed by was beyond assistance. Consequently, by the end of the war their numbers had decreased dramatically.
Today, Briards still have a strong instinct to herd and protect, so don't be surprised if your sheepdog nose butts you on a walk or runs after a squirrel that crosses your path.
