Briard vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Briard vs Braque Francais - Breed ComparisonBoth Briard and Braque Francais are originated from France. Both Briard and Braque Francais are of same height. Briard may weigh 15 kg / 33 pounds lesser than Braque Francais. Briard may live 3 years less than Braque Francais. Both Briard and Braque Francais has same litter size. Briard requires High maintenance. But Braque Francais requires Low maintenance

History

briard - historyThrough myth and legend, the Briard is thought to be a very ancient dog. A French herding breed, a Briard type of dog appears in writings as early as the end of the 14th century. According to legends the Briard was owned by Napoleon, Charlemagne, Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. As a cross between the Barbet and the Beauceron, the Briard came into popularity following its appearance in a Paris dog show in 1863. Bred originally to guard and herd sheep, these intelligent, independent dogs were often left on their own. Because they both guarded and herded, their size and structure as well as their personalities were different from other dogs that worked sheep. Those that herded only were fast, agile and smaller. Those that only guarded were heavier, bigger and stronger. The Briard was in-between these two types of breeds. He was well suited to any kind of farm work and guarded the crops from the sheep’s desire to eat them. They moved the sheep from one grazing area to another and then to their holding area at night. No humans had to assist the Briard in this work once they were trained.

During World War 1, the Briards were drafted into service as messengers, sentries and search dogs for lost or injured soldiers. In that time frame the breed served almost to the point of extinction. Breeding programs following the war brought them back. Today the Briard is a home companion, a police dog, as well as both military and civilian search and rescue dogs.

braque francais - historyBraque Francais was at first one general breed of hounds in the Gascognes and Pyrenees Mountains areas of France. The one breed became two. Known as the Braque Francais Gascognes and the Braque Francais Pyrenees - two separate breeds of very alike dogs. The Gascognes is a lot less common than his smaller brother. Not very much is known about the beginnings of these two strains of Braque Francais as the breed has been around since at least the 15th century. Because the Braque Francais was exported or taken to so many different countries in the 15th-18th centuries, a lot of the origins of the breeds were lost. A major bloodline search was The conducted in the 19th century and found that these were two very distinct breeds of dog.

It is known that France was the birthplace of this breed and it was developed because of a need for a tracker that could point, flush and retrieve. The Braque Francais Gascogne probably came from the south of France. It is related to the German Shorthair Pointer and the English Pointer as well. Having existed since the 15th century, he was the father of all pointing dogs in France. By the 17th century the breed had grown enough to be called the “old style Braque Francais”,

Though the origin of the breed is not known there are of course several theories about it. The most prevalent belief is that the Braque Francais Gascogne is a descendent of the Chien d’Oysel, a spaniel breed of medium size and white or brown with brown markings. The Chien d’Oysel is an ancient breed used for hunting prior to the 13th century. Hunters crossed the Chien with local dogs on a routine basis.

Braque Francais came out of these breedings. It was probably French Scent hounds that created the larger size of the Gascogne. This also increased the stamina and strength of the Gascogne as opposed to the Pyrenees. There was also a mixing in of the Grand Bleu De Gasgogne and the Petit Bleu De Gasgogne.

The other prominent theory is that this breed the Gasgogne was actually developed from the Portugese, Spanish and Italian pointers rather than the French dogs. These dogs originated not with the Chien d’Oysel but with the scent hounds. From these dogs came the Spanish and English Pointers. All that is truly known is that all of these types of dogs were present in Europe by the fifteenth century and were moved among countries and cross bred regularly. However in the part of France called the Central Pyrenees region and in a small southern part of France the original, old style Braque Francais was pure bred. This aspect of the breed contributed to the development of all of the French pointers and European shorthaired dogs. By the end of the 1800’s today’s breed was developed.

In 1850 the first Braque Francais breed club was established and in the breed standards for both dogs followed in 1880. They were then registered in the French Kennel Club and the International Kennel Club (FCI). The French Kennel Club does not allow dogs with any common ancestors in Generations 1-3 into the Club in order to keep out the practice of inbreeding. In Canada only the Gascogne is recognized and the United States’ United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes both. The American Kennel Club (AKC) does not recognize either.

With most local regions and countries choosing their local dogs over other breeds, the Braque Francais Gascogne has become fairly rare outside of France where the breed was the most popular gun dog throughout the 1700’s. The Gascogne was mostly a dog of the hunting nobility because of its size and food needs. Following the French Revolution, the breed fell off dramatically, while the smaller Pyrenees continued to thrive. This was because in the Pyrenees Mountains and the Southwestern region of Gascony, the English Pointer never supplanted the Braque Francais.

The Second World War was brutal to the Braque Francais Gascognes and as it recovered it became much less common than its sister breed. Today it is found almost exclusively in France.

Description

briard puppy - descriptionThe Briard is a powerful, intelligent and independent working dog. They have a straight topline and their height is almost the same as their length. They have long, large, rectangular heads with wide muzzles. Their noses are also square and jet black while their side set, large eyes can be black-brown or black. Their ears have traditionally been cropped but with more countries outlawing it, they can now have natural ears set high on the head. They have a tail that is feathered and low-cut. The feet of a Briard are round, compact and large.

The Briard is a double coated breed with a long beard and mustache. Their hair completely covers the head and the eyes so that they are not seen. They have prominent eyebrows as well.

braque francais puppy - descriptionThe Braque Francais Gascogne is a larger dog than the Pyrenees breed and is a very handsome dog. Both have a deep chest, a solid bodies, strong and slender legs and are well-proportioned. They have padded, round paws and a large brown head with floppy ears. The muzzle is a pointed block and he has a scissors bite, with a black nose and dark or amber eyes. The eyes are very expressive and round. The tail can be straight and long, or it can be docked. They are tall and athletic.

Characteristics

briard dog - characteristicsAs mentioned previously the Briard is intelligent and independent. They are also loyal, rugged, protective and bond intensely with their humans. They are often aloof when it comes to strangers or even when new furniture is introduced into the household. They have to learn that anything new into the family environment is friendly and good. They are great with children and susceptible to separation anxiety because of their deep affection for their people. Socialization for puppies is a must. This will let them know that people and children, other dogs in general are not harmful to their families. They have great memories and once they learn something – right or wrong – it is almost impossible to change it. They were bred to be independent thinkers who acted on their own conclusions. This is still true of the breed today, making them appear to be stubborn.

They are great watchdogs, fearless and brave; willing to learn, eager to make you happy. They are basically gentle but that always runs up against their protective nature. A strong alpha leader is needed to handle this hard-working dog.

braque francais dog - characteristicsThis is a working breed, but they are nevertheless friendly and loyal to their families. They want to please their people and are usually docile. They love kids and are good as a first ever dog. They are friendly and even-tempered. They tolerate people they do not know but can be shy and are not guard dogs. instead they are loving, affectionate and people oriented. They need to be with their families and never left outside alone. They can develop separation anxiety.

Health Problems

briard puppies - health problemsBeing a large breed, the Briard shares many of the same health concerns as other large breeds. They have a few of their own as well. Typical issues for a Briard might include:

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – bones don’t fit into joints.

Stationary Night Blindness – Congenital limited vision in the dark.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration –degeneration of the photoreceptors and retina.

Hypothyroidism – disorder of the thyroid.

Bloat (Gastric Torsion) – Stomach is distended and twists.

Cancer – Number 1 killer of all dogs.

Von Willebrand’s Disease – Blood clotting disorder.

braque francais puppies - health problemsThe Braque Francais is a fairly healthy breed. They are susceptible to certain health conditions that most dogs of their size and working history are susceptible to. These include Patellar luxation which seems to be one of the most common problems for them. They also can have hip and/or elbow dysplasia, aortic stenosis which is a narrowing of the aorta, and some eye issues such as ectropion, entropion, and PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy as well as cataracts.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

briard dogs - caringIt is best to feed the Briard smaller meals 2-3 times a day to prevent bloat. Feed 3-4 cups total for the day of a dry dog food that is high quality and made for large breeds.

Health issues

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – Can cause painful arthritis and lameness

Stationary Night Blindness – Congenital limited vision in the dark can vary from slight difficulty moving to complete inability to see in the dark.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration – Can lead to night blindness, limited or total blindness. Puppies with the disease can be blind before their first birthday.

Hypothyroidism – disorder of the thyroid.

Bloat (Gastric Torsion) – Stomach is distended and twists. Fatal if not treated quickly. Caused by eating a large meal quickly and either exercise immediately or drink a large amount of water right after eating.

Cancer – Number 1 killer of all dogs. Various types.

Von Willebrand’s Disease – Blood clotting disorder leads to excessive bleeding. There is no cure, but it is manageable.

Exercise and games

The Briard is a working dog and as such needs a job. They excel at agility, flyball, herding, obedience, confirmation and tracking. They need exercise and make excellent service dogs for people with disabilities and therapy dogs for those in emotional need.

Feeding

braque francais dogs - caringThis is a high energy, working dog with a need for a high-quality energy food or raw food that you make up yourself. Be sure to include chicken, beef and fish. Feed him about 3 cups once a day or 1.5 cups twice a day.

Health issues

In addition to the conditions listed above, his long floppy ears can lead to ear infections if not cared for. Wash them out daily. He is also susceptible to bloat so don’t feed him large meals and don’t let him exercise or work right before or right after exercise.

Exercise and games

These dogs have a variety of hunting skills. They are not only pointers but can flush, trail and retrieve. The Gascogne is not as quick as the Pyrenees. They need a lot of exercise daily or they need a hunting job. They would do well with barn hunt, lure coursing and free play in an off leash fenced in area. If they don’t get rid of their energy, they can be destructive. They were bred to hunt and cannot resist the chase,

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Sporting dog
Origin:
France
France
Height Male:
61 - 69 cm
24 - 28 inches
47 - 69 cm
18 - 28 inches
Height Female:
58 - 65 cm
22 - 26 inches
45 - 65 cm
17 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
30 - 40 kg
66 - 89 pounds
20 - 55 kg
44 - 122 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 35 kg
55 - 78 pounds
19 - 52 kg
41 - 115 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
8 - 10
3 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Berger de Brie Berger Briard
French Pointing Dog -; Braque Francais, de Grande Taille
Colors Available:
Uniform black, fawn, grey or blue.
brown, Chestnut brown, either solid or mixed with white. With or without ticking or roaning or tan marking
Coat:
Double, wavy, long, fine
thick
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Sweet
Grooming:
High maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. East Siberian Laika vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  2. French Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  3. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  4. Finnish Spitz vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  5. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  6. English Water Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  7. Field Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  8. Curly Coated Retriever vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  9. Lagotto Romagnolo vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  10. Braque Francais vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  11. Braque Francais vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  12. Braque Francais vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  13. Braque Francais vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  14. Braque Francais vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  15. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  16. Shikoku vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  17. Slovakian Hound vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  18. Small Munsterlander vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  19. Sussex Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  20. Kooikerhondje vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  21. Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  22. West Siberian Laika vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  23. Wetterhoun vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  24. Braque Saint-Germain vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  25. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  26. Old English Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  27. Briard vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Briard vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  29. Briard vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  30. Briard vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  31. Rough Collie vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  32. East German Shepherd vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  33. Saarlooswolfhond vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  34. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  35. Huntaway vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  36. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  37. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  38. South Russian Ovcharka vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  39. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  40. Samoyed vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  41. Labradoodle vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  42. Mixed vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  43. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  44. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  45. Great Pyrenees vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  46. Presa Canario vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  47. Labrador Husky vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  48. Perro de Presa Canario vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  49. Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs Briard - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds