Beneath the refined appearance of the long coat on the show Briard there is a truly rugged worker. The varied shades of fawn and the blacks, sometimes with white hairs scattered through the coat, make this a striking and handsome dog. A particular characteristic is the double dewclaws on the hind legs.

Originating from the province of Brie in France, he has a dual role as a guard against marauding predators as well as a sheep herder. He has also occasionally been employed by armies as a pack dog, among other general duties.

He is a fairly large dog, so he takes some feeding, and his very flowing coat with its moustache, beard and eyebrows requires regular and thorough grooming if it is not to become a mess.

Blessed with a fearless temperament, he makes a good household dog with no hint of aggression in his make-up. He is extrovert, loving to engage in games, which can turn rough but never nasty, but he does need exercise and is definitely not a dog for the weak-willed!