Apartment fit
Apartment life is usually hard because of size, coat care, exercise needs, and protective alerting. Secure space and a grooming setup make daily life easier.
HerdingLarge
France
FranceBriard
Weight
55-100 lb
Height
22-27 in
Lifespan
10-12 yrs
Coat
Wavy Long
The Briard is a large French herding dog with a long wavy coat, strong guardian instincts, and a devoted, intelligent working temperament.
Old French herding and guarding breedLong wavy coat in black, tawny, or grayDevoted, smart, and naturally protectiveNeeds serious grooming commitment
Breed Names
Official, native, and commonly used variants
Berger de Brie
DevotedIntelligentProtectiveConfidentSensitiveLively
Weight
55-100 lb
Height
22-27 in
Lifespan
10-12 yrs
Coat
Wavy Long
At A Glance
Daily living snapshot
A quick read on energy, upkeep, and what day-to-day life with this breed usually feels like.
Energy
High
Barking
Moderate
Drooling
Low
Shedding
Low
Grooming
5/5
First-time owner
No
Overview
The Briard, also called the Berger de Brie, is an old French herding and flock-guarding breed. It was built to move sheep, watch over property, and respond closely to its handler while still thinking independently.
The long, slightly wavy coat is a major commitment. Standard colors include black, tawny, and gray, and the coat can mat badly if owners do not brush to the skin and maintain feet, ears, beard, and furnishings.
A well-raised Briard is often loyal, smart, and deeply attached to family, but the breed is not soft furniture with hair. It needs early socialization, daily work, calm visitor routines, and owners who can handle a large protective herding dog.
Temperament & Personality
DevotedIntelligentProtectiveConfidentSensitiveLively
This breed tends to suit homes looking for a devoted, intelligent, protective companion, with daily rhythms shaped by high energy, moderate barking, and low drooling.
Coat type
Wavy
Coat length
Long
Shedding
Low
Colors
Black, Gray, Tawny
Lifestyle Compatibility
Family Friendly4/5
Good with Kids4/5
Good with Dogs3/5
Good with Strangers2/5
Apartment Friendly2/5
Exercise Needs4/5
Grooming Needs5/5
Trainability4/5
Good fit if you want
- A family-friendly companion
- Room for routine exercise
- Confidence handling structure and training
Plan ahead for
- 4/5 exercise needs
- low shedding and coat upkeep
- moderate barking in daily life
Owner Fit & Everyday Behavior
Best for
- experienced owners wanting a devoted herding guardian
- homes ready for serious coat maintenance
- active families with training structure
- people interested in obedience, herding, tracking, or farm-style work
Not ideal for
- owners wanting low grooming
- casual first-time homes
- homes with frequent unmanaged visitors
- people unable to handle a large protective dog
- small apartments without exercise and grooming plans
Common challenges
- coat matting
- watchfulness around strangers
- herding or body-blocking behavior
- large-dog strength during adolescence
- health screening for hips, eyes, thyroid, and kidneys
Barking & behavior
Briards are naturally watchful. Teach calm visitor routines and prevent fence, gate, or window guarding from becoming a habit.
Training style
Use clear reward-based training with early socialization, leash control, handling, grooming cooperation, and impulse work. The breed needs purpose and fair boundaries.
Grooming & shedding
The long wavy coat requires frequent brushing and combing to the skin. Feet, ears, beard, tail, and furnishings need regular checks for mats and debris.
Care Guide
Exercise
Most healthy adult Briards need about 60 to 90 minutes of daily activity, with walks, herding-style games, obedience, scent work, or other structured jobs.
Grooming
Brush and comb the long coat to the skin several times a week, checking feet, ears, beard, tail, and furnishings for mats or debris. Professional grooming support may be useful, but routine home brushing is still required.
Training
Use clear reward-based training with early socialization, calm visitor routines, leash control, handling, and impulse work. Briards are intelligent and protective, so unclear rules can create pushy behavior.
Nutrition
Feed a measured large-breed diet matched to age, workload, and body condition. Lean weight helps protect hips and reduces strain on a large active dog.
Behavior & Environment
Energy level
High
Barking level
Moderate
Drooling level
Low
Watchdog ability
5/5
Guard dog ability
4/5
Climate tolerance
Cold weather4/5
Heat tolerance3/5
Health Considerations
Common concerns to discuss with your vet and breeder.
Hip dysplasiaBloat riskCongenital stationary night blindnessCataractsHypothyroidismKidney disease
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Briard a good apartment dog?
Usually it is difficult. A Briard is large, active, protective, and heavily coated, so space, grooming setup, and noise management matter.
Does the Briard bark a lot?
Briards can be alert and protective. Teach calm door routines early, reward quiet check-ins, and avoid rehearsed fence or window guarding.
Is the Briard good for first-time owners?
Usually no. A first-time owner can succeed with strong support, but the coat, size, herding drive, and protective instincts make the breed demanding.
How much exercise does the Briard need?
Most healthy adults need about 60 to 90 minutes daily, with mental work included. Training, herding-style games, and scent work suit the breed well.
Is the Briard good with kids and other dogs?
A well-socialized Briard can be devoted to family, but supervision matters because the breed is large and protective. Dog compatibility varies.
Does the Briard shed a lot?
The Briard may not shed heavily, but the long coat is high maintenance. It needs brushing and combing to the skin to prevent mats.
What is the biggest challenge of owning the Briard?
The biggest challenge is combining major coat care with a large protective herding dog. Grooming, socialization, and training all need consistency.
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