French Herding Breeds – Briard and the Beauceron
A trio of attractive Briards watching over their flock. Courtesy Mary Weir
Briard
Also known as: Chien Berger de Brie
Origin: France
Height at shoulder: 22–27 inches (56–69 cm)
Weight: 70–90 pounds (32–41 kg)
Coat: Long, shaggy, coarse, slightly wavy; lies flat, parts down the middle
Color: Black gray, tawny
Ears: Natural or cropped
Tail: Long, low set
Chien Berger Brie – Edwin Megargee
Briards have long been regarded as one of the four native breeds that include the Beauceron. History suggests that they were once regarded as the same breed. The first breed standard, written in 1897, described two different varieties: one with goat-like hair and one with woolly hair.
Briard – Kamerand Hund
Trivia: Ear cropping in breeds such as the Briard is an old tradition that was instituted to minimize the chance of their ears being ripped while they defended their flocks during wolf attacks.
Berger Beauce / Beauceron
Beauceron
Also known as: Bas Rouge (Red Stocking), Berger de Beauce
Origin: France
Height at shoulder: 24–27 inches (61–70 cm)
Weight: Up to 110 pounds (50 kg)
Coat: Short and thick
Color: Black or blue merle with rust or tan points
Ears: Folded over, semi-erect or cropped upright
Tail: Long, thick
A harlequin Beauceron. Photo by Margaret Cameron
Trivia: Having double rear dewclaws is a common trait for French herding breeds, though it may be found in other breeds as well. See also Continental Shepherds:
http://stockdogsavvy.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/continental-shepherds/
To learn more about training the the Briard and/or the Beauceron please refer to the book, Stockdog Savvy (Alpine Publications) by Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor and Ty Taylor. Stockdog Savvy is a practical and useful handbook for ranchers as well as the hobbyist. If you want to learn to train stockdogs for farm and ranch work in the real world or for competition, this is the book for you. Almost 300 pages illustrated with diagrams and how-to photographs galore!
Stockdog Savvy also gives trainers, clinicians and judges an overview of many different herding dogs and types of livestock. It is the quintessential guide to owning, training, trialing, working or caring for your stockdog.
Additionally, people who don’t have access to livestock can teach all the basic herding commands through play training. Herding skills taught in a game format are fun activities to keep dogs in the city mentally and physically fit.
The Table of Contents:
Frontispiece: Just a Stockdog Story
Preface
Foreword by Ernie Hartnagle
Introduction
1 – HERDING DOGS
2 – WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A HERDING DOG
3 – PREPARING YOUR PUPPY
4 – LAYING THE FOUNDATION
5 – GETTING STARTED
6 – INTRODUCING A DOG TO STOCK
7 – MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR DOG’S TALENT
8 – DEVELOPING A USEFUL DOG
9 – THE OUTRUN
10 – DRIVING SKILLS
11 – BALANCE AND PENNING
12 – FOCUS ON SORTING
13 – BOUNDARY TRAINING FOR TENDING DOGS
14 – BASIC STOCKMANSHIP
15 – WORKING LARGE FLOCKS AND HERDS
16 – THE RANCH DOG
17– TRAINING ANIMALS
18 – POULTRY
19 – SHEEP
20 – GOATS
21 – CATTLE
22 – KEEPING LIVESTOCK
23 – THE TRIAL DOG
24 – TRIAL PROGRAMS
25 – WHAT JUDGES LOOK FOR
26 – OTHER ELEMENTS OF WORKING STOCKDOGS
Appendix -– BREED PROFILES
For more information please visit:
http://www.lasrocosa.com/education.html
Copyright © 2009 – 2010 by Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor and Ty Taylor.
All Rights Reserved.
