histoire de Berger de Brie (history of the Briard)
The briard is said to go as far back as Napolean, and is known in France as berger de brie. The name is said to have come from one of two ways. The first way is that they originated from the brie region, an area of Paris.
The second way involved Sir Aubry de Montdidier who was assasinated, and his briard. His dog took it upon himself to keep on following the assasin. The king ordered a duel between the assasin and the dog, needless to say the dog was the winner, with a description similar to the briard. The dog may have been known as chien d'aubry, which is similar to the name they are known by now.
The briard was used in the first world war and did many things. A briard was used to carry messages to the frontlines and when the soldiers had gone over the top, the briard was used to track the soldiers that had been gunned down. The briard is that intelligent that it only knows members of its own team and would be able to tell if the soldier had any hope. If a briard walked on past a soldier, the other soldiers knew that there was no hope of life for that particular soldier. Briards also carried medical equipment to the soldiers who needed medical attention.
Briards were used as cart dogs which was unfortunate as briards do not know their limatations and many died by working themselves to death. Because of their bravery and courage in the war, a bronze briard head is cast on top of a metal gate in a French war cemetery.
The briard was thought to be on the verge of extinction because of the war as their numbers were very low at the end of the war. The breed was introduced to America by returning USA soldiers.
The second way involved Sir Aubry de Montdidier who was assasinated, and his briard. His dog took it upon himself to keep on following the assasin. The king ordered a duel between the assasin and the dog, needless to say the dog was the winner, with a description similar to the briard. The dog may have been known as chien d'aubry, which is similar to the name they are known by now.
The briard was used in the first world war and did many things. A briard was used to carry messages to the frontlines and when the soldiers had gone over the top, the briard was used to track the soldiers that had been gunned down. The briard is that intelligent that it only knows members of its own team and would be able to tell if the soldier had any hope. If a briard walked on past a soldier, the other soldiers knew that there was no hope of life for that particular soldier. Briards also carried medical equipment to the soldiers who needed medical attention.
Briards were used as cart dogs which was unfortunate as briards do not know their limatations and many died by working themselves to death. Because of their bravery and courage in the war, a bronze briard head is cast on top of a metal gate in a French war cemetery.
The briard was thought to be on the verge of extinction because of the war as their numbers were very low at the end of the war. The breed was introduced to America by returning USA soldiers.