Very few Briards will have a farm and a flock of sheep, so they will not "work" in the traditional sense. Instead there are activities you can participate in with your Briard that will allow you to work as a team, and give the Briard a "job". Here is a brief overview of what is out there.

 

Herding

The Briard was bred to herd. In reality, most Briards will never work a flock. But, many owners are surprised to find that they can introduce their house pet to sheep! At the BCA National Specialty show every year, herding instinct testing is available. Your Briard will have the chance to test his intinctive reaction to real live sheep under the direction of an experienced Briard herder. Many regional clubs throughout the country also have regular herding instinct testing, often at "Fun Days", where you can meet many other Briards. Visit the BCA website to contact the Herding Chair for further information on testing, or appropriate herding classes all over the country.

The Briard was bred to be a boundary herder. He would help the shepherd move the sheep to a field that had been harvested, and keep the sheep in the area they were allowed to graze. He would patrol the boundary of the designated area, doing his job without constant supervision from the shepherd. He had to think, and work independently. This differs from many other herding breeds, who were bred to watch the shepherd, and do exactly as they were told. The independence of the Briard carries over into home life, and can explain a lot about them! Watching a Briard do a "C" course at a herding trial is something every Briard owner should have the chance to do.

Obedience

Briards do compete in Obedience Trials, but it is not always easy! Many believe that the Briard is stubborn. That is not really accurate. They are simply smart enough to learn lessons you didn't know you were teaching. This can be a surprise when you deliberately set out to teach a different behavior, and they resist the change. They also get bored easily during repetitive exercises. Training must be positive, never harsh, and they learn quickest when praise and rewards are involved. Look for a reward based class, not a snap and jerk class. Clicker training can work well with Briards.

The independence many Briards possess will often surface at unexpected moments. Thus, they are always entertaining in the obedience ring - except to the handler who has paid an entry fee! Briards want to please, but many definitely have a sense of humor. It can pop up at any time, making life interesting. With hard work, even advanced obedience titles can be earned with a Briard. The breed currently has two UDX dogs, and will soon have it's first Obedience Trial Champion Briard.

A new AKC sport, Rally Obedience, is becoming very popular with Briard owners. This event is less rigid than traditional obedience, and many handlers find it more fun and entertaining.

Agility

Agility is the fastest growing AKC sport. This energetic, exciting activity has attracted many Briard owners. An agility trial is now part of every BCA National Specialty. Dogs must move through a course of obstacles, such as weave poles, jumps, tunnels, ramps, etc, while being timed. Briards do this very well!

There are now many types of agility classes, and most Briards can find one or more they excel at. Agility is also a great confidence builder. Even a basic class will help your Briard through those fear periods.

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