A Best Friend
Bravery, loyalty, and intelligence form the basic character of the Briard. Herding instincts and well-balanced temperament make him an ideal family dog and guardian of the home. He is never too old to play and is especially devoted to the children in his family. He has even been known to protect “his” children from parental spankings.
Bred for centuries as a guard and herding dog, the Briard is naturally aloof with strangers. This instinct will have a strong influence on him as an adult dog but you can do much to determine his disposition. To train a dog of an overly-friendly breed as a watchdog, you would have to discourage him from being handled by strangers during his growing-up period. With the Briard, the opposite is true. As a pup, the Briard should be taken with you as often as possible.
Encourage people to pet him so he will become accustomed to strange people and familiar with the outside world. This socialization should begin as soon as you receive your puppy and continue throughout the first year or so of his life. Don’t wait until he is six months old. This important early training will do much to assure you have a Briard with a good disposition: calm, aloof, and dignified. This is very important if you plan to show your Briard. You will not destroy his natural instinct to be a guardian but you will mold him into a dog you will be proud to own.