page_title: Briard
section_title: Service and therapy roles
hierarchical_section_title: Briard / Description / Service and therapy roles
caption_attribution_description: English: Briard Service Dog
context_page_description: The Briard is an ancient breed of large herding dog, originally from France. A Briard-like dog appears in the illustrations in illuminated copies of Gaston Febus' Livre de chasse, written in the late 14th century. The breed became popular after the Paris dog show of 1863, after having been fixed with crosses with the Beauceron and the Barbet. During the First World War, the Briard was used, almost to the point of extinction, by the French army as a sentry and messenger, and to search for wounded soldiers. The Briard's modern-day roles include police, military, and search-and-rescue work, as well as companion dog.
context_section_description: Briards have been used in a variety of service and therapy roles to help those with disabilities and comfort those in hospitals, schools, and retirement communities.  They are also being trained as service dogs for both adults and children.  With their keen intelligence, tactile coat interaction, and loyalty, they can make a difference in the quality of life for those with disabilities or in recovery.
  With their breed's tendency toward a dominant working temperament, aggression, and high prey drive due to their history as a working guardian-type dog, they also can be very problematic, even dangerous, if used for service or therapy work in the public setting. Some bloodlines have more issues with temperament than others. One needs to exercise caution. If inappropriately trained, they have a higher potential to attack other dogs (including other service dogs) or strangers around them  so careful selection, thorough training, and appropriate pairing of the individual dog with a handler appropriate to that particular dog is extremely important for success as a service dog with this breed.
  This is not a breed, among others, that most trainers or service dog training establishments would choose or recommend for public service work with handlers who lack experience with these types of dogs.  The potential for aggression, especially towards other dogs and strangers, is a trait of which one who is training them for service work or similar pursuits needs to be aware (and truthfully educate potential handlers about if placing in another home). 
  Notably: The only service dog establishment that purported to routinely train briards for service work, Rycon Service Dogs, under the ownership and control of Mark Mathis was accused of selling dogs that "A Florida woman who paid Ry-Con $9,600 for a service dog to help calm her daughter diagnosed with autism told WRAL News that the dog the family received wasn't fit to be a pet, let alone a service dog." Mark Mathis as of 2/25/20 is being prosecuted by his state's attorney general for fraud charges and said "Mark Mathis, who created Ry-Con Service Dogs nine years ago, was indicted by a Wake County grand jury on 42 counts of obtaining property by false pretense."
  Raleigh Service Dog Supplier Charged With Fraud
caption: Briard service dog
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