Ariege Pointer vs Briard - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Ariege Pointer vs Briard - Breed ComparisonBoth Briard and Ariege Pointer are originated from France. Both Briard and Ariege Pointer are having almost same height. Briard may weigh 10 kg / 23 pounds more than Ariege Pointer. Briard may live 3 years less than Ariege Pointer. Both Briard and Ariege Pointer has almost same litter size. Briard requires High Maintenance. But Ariege Pointer requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Gun dog
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France
France
Height Male:
61 - 69 cm
24 - 28 inches
55 - 67 cm
21 - 27 inches
Height Female:
58 - 65 cm
22 - 26 inches
53 - 67 cm
20 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
30 - 40 kg
66 - 89 pounds
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 35 kg
55 - 78 pounds
22 - 30 kg
48 - 67 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
8 - 10
2 - 8
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Berger de Brie Berger Briard
Ariege Pointing Dog, French Pointer, Braque de l’Ariege
Colors Available:
Uniform black, fawn, grey or blue.
speckled or ticked, White with patches of orange and tan
Coat:
Double, wavy, long, fine
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

briardThrough myth and legend, the Briard is thought to be a very ancient dog. A French herding breed, a Briard type of dog appears in writings as early as the end of the 14th century. According to legends the Briard was owned by Napoleon, Charlemagne, Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. As a cross between the Barbet and the Beauceron, the Briard came into popularity following its appearance in a Paris dog show in 1863. Bred originally to guard and herd sheep, these intelligent, independent dogs were often left on their own. Because they both guarded and herded, their size and structure as well as their personalities were different from other dogs that worked sheep. Those that herded only were fast, agile and smaller. Those that only guarded were heavier, bigger and stronger. The Briard was in-between these two types of breeds. He was well suited to any kind of farm work and guarded the crops from the sheep’s desire to eat them. They moved the sheep from one grazing area to another and then to their holding area at night. No humans had to assist the Briard in this work once they were trained.

During World War 1, the Briards were drafted into service as messengers, sentries and search dogs for lost or injured soldiers. In that time frame the breed served almost to the point of extinction. Breeding programs following the war brought them back. Today the Briard is a home companion, a police dog, as well as both military and civilian search and rescue dogs.

ariege pointerThe Ariege Pointer is a French hunting dog, coming from the Ariegeois region of France.

Known as the Ariege Pointing Dog, French Pointer or Braque de l’Ariege, these dogs came from the old French Braque dogs that were crossed with the orange and white Southern Braques.

It was in 1990 that a team of breeders decided to devote themselves to the breed’s survival. The Braque de l’Ariege was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006.

Description

briard puppy - descriptionThe Briard is a powerful, intelligent and independent working dog. They have a straight topline and their height is almost the same as their length. They have long, large, rectangular heads with wide muzzles. Their noses are also square and jet black while their side set, large eyes can be black-brown or black. Their ears have traditionally been cropped but with more countries outlawing it, they can now have natural ears set high on the head. They have a tail that is feathered and low-cut. The feet of a Briard are round, compact and large.

The Briard is a double coated breed with a long beard and mustache. Their hair completely covers the head and the eyes so that they are not seen. They have prominent eyebrows as well.

ariege pointer puppy - descriptionThe Ariege Pointer has always been a dog kept essentially for hunting and not as a companion dog. He stands between 55 – 67cm and weighs 25 – 30kg.

He is an attractive looking dog with quite a large head while the body is sleek and slender to look at. The ears are quite large and are floppy while the tail is traditionally docked to give him that distinctive look. These days the tail is often left long and hangs downwards.

The coat is short, single and rough and is white with tan or orange patches. The coat can also be speckled or ticked.

Temperament:

The Ariege Pointer is a hunting dog who is friendly towards strangers and therefore won’t make a particularly good watchdog.

These dog are lively, independent and good natured and they make excellent companion dogs. They are fairly docile and and get on well with children and pets in the home. Just like with any other dog, they need to be trained and socialized early.

Characteristics

briard dog - characteristicsAs mentioned previously the Briard is intelligent and independent. They are also loyal, rugged, protective and bond intensely with their humans. They are often aloof when it comes to strangers or even when new furniture is introduced into the household. They have to learn that anything new into the family environment is friendly and good. They are great with children and susceptible to separation anxiety because of their deep affection for their people. Socialization for puppies is a must. This will let them know that people and children, other dogs in general are not harmful to their families. They have great memories and once they learn something – right or wrong – it is almost impossible to change it. They were bred to be independent thinkers who acted on their own conclusions. This is still true of the breed today, making them appear to be stubborn.

They are great watchdogs, fearless and brave; willing to learn, eager to make you happy. They are basically gentle but that always runs up against their protective nature. A strong alpha leader is needed to handle this hard-working dog.

ariege pointer dog - characteristicsThe Ariege Pointer has always been an excellent pointing- and hunting dog. When it comes to being a family pet, he puts his hunting skills aside and becomes a loyal, loving, friendly pet.

They are considered to be rare dogs, and were at one time bordering on extinction. Those who have owned one of these hunting dogs will be glad to know that they are no longer considered endangered. They’re not your friendly, social kind of dog that you find in other dog breeds, but with training and socialization he will make a fine companion and family friend.

Health Problems

briard puppies - health problemsBeing a large breed, the Briard shares many of the same health concerns as other large breeds. They have a few of their own as well. Typical issues for a Briard might include:

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – bones don’t fit into joints.

Stationary Night Blindness – Congenital limited vision in the dark.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration –degeneration of the photoreceptors and retina.

Hypothyroidism – disorder of the thyroid.

Bloat (Gastric Torsion) – Stomach is distended and twists.

Cancer – Number 1 killer of all dogs.

Von Willebrand’s Disease – Blood clotting disorder.

ariege pointer puppies - health problemsThe Ariege Pointer is a working dog breed, used for hunting and retrieving prey. With good care the dog can live to be a good 12 – 15 years of age.

However, with every dog breed there are common dog diseases to watch for. This dog has long floppy ears and these can get damp and will need to be cleaned and dried regularly otherwise the long ears can be prone to infection.

Apart from being prone to health issues such as an ear infection, you want to be aware of very common dog ailments such as hip dysplasia which can cause lameness in your dog.

Whatever illness your dog has, and you see he isn’t acting his usual self, get him to the vet for a check-up and then make sure that all treatment and medication prescribed is adhered to.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

briard dogs - caringIt is best to feed the Briard smaller meals 2-3 times a day to prevent bloat. Feed 3-4 cups total for the day of a dry dog food that is high quality and made for large breeds.

Health issues

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – Can cause painful arthritis and lameness

Stationary Night Blindness – Congenital limited vision in the dark can vary from slight difficulty moving to complete inability to see in the dark.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration – Can lead to night blindness, limited or total blindness. Puppies with the disease can be blind before their first birthday.

Hypothyroidism – disorder of the thyroid.

Bloat (Gastric Torsion) – Stomach is distended and twists. Fatal if not treated quickly. Caused by eating a large meal quickly and either exercise immediately or drink a large amount of water right after eating.

Cancer – Number 1 killer of all dogs. Various types.

Von Willebrand’s Disease – Blood clotting disorder leads to excessive bleeding. There is no cure, but it is manageable.

Exercise and games

The Briard is a working dog and as such needs a job. They excel at agility, flyball, herding, obedience, confirmation and tracking. They need exercise and make excellent service dogs for people with disabilities and therapy dogs for those in emotional need.

Neutering and Spaying an Excellent Choice:

ariege pointer dogs - caringYour attractive Ariege Pointer will give birth to 2 – 8 puppies. If you don’t want puppies, then spaying or neutering is excellent and can actually have many health benefits for your pet.

Grooming:

This dog with its short coat requires very little maintenance, and a good brush twice a week will ensure the coat remains glossy and shiny, giving you the chance to also check for fleas and ticks.

Dental Care:

Don’t just assume every dog has bad breath. Bad breath can be indicative of dental disease, and dental problems can cause all kinds of other illnesses within the body. Make sure that while your pet’s teeth are healthy, that you brush them 2 or 3 times a week with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste.

Good Exercise and Diet:

The Ariege Pointer requires regular exercise as it is a lively, energetic dog. He can adapt to life in the city or the country, but ideally he needs a place with a large garden.

Wherever you keep him as a pet, make sure you take him for walks every day and that you play ball- or rope games with him. Ignoring his exercise needs will turn him into a bored, frustrated pet, and that isn’t fair towards him.

Make sure you choose good quality commercially manufactured foods for him. Adding in some home-made food to his kibble such as cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken will be wonderfully good for him.

Every dog will require some raw meat added into his diet from time to time. Many skin diseases can be treated by adding in raw meat. After all, before dogs were domesticated they lived on raw meat, and including this ingredient back into their diet guarantees to make a remarkable difference in terms of good health.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Briard vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  6. Briard vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Briard vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Briard vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Briard vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Briard vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Briard vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Briard vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
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  19. Briard vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
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  26. Ariege Pointer vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Ariege Pointer vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Ariege Pointer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Ariege Pointer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Ariege Pointer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Ariege Pointer vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Ariege Pointer vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Ariege Pointer vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Ariege Pointer vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Ariege Pointer vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Ariege Pointer vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Ariege Pointer vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Ariege Pointer vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Ariege Pointer vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Ariege Pointer vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Ariege Pointer vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Ariege Pointer vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Ariege Pointer vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Ariege Pointer vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Ariege Pointer vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Ariege Pointer vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Ariege Pointer vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Ariege Pointer vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Ariege Pointer vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Ariege Pointer vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison