Briard vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Briard vs Blue Healer - Breed ComparisonBriard is originated from France but Blue Healer is originated from Australia. Briard may grow 18 cm / 8 inches higher than Blue Healer. Briard may weigh 18 kg / 40 pounds more than Blue Healer. Briard may live 3 years less than Blue Healer. Briard may have more litter size than Blue Healer. Briard requires High maintenance. But Blue Healer requires Low maintenance

History

briard - historyThrough 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.

blue healer - historyIt was in 1802 that George Hall arrived in New South Wales, establishing 2 cattle stations. He had a problem – getting his thousands of cattle to the Sydney markets. He began looking at the prospect of a droving dog and imported a number of dogs of which a blue mottled dog emerged.

The dogs were crossed with dingoes and by 1840 the Halls Heelers were used by the Halls. However with the death of one of the Halls, their cattle stations went to action and the dogs, the Halls Heelers became available.

The dogs attracted attention, and the term ‘Australian Cattle Dog’ was adopted. The name referred to those dogs coming from Thomas Hall's ‘Heelers’. There have been many arguments about the origin of the breed, but the red or blue offspring known as Hall's Heelers were proven cattle drovers, and with further breeding experiments which included the Australian Kelpie, dingoes and the Dalmation, by 1893, the tough, robust working breed known as the Blue Heeler or the Australian Cattle Dog came about.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Herding dogs
Origin:
France
Australia
Height Male:
61 - 69 cm
24 - 28 inches
46 - 51 cm
18 - 21 inches
Height Female:
58 - 65 cm
22 - 26 inches
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
30 - 40 kg
66 - 89 pounds
15 - 22 kg
33 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 35 kg
55 - 78 pounds
13 - 22 kg
28 - 49 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
8 - 10
1 - 7
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Berger de Brie Berger Briard
ACD, Cattle Dog, Red Heeler, Queensland Heeler
Colors Available:
Uniform black, fawn, grey or blue.
Blue mottled, Red mottled
Coat:
Double, wavy, long, fine
short and dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
High maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

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.

blue healer puppy - descriptionBlue Heelers are medium-sized, sturdy, compact dogs who are somewhat longer than tall. The female Blue Heeler measures roughly 43–48cm at the withers, while the male measures about 46–51cm. If your Blue Heeler is in tip top condition, he’ll weigh about 15 to 22 kilograms. They are muscular with pointed, erect ears, dark eyes and long tails which are mostly hanging downwards. Their dense coats are blue- or red speckled and sometimes with tan markings.

The Blue Heeler is a ball of energy and he is clever too. You won’t find him sitting around for too long, and if there is sign of a walk or a ball game, he’s in! He is an independent dog, and although he makes a wonderful family pet, he tends to attach himself to that one special person in his life. He is a natural watchdog and protector of his human family.

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.

blue healer dog - characteristicsTraining and socializing of your Blue Heeler will ensure that your dog does what you want him to. The Blue Heeler is an intelligent, responsive dog and training can benefit him, turning him into an outstanding family pet, good with children and other pets in the home.

He is a playful, affectionate pet who doesn’t take easily to strangers, and this is what makes him such an excellent guard dog.

Your Blue Heeler is not an apartment dog as he requires a lot of exercise, and cooping him indoors for too long with nothing to do can lead to destructive behavior.

Head-strong, independent and robust, your Blue Heeler will need a firm owner who is boss. Add to the firm owner a lot of love and care, and you’ll have a devoted 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.

blue healer puppies - health problemsAustralian cattle dogs are healthy and can live up to 15 years of age, but even so there are some genetic conditions that you will need to be aware of following

Eye issues which includes progressive retinal atrophy – this disease is an inherited disease of the retina of the eye where the rod cells are destined to die. Fortunately it is not painful for the dog. There are different types of inherited retinal degenerative diseases in dogs but going into detail with them is beyond the scope of this article. For more information you can chat to your vet.

Recessive piebald elleles - the Blue Heeler has recessive piebald alleles which can produce white in the skin and coat and which is linked to congenital hereditary deafness.

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.

Provide Plenty of Exercise

blue healer dogs - caringRemember that your Blue Heeler was once a full time cattle dog where he used to become totally and utterly exhausted from herding cattle. This is what he loved – the activity. If you have a Blue Heeler, you will need to provide him with plenty of exercise.

If you live on a farm, your Blue Heeler will be in his element because he can run, walk and swim to his heart’s content. If you keep your Blue Heeler in your back garden, you will need to provide him with ball games, rope games, long walks, running on a leash as you cycle and other activities.

Grooming

Your Blue Heeler has a short, weather-resistant double coat. He’s not a heavy shedder, but he will have his share of seasonal shedding, so it’s a good idea to get into the habit of brushing him at least twice a week. This will get rid of all those loose hairs and keep his skin healthy by getting the blood flowing and distributing his natural oils.

Feeding

Giving the best dog food for your Blue Heeler will come from either your home made food or a top quality commercially manufactured dog food. He is such a high energy dog, that your veterinarian can advise you on a dog food specially designed for high energy breeds.

These foods are well balanced and are enriched with amino acids and vitamins, promoting healthy bones and joints. Remember to include some raw meat into your dog’s diet and to ensure a constant source of cool, fresh water.

General care

Ensure your Blue Heeler’s ongoing health by paying attention to ears, nails and teeth.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Old English Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  2. Briard vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Briard vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Briard vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  5. Briard vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  6. Rough Collie vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  7. East German Shepherd vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  8. Saarlooswolfhond vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  9. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  10. Huntaway vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  11. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  12. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  13. South Russian Ovcharka vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  14. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  15. Samoyed vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  16. Labradoodle vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  17. Mixed vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  18. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  19. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  20. Great Pyrenees vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  21. Presa Canario vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  22. Labrador Husky vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  23. Perro de Presa Canario vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  24. Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  25. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  26. Collie vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  27. Dutch Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  28. Blue Healer vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. Blue Healer vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  30. Blue Healer vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  31. Blue Healer vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  32. Blue Healer vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  33. Blue Healer vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  34. Blue Healer vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  35. Blue Healer vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  36. Blue Healer vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  37. Blue Healer vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  38. Blue Healer vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  39. Blue Healer vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) - Breed Comparison
  40. English Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  41. Catahoula Cur vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  42. Catalan Sheepdog vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  43. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  44. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  45. Queensland Heeler vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  46. German Coolie vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  47. Bohemian Shepherd vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  48. Croatian Sheepdog vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  49. Red Heeler vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds