Dutch Smoushond vs Briard - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Dutch Smoushond vs Briard - Breed ComparisonBriard is originated from France but Dutch Smoushond is originated from Netherlands. Briard may grow 26 cm / 11 inches higher than Dutch Smoushond. Briard may weigh 29 kg / 64 pounds more than Dutch Smoushond. Briard may live 3 years less than Dutch Smoushond. Briard may have more litter size than Dutch Smoushond. Briard requires High Maintenance. But Dutch Smoushond requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Companion dog
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France
Netherlands
Height Male:
61 - 69 cm
24 - 28 inches
35 - 43 cm
13 - 17 inches
Height Female:
58 - 65 cm
22 - 26 inches
35 - 43 cm
13 - 17 inches
Weight Male:
30 - 40 kg
66 - 89 pounds
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 35 kg
55 - 78 pounds
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
8 - 10
2 - 6
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Berger de Brie Berger Briard
Dutch Terrier, Dutch Ratter
Colors Available:
Uniform black, fawn, grey or blue.
Yellowish, straw color
Coat:
Double, wavy, long, fine
Rough, shaggy, wiry medium length
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Moderate 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.

dutch smoushondThe Dutch Smoushond, known also as the Hollandse Smoushond ,Hollandse Herdershond

or Dutch Ratter is a small to medium sized dog. The Smoushondenclub was formed in 1905 as it was thought that the breed was dying out and they wanted to register the dog as a purebred breed.

It is believed that the dog’s origins may have to do with the Schnauzer breed. It was in 1973 that a number of breeders looked to reconstruct the breed, using Border Terrier crosses.

Today this rare breed is popular in the Netherlands, but not particularly well known anywhere else. In 2001 it was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale as well as by the United Kennel Club in the United States.

Although the dog was once a skilled ratter, most Dutch Smoushond are kept as companion dogs.

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.

dutch smoushond puppy - descriptionThe Dutch Smoushond is a small to medium sized dog breed related to the Schnauzer- and Pinscher breed. He stands at about 35 to 43cm at the withers and weighs about 10kg.

He has a rough, shaggy, wiry coat which is waterproof and which is a yellowish or straw color. You’ll notice that the hair around the face is long and fairly straight and forms a beard, eyebrows, and moustache, giving him wise, know-it-all look.

The forelegs are also feathered. He may well give the impression of being ungroomed and untidy with his different length hair. He has floppy ears, the eyes are small and dark, the nose black and the tail is long and feathery, hanging limply when the dog is relaxed.

Temperament:

Easy going, friendly and social, the Dutch Smoushond is a fairly quiet dog, but because he is intelligent and alert, he makes a good watchdog.

When not guarding you, he is cheerful and entertaining. He is an adaptable dog, being able to settle down to life in the city or in the countryside, getting on well with other pets in the home as well as with children.

He is a dog who wants to please, so training him isn’t going to prove difficult. He’ll do well with this training as well as socialization as he becomes obedient, easy-going and relaxed around strangers.

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.

dutch smoushond dog - characteristicsThe Dutch Smoushond, also known as the Dutchie, Dutch Ratter or Dutch Terrier may once have been used as a vermin hunter, but today this terrier dog shares some of the characteristics of the more popular terriers. He may have been a hunter in his day, but more recently he is used as a reliable companion dog.

He tends to be a bit of a barker, particularly when he isn’t getting attention.

He gets on well with other animals in the home as well as with children, but he will need to be trained and socialized. He is lively, friendly and social and is a dog who becomes devoted to his human family.

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.

dutch smoushond puppies - health problemsThese dogs are a healthy breed, but nonetheless there are are some health problems that can crop up occasionally.

Ear- and eye infections and joint problems are always a major concern, even in young dogs. Bad diet, old age and being overweight can all contribute to your dog developing joint pain. Joint pain symptoms can include -

difficulty with sitting or lying down

limping or even holding a leg up off the ground

lethargic to take part in any activities

Take your pet to the vet who will examine your pet and perhaps request x-rays.

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.

dutch smoushond dogs - caringThe Dutch Smoushond is basically an easy care breed, and it won’t do to try and tame the coat as the dog has a naturally unkempt look.

You can brush him twice a week to keep the coat free of matting and to remove loose hairs. The Dutch Smoushond may require the hair being plucked and a professional groomer can do this.

At the same time, the groomer can remove excess hair from the ears and also clean your dog’s teeth. This is of critical importance as bad teeth can lead to a host of health problems.

Get into the habit of brushing your pet’s teeth 2 or 3 times a week, making use of special pet approved toothbrush and toothpaste.

Comparison with other breeds

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