Wolfdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Wolfdog vs Briard - Breed ComparisonBriard is originated from France but Wolfdog is originated from Germany. Briard may grow 7 cm / 2 inches shorter than Wolfdog. Both Briard and Wolfdog are having almost same weight. Both Briard and Wolfdog has same life span. Both Briard and Wolfdog has same litter size. Briard requires High Maintenance. But Wolfdog requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Miscellaneous dogs
undefined
France
Germany
Height Male:
61 - 69 cm
24 - 28 inches
70 - 76 cm
27 - 30 inches
Height Female:
58 - 65 cm
22 - 26 inches
70 - 76 cm
27 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
30 - 40 kg
66 - 89 pounds
40 - 45 kg
88 - 100 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 35 kg
55 - 78 pounds
40 - 45 kg
88 - 100 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
8 - 10
2 - 10
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
Berger de Brie Berger Briard
None
Colors Available:
Uniform black, fawn, grey or blue.
white, dark brown and black. , Grey, cream, red
Coat:
Double, wavy, long, fine
Medium length, thick
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
No
No

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.

wolfdogThe Wolfdog was brought about when domestic dogs were mated with a variety of wolves so as to produce a hybrid.

People who want to own these hybrids have to be careful because they find that the unpredictable behavior of their pets makes it difficult for them to care for them.

Then they want to get rid of it. Every year, heaps of these hybrids are abandoned due to humans interfering with nature.

The wolfdog has been bred with a number of dogs but we think about it more in terms of wolf and German shepherd.

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.

wolfdog puppy - descriptionPeople mesmerized by the wolf long to bring some of that wildness home, and the wolfdog is supposed to do this.

Their looks differ a lot, even those that come from the same litter. You can’t have a predictable looking wolf dog because it could be any domestic dog bred with a wolf so they display a large variety of appearances.

Most Wolfdogs seem to have smaller heads than pure wolves. The ears seem to be bigger and more pointy.

A popular wolfdog mix is a German Shepherd mixed with the wolf. These dogs can be between 70 to 76cm in height and weigh between 40 and 45kg.

Their coat is thick and can be in colors of grey, cream, red, white, dark brown and black.

Temperament:

While the wolfdog can be trained to become quite a friendly kind of dog, it is not suitable for the first time dog owner. It can show bouts of aggressiveness around strangers and be highly protective of its family.

However, this can be helped with early socialization and training. It is illegal to own the wolfdog in some states. You don’t want to leave a wolfdog alone with your children even though the dog is capable of love and loyalty towards 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.

wolfdog dog - characteristicsWhen you add the genes of a wild animal to the pool, you get a crossbreed and when its an animal from the wild, its nature is unpredictable.

Many people don’t think about the consequences of what they do when they interfere with nature and the wolfdog gets put down when it behaves like a wild animal and attacks or bites out of defense.

Yes, they can be loyal, loving pets but always you will have the shadow of the dog or wolf’s unpredictable behavior.

There is a reason why these dogs are banned in a number of states. This dog-type-wolf breed is not recommended as a pet at all – take a look at animal shelters and the number of wolf dogs there and ask yourself why.

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.

These dogs are generally healthy and aren’t prone to genetic related issues.

wolfdog puppies - health problemsThey will also be susceptible to common dog ailments such as parasites and hip dysplasia.

Like any other dog, these Wolf dogs will also possibly develop tumors. He will also need to be vaccinated against harmful diseases and you will need to have a reliable local vet who is interested in your wolf dog.

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.

wolfdog dogs - caringIf you own a wolfdog the same care procedures would need to be followed as you would with a regular dog.

A wolfdog, however, can’t be vaccinated against rabies. It seems that the reason for this is that it is due to current legislation, and vaccine manufacturers don’t want to support wolf dogs as pets because they are considered to be dangerous.

Provide your wolfdog with highly nutritional, protein-based food. You don’t want to feed your wolfdog any of the low quality, traditional store-bought food high in carbs and artificial additives. Instead, look for a diet rich in proteins and be sure to give this dog some raw meat occasionally.

Groom the thick coat to ensure it stays shiny and healthy.

The dog is active and you will need to provide heaps of exercise for him, both mental and physical activities.

The wolfdog will require training but it will require dedication, though it can be done as the dog is very intelligent.

Even with training, the wolfdog isn’t suited to life in the city but should be kept in the countryside.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Briard vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Briard vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Briard vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Briard vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Briard vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  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
  13. Briard vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Briard vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Briard vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Briard vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Briard vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Briard vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Briard vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Briard vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Briard vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Briard vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Briard vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Briard vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Briard vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Wolfdog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Wolfdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Wolfdog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Wolfdog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Wolfdog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Wolfdog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Wolfdog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Wolfdog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Wolfdog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Wolfdog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Wolfdog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Wolfdog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Wolfdog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Wolfdog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Wolfdog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Wolfdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Wolfdog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Wolfdog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Wolfdog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Wolfdog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Wolfdog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Wolfdog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Wolfdog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Wolfdog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Wolfdog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison