Raising dogs, especially providing care for the briard, is old hat for people across the world. Zoologists theorize dogs were domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and twenty five thousand years ago—and that dogs evolved from the wolf. Since then, we have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, varying in size from 4-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of the tallest dog. But the most popular canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The briard is another popular choice with dog owners. Many owners are oblivious, however, of many of the most crucial briard care tips.
Cost of care for the briard
The yearly cost of rearing your briard—including everything from food and treats, veterinary care, toys and license—could range between $420 and seven hundred eighty dollars. This figure doesn’t include capital costs for spay/neuter surgery, collar and leash, carrier and dog crate. Tip: Be positive you have obtained all the required supplies before getting your briard home for the first time.
Typical briard Care
briard Feeding Plan
- briard puppies between 8 and 12 weeks need 4 bowls of food daily.
- Feed briard pups three to 6 months old three meals every day.
- Feed puppies 6 months to one year 2 bowls of food each day.
- When your briard reaches his 1st birthday, 1 bowl in a day is typically sufficient.
- Some briards, however, do better with 2 lighter helpings. It’s your duty to adapt to your briard’s eating schedule.
Top-quality dry food provides balanced nutrition to full-grown briards and can mix with water, canned food, or broth. Your briard may love cottage cheese, cooked egg, fruits and vegetables, but these dishes should be less than ten percent of her daily nutrition. briard puppies ought to be given a high-quality, brand-name puppy food. Please try to limit “people food”, however, since it can cause vitamin and mineral imbalances, bone and teeth issues, and might lead to extremely picky eating habits and obesity. Give clean, potable water only, and make sure to wash water and food bowls often.
briard Care Tips: Your briard needs physical activity daily
briards must have some daily exercise in order to stay in shape, recharge their brains, and keep healthy. Daily physical activity also seems to help briards avoid boredom, which has the potential to lead to naughty behavior. Getting out would quell most of your briard’s instinctual urges to chase, retrieve, chew, dig and herd. Exercise needs will depend on your briard’s age and his or her level of health—but ten minutes in the backyard and merely a walk around the block every day probably will not cut it. If your briard is a six to eighteen month adolescent, her requirements will be more.
Grooming tips for briards
Regular brushing will help keep your briard clean and reduce shedding. Check for ticks and fleas daily during warm weather. Most briards don’t need to be bathed more than a few times during the year. Prior to bathing, cut out or comb all mats from the briard’s hair. Carefully rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to soap residue.
Handling Your briard
Pups are obviously easier to handle. To carry your briard puppy, place 1 hand beneath the dog’s chest, either with the forearm or your other hand supporting her back legs and rump. Never try to grab or lift your pup by his or her forelegs, tail or nape. If you must pick up a larger, full-grown briard, pick it up from the underside, supporting his chest with one of your arms and rear end with the other.
briard housing
briards need a cozy quiet location to be able to relax away from all breezes and off the floor or ground. You might wish to think about purchasing a dog bed, or make one from a wood box. Place a clean comforter, sheet, or pillow in the bed for cushioning. Wash the briard’s bedding frequently. If your briard will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be certain she has covering and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a covered, warm, dry shelter in winter.
briard Licensing and Identification
Your city has licensing rules to follow. Be certain you connect the license to your briard’s collar. The license, along with an identification tattoo, can easily help you recover your briard should she go missing.
briard Behavior Facts
Thoughts on briard Training
A well-behaved, companion briard is truly a blessing to raise. But when untrained, your dog can easily be trouble. Training your briard on the standards—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—will bolster your relationship both with your briard and the relatives. If you’re the owner of a puppy, begin training her on the appropriate behavior asap! Use a snack as incentive and reward. Pups can begin obedience class when they are adequately immunized. Call your community SPCA or humane society for details about obedience classes. Always keep your briard on a leash in public, even while a pup. Be positive your dog will come to you if you tell him. A disobedient or aggressive briard should not play with children.
The Health of Your briard
briards should visit the vet for a full screening, shots and a heartworm exam every single year, and as soon as possible when she is ill or injured.
Knowing Your briard’s Oral Health
Although we may simply dislike our briard’s halitosis, we must be aware of what it might represent. Foul breath is a symptom that your briard should have a dental exam. Dental plaque , which is brought on by germs causes a foul odor that can only be freshened with the help of a professional. Once your briard has had a professional dental cleaning, the gums and teeth can be be preserved in a healthy state by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. The vet can provide you with other data on reducing periodontal problems and halitosis. You should clean your briard’s teeth using a doggie toothpaste or a paste made of baking soda and water twice weekly. Brush them with a piece of nylon pantyhose wrapped around the finger, a gauze pad, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Some briards end up with periodontal disease, which is also known as an infection between the gums and teeth. This painful condition can initiate loss of your briard’s teeth as well as cause diseases to the body. The doctor will clean your briard’s teeth while performing her routine health analysis.
briard Bad Breath
Even though dental disease by itself is not very serious if it is detected early enough, halitosis may indicate serious, long-term problems. Intestinal or liver diseases also cause stinky breath, whereas a pleasant, even sweet smell may often be indicative of diabetes. When your briard’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possible reason. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your briard has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in briards
Regular, daily inspections of your briard for fleas and ticks throughout the warm seasons are of utmost importance. Use a flea comb to find and remove fleas. There are several new procedures of flea and tick elimination. Speak to your briard’s doctor about these and other options.
Heartworms in briards
Your briard is at risk of developing heartworms if she is exposed to lots of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes transport heartworms from dog to dog. Heartworm infections are known to be deadly. It is wise to make sure your briard takes a heartworm screen each spring—this is required for stopping infestations from the previous year. A monthly tablet given in the warm, wet time of the year can protect your briard. Your briard should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some places, usually the locations with hotter climates, where the vets recommend heartworm pills be given continually.
Medicines and Poisons
Never give your briard medication that has not been prescribed by her veterinarian. One little ibuprofen tablet can possibly create stomach ulcers in briards. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your briard. When you have reason to suspect that your dog has ingested a toxin, contact your vet or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 24 hours a day for information.
briard Sterilization Procedures
Male briards should be neutered – the removal of the testes – and females spayed – the removal of the uterus and ovaries – by 6 months of age. Spaying before maturity significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer, a usually fatal and common disorder for older female briards. The possibility of an infected uterus, which is another serious disease that affects older females, will also be removed by spaying before six months. Neutering males eliminates the risk of testicular diseases, certain aggressive behavior and some hernias.
briard Innoculations
- The combination vaccine (also known as the “5-in-1 shot”) should be given to your briard at two, three, and 4 months of age and again once per year. This shot protects your pup from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. Your briard puppy’s immunization program cannot be completed prior to 4 months old.
- If you have the rare briard who has not been immunized and is older than four or 5 months, she must get a series of 2 vaccinations given two to three weeks apart, followed by a yearly vaccination.
- Your briard puppy’s socialization should coincide with his vaccination program. Most doctors advise that new owners take their briard puppies to socialization classes, beginning at 8 to 9 weeks old. They should have already received their first vaccinations by then.
Because regulations vary around the country, call your local veterinarian for instructions on rabies innoculation. For instance, New York City regulations state that pets older than 3 months be immunized for rabies. After the initial shot, he must have a second shot the next year, and then every 3 years. There are several vaccines that might effective for your briard. Your veterinarian can tell you about them. Also, if your briard gets ill because he is not immunized, do not give the innoculation until the dog has made a full recovery.
Intestinal Parasites in briards
briards are commonly exposed to worms—in all areas, both urban and rural. Tiny eggs created by hookworms are passed in an infected briard’s feces. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry hookworms or roundworms. The key to effective treatment is early diagnosis. This will make sure that the treatment is successful against the worms your dog has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best define the culprit—and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Miscellaneous briard Care Tips
briard Supply Checklist
- Excellent-quality dog food and snacks specifically for briards and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Brush & comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with license and ID tag
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for pups)
- Training crate
- Box or dog bed with sheet or towel
- Dog toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to briards:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate, tea, coffee, or any other caffeinated foods
- Raisins or grapes
- Moldy or spoiled food of any kind
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Poultry bones
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit and stems
- Dough
The scoop on poop
Retain your briard on a leash whenever you are outdoors, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured spot. And please, when your briard defecates on your neighbor’s lawn, remove it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about briards
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