Briard: Food, growth, and weight
For Briard, use the dog's body condition and growth trend—not a breed number alone—to guide food and weight decisions. Use the individual dog's age, comfort, and recovery to set the pace. Track portions and body condition over time instead of relying on cups or a single weigh-in. Review the trend at a consistent interval rather than reacting to one meal, weigh-in, or photograph.
What the body reference does not tell you
Briard's weight is recorded as 55-100 pounds. Here, that matters because it gives context for the individual dog's body condition, but not a target by itself.
Track the individual dog
- Track portions and body condition over time instead of relying on cups or a single weigh-in.
- Use the weight (55-100 pounds) as context, then measure the individual dog's trend rather than changing the plan from the reference alone.
- Review the trend at a consistent interval rather than reacting to one meal, weigh-in, or photograph.
Speak to a vet if
Do not make a therapeutic diet change without a veterinarian.
If this may be a health problem
This page is not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Do not change food, medication, exercise, or care for an individual dog based on this page alone; contact a veterinarian for symptoms, pain, weight change, skin changes, persistent behaviour change, or any urgent concern.
References
Height: 23-27 inches (male), 22-25.5 inches (female)
AKC page PageMap DataObject > height
Weight: 55-100 pounds
AKC page PageMap DataObject > weight
Life expectancy: 12 years
AKC page PageMap DataObject > life_expectancy
Grooming: Begin grooming your Briard puppy long before he really needs grooming. Make sure that you make grooming time a happy period he will look forward to in the years when grooming is a necessity and can take a long time. A Briard should be brushed several times a week, completely to the skin, using a good-quality pin brush. Using an undercoat rake can help…
AKC page Grooming > official section copy
Exercise: The Briard requires a job to be happy. Hopefully his job will be one that gives him a lot of exercise, as this is a breed that craves action. Their zest for life makes them great companions for hikers, bicyclers, and joggers. They need a large, securely fenced area where they can run free. Chasing a tennis ball thrown by his owner can help a Briard work off…
AKC page Exercise > official section copy
Training: The Briard was bred to be able to make executive decisions without the aid of a human. Sometimes this can make them a bit difficult to train. They are eager to please, however, and when training methods are positive and the sessions kept lively, energetic, and interesting, the Briard's natural intelligence will have him at the top of the class. Briards…
AKC page Training > official section copy
Official breed description: The Briard packs so much loyalty, love, and spirit into its ample frame that it's often described as a
AKC page About the Breed > official breed description
Recommended parent-club health tests: ['Hip Evaluation', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation', 'Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB, LCA) - DNA Test']
AKC page Health > Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club
Official breed standard: http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Briard.pdf
AKC page The Breed Standard > View Full Breed Standard
Use the tools