What does each club give for Height at the withers in the Briard?

FCI, Male: 62–68 cm; AKC, Male: 58.4–68.6 cm; KC, Male: 61–69 cm; CKC, Male: 61–68.5 cm; FCI, Female: 56–64 cm; AKC, Female: 55.9–64.8 cm; KC, Female: 58–65 cm; CKC, Female: 56–65 cm.

Briard breed standards compared

Each column is one club's published standard. An empty cell means the club says nothing on that point in our records.

Clubs compared: FCI, AKC, UKC, KC, CKC.

Size

Size
Measure	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Height at the withers, male	62–68 cmunder 61 cmDisqualifyingover 70 cmDisqualifying	58.4–68.6 cmunder 58.4 cmDisqualifying	No ruling	61–69 cm	61–68.5 cmunder 61 cmDisqualifyingover 68.5 cmDisqualifying
Height at the withers, female	56–64 cmunder 55 cmDisqualifyingover 66 cmDisqualifying	55.9–64.8 cmunder 55.9 cmDisqualifying	No ruling	58–65 cm	56–65 cmunder 56 cmDisqualifyingover 65 cmDisqualifying
Skull to muzzle	1	1	1	1	1

Conformation

Conformation
Form	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
StopPronounced	Standard (“Stop: Pronounced”)	Standard (“forms a well-marked stop”)	Standard (“forms a well-marked stop”)	Standard (“Stop clearly defined.”)	Standard (“meet in a well-defined stop”)
StopNone	Fault (“Stop absolutely not marked.”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
BiteScissors bite	Standard (“Strong jaws; white teeth. Scissors bite.”)	Standard (“adapting perfectly in a scissors bite”)	Standard (“A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite.”)	Standard (“perfect, regular and complete scissor bite”)	Standard (“Scissors bite preferred.”)
BiteOvershot	Fault (“Overshot or undershot with loss of contact of incisors”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
BiteUndershot	Fault (“Overshot or undershot with loss of contact of incisors”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
DentitionFull dentition	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“A full complement of strong, white teeth”)	No ruling	No ruling
DentitionMissing teeth	Fault (“absence of 2 lower PM4 or absence of 3 teeth or more”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
Ear setHigh	Standard (“EARS: Set on high”)	Standard (“the ears should be attached high”)	Standard (“The ears are attached high”)	Standard (“Set on high and covered with long hair.”)	Standard (“Ears: Set high.”)
Ear setLow	Disqualifying (“set on too low beneath eye level”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
Eye shapeOval	Standard (“EYES: Oval. Horizontal, well open, rather large”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
ToplineLevel	Standard (“Topline: The back is straight.”)	Standard (“the back which is straight”)	Standard (“the back, which is straight”)	Standard (“Back firm and level”)	Standard (“Back: Straight and level.”)
ToplineSwayback	No ruling	Not recognized (“The topline is strong, never swayed nor roached.”)	Not recognized (“The topline is strong, never swayed or roached.”)	No ruling	Not recognized (“The topline should show no sign of dips nor roaching.”)
ToplineRoach (arched)	No ruling	Not recognized (“The topline is strong, never swayed nor roached.”)	Not recognized (“The topline is strong, never swayed or roached.”)	No ruling	Not recognized (“The topline should show no sign of dips nor roaching.”)
Tail carriageLow (hanging)	Standard (“Natural, carried low”)	Standard (“carried low and not deviating to the right or to the left”)	No ruling	Standard (“Carried low but always held centrally.”)	Standard (“In repose, the tail hangs straight down”)
Tail carriageCurled over the back	Disqualifying (“Tail curled up or carried vertically.”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
Tail lengthLong	Standard (“it reaches at least the hock joint”)	Standard (“the bone of the tail descends to the point of the hock”)	No ruling	Standard (“Long ... Bone of tail reaching at least point of hock.”)	No ruling
Tail lengthTailless	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Disqualification - tail non-existent or cut.”)	Disqualifying (“Disqualifications: Non existent or docked tail.”)	No ruling	No ruling
Rear dewclawsDouble	Standard (“the shepherds want to keep the double dewclaws”)	Standard (“two dewclaws are required on each rear leg”)	Standard (“Two dewclaws are required on each rear leg.”)	Standard (“Double dewclaws set low on hindlegs of utmost importance.”)	Standard (“Double dewclaws on both back feet.”)
Rear dewclawsSingle	Disqualifying (“Single dewclaw or total absence of dewclaws on hindlegs.”)	Disqualifying (“anything less than two dewclaws on each rear leg”)	Disqualifying (“Disqualification: Fewer than two dewclaws on each rear leg.”)	No ruling	No ruling
Rear dewclawsNone	Disqualifying (“Single dewclaw or total absence of dewclaws on hindlegs.”)	Disqualifying (“anything less than two dewclaws on each rear leg”)	Disqualifying (“Disqualification: Fewer than two dewclaws on each rear leg.”)	No ruling	No ruling
FeetSplayed	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Foot faults: Long, flat or splayed.”)
HocksCow-hocked	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Cow hocks and hocks that turn outward should be faulted.”)
HocksSickle-hocked	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Sickle hocks are a severe fault”)
ChestBroad	Standard (“Chest: Wide and long, well let down to the elbows”)	Standard (“the chest is broad and deep”)	Standard (“The chest is broad and deep.”)	Standard (“chest broad, medium spring of rib, well let down”)	No ruling
ChestDeep	No ruling	Standard (“the chest is broad and deep”)	Standard (“The chest is broad and deep.”)	No ruling	Standard (“Chest: Wide ..., deep and well let down to the elbows.”)
ChestBarrel	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“ribs too flat or barrel-chested, should be faulted”)
Tuck-upModerate	No ruling	Standard (“The abdomen is moderately drawn up”)	Standard (“The abdomen is moderately drawn up.”)	No ruling	No ruling
Muzzle shapeSquare	Standard (“The end of the muzzle is rather square.”)	Standard (“terminates in a right angle”)	Standard (“terminates in a right angle”)	Standard (“Muzzle square and very strong”)	No ruling
Muzzle shapeSnipy	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“Serious Faults: Narrow or pointed muzzle.”)	Fault (“any tendency to snipiness undesirable”)	No ruling

Markings

Markings
Marking	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Star	No ruling	Alternate (“a white spot on the chest not to exceed one inch in diameter”)	Alternate (“a white spot on the chest which does not exceed one inch in diameter”)	No ruling	Alternate (“permissible to have a white spot 2.5 cm (1 in) or less on the forechest”)
Blaze	Fault (“white blaze, white hairs on the extremities of the”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying (“White blaze.”)
Flecking	No ruling	Alternate (“white hairs scattered throughout the coat”)	Alternate (“white hairs scattered throughout the coat”)	Alternate (“with white hairs scattered through black coat”)	Alternate (“In blacks there may be scattered white “guard” hairs”)

Cropping, docking and other procedures

Cropping, docking and other procedures
Procedure	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	CKC
Ear cropping	Alternate (“If cropped, in countries where this practice is not forbidden, they should be carried erect”)	Alternate (“The ears when cropped should be carried upright and parallel”)	Alternate (“They may be left natural or cropped.”)	No ruling	Alternate (“There is no preference towards cropped or uncropped ears.”)
Tail docking	No ruling	Disqualifying (“Tail - uncut ... Disqualification - tail non-existent or cut.”)	Disqualifying (“Disqualifications: Non existent or docked tail.”)	No ruling	No ruling
Dewclaw removal	No ruling	Alternate (“dewclaws on the forelegs may or may not be removed”)	Alternate (“Dewclaws on the forelegs may or may not be removed.”)	No ruling	No ruling

The law on these procedures differs by country. A listing here says nothing about whether one is legal where you live.

Briard colors and patterns

What each club's breed standard says about every Briard color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.

Breed standards describe the Briard in Black, Gray, Blue, and Fawn. Standard patterns: Solid, Bicolor, and Sable.

Coat: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“black”)	Standard (“Black”)	Standard (“black”)	Standard (“all black”)	Standard (“black”)
Gray	Standard (“grey”)	Standard (“Gray”)	Standard (“various shades of gray”)	Standard (“may also be slate grey”)	Standard (“grey”)
Blue	Standard (“blue”)	Standard (“all uniform colors are permitted except white”)	Standard (“all uniform colors, except white, are permitted”)	Not recognized	Standard (“blue”)
Fawn	Standard (“fawn”)	Standard (“Tawny”)	Standard (“various shades of tawny”)	Standard (“fawn in all its shades”)	Standard (“fawn”)
White	Disqualifying (“white ... colour”)	Disqualifying (“White”)	Disqualifying (“white coat”)	Not recognized	Disqualifying (“white ... colour”)
Brown	Disqualifying (“brown ... colour”)	No ruling	No ruling	Not recognized	Disqualifying (“brown ... colour”)
Mahogany	Disqualifying (“mahogany colour”)	No ruling	No ruling	Not recognized	Disqualifying (“mahogany colour”)
Patterns
Solid	Standard (“black, fawn ... grey or blue”)	Standard (“all uniform colors are permitted except white”)	Standard (“all uniform colors, except white, are permitted”)	Standard (“all black”)	Standard (“black, fawn ... grey or blue”)
Bicolor	Disqualifying (“coat of two distinct colours”)	Standard (“combinations of two of these colors are permitted”)	Standard (“combinations of two of these colors are permitted”)	Not recognized (“any demarcation line denotes a bi-colour which is unacceptable”)	Disqualifying (“coat of two distinct colours”)
Sable	Standard (“fawn with black overlay (slight to medium)”)	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“fawns may have dark shadings on ears, muzzle, back and tail”)	Standard (“fawn with black overlay (slight to medium)”)
Spotted	No ruling	Disqualifying (“spotted coat”)	Disqualifying (“spotted coat”)	Not recognized	No ruling

Eyes: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	No ruling	Standard (“black”)	Standard (“black”)	No ruling	No ruling
Dark brown	Standard (“of dark colour”)	Standard (“black-brown”)	Standard (“black-brown”)	Standard (“dark brown”)	Standard (“of dark colour”)
Light brown	Standard (“in blue dogs, paler coloured eyes are permitted”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“in blue dogs, paler-coloured eyes are permitted”)
Blue	Disqualifying (“wall eye”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying (“wall eye”)
Yellow	Disqualifying (“eye too light (yellow)”)	Disqualifying (“yellow eyes”)	Disqualifying (“yellow eyes”)	No ruling	Disqualifying (“eye too light (yellow)”)
Patterns
Sectoral	No ruling	Disqualifying (“spotted eyes”)	Disqualifying (“spotted eyes”)	No ruling	No ruling

Nose: rulings by club
Color or pattern	FCI	AKC	UKC	KC	KUSA
Black	Standard (“always black except in blue dogs”)	Standard (“always black”)	Standard (“always black”)	Standard (“always black”)	Standard (“always black except in blue dogs”)
Blue	Standard (“blue dogs which have either a blue or bluish nose”)	Disqualifying	Disqualifying	No ruling	Standard (“blue dogs, which have either a blue or bluish nose”)
Patterns
Butterfly nose	Disqualifying (“presence of pink (unpigmented areas)”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Disqualifying (“presence of pink (unpigmented areas)”)

What the rulings mean

Standard: Described by the club's breed standard.
Disqualifying: The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this color or pattern.
Not recognized: The club does not accept this color or pattern for the breed.

Color changes

How a Briard's colors can change over its life.

Blackchanges toRust
Coat · With body condition · can change back
Blackchanges toGray
Coat · Progressive
Blackchanges toBrown
Coat · In the sun · can change back
Blackchanges toSnow nose
Nose · With the season · can change back
Blackchanges toPink
Nose · With the season · can change back

Sources

Each ruling comes from the club's published breed standard or color list.

Published standards

Back to the Briard guide Grooming styles for the Briard