Lou invited me to write an article of a couple of pages about
'Farouche Briards' for the Double Dew Claw. It took a little
while to think how to do it. How can you put down your whole
life in the breed in a couple of pages? In the end I decided
to do a potted history together with some things that were
important to me as a breeder and exhibitor and hope that some
of you who are new in the breed will find it of interest,
and perhaps of some help.
The photos I have submitted are some which not many will
have seen previously. I thought it would be interesting to
show examples of different dogs I have bred who went to live
abroad.
My beginning (parts taken from an article written by J Richardson).
I was born in Stockholm, but brought up in a small town in
the middle of Sweden called Koping. It took me fourteen years
to persuade my parents that I should have my own dog. At two
years of age I was considered by my grandmother to be the
family tyrant because every day I demanded to visit a neighbour's
dog, a white GSD named Rango. Adults declining to oblige were
rewarded with screams and tantrums. When I was seven my mother
re-married and another blow was dealt to my dream when tests
proved my stepfather had a dog allergy. Through my formative
years I compensated myself by walking the dogs belonging to
all our neighbours. On my fourteenth birthday Khan, a GSD/Collie
cross belonging to a friend, came into our home in Koping
decked in ribbons and carrying a present tied around his neck.
For a young girl desperate to own her own dog it was a scene
too emotional and I burst into tears. Those tears were the
turning point and I was given my own dog, a Rough Collie.
I named him Lorino and he was bred from pure Italian breeding
lines. Besotted with him I worked him in obedience up to club
show level. I soon met my husband when I came to the UK in
the late sixties and we got married in 1969. One condition
on marrying Ron was for us to have a dog. Thank goodness he
agreed. An Afghan bitch and dog joined our family of two.
Training classes and a couple of exemption shows followed,
as did a beautiful litter of puppies. I applied for an affix,
Zahir, and it was granted by the KC. Soon thereafter we started
our 'human' family, two sons and a daughter. This kept me
very occupied and dog showing was therefore not top of my
list.
I become interested in Briards through a Swedish friend living
in Saffron Walden. She owned a 'big' fawn dog, who resided
under the kitchen table whenever I visited, or followed my
friend round the house from one room to another. His pet name
was Wilfred (Blumberg Ardwolf out of Desamee Tripot de Vasouy
and Pabello from Davealex). In 1977 I contacted Nancy Tomlin
(Desamee Briards) for a puppy bitch and was offered Desamee
Molly Bear, a five month old fawn bitch whose level bite was
putting her show career in jeopardy. (It was not the done
thing in those days to show anything without the correct scissor
bite.) With Nancy's encouragement, I agreed to honour a show
entry at Richmond 1977 in the puppy stakes class. The judge
was the late Fred Curnow and Desamee Molly Bear won a third
place. This was the start.
The beginning of Farouche Briards
I suddenly discovered the excitement of dog showing and knew
I would have to approach this seriously. There were no proper
seminars available in those days, so I decided to educate
myself. How could I become a good exhibitor and breeder of
Briards? I was very lucky that I found two very knowledgeable
mentors from outside the breed, very successful in their own
breeds. I cannot tell anyone enough how important this is.
All my worries, all my concerns, I could discuss with them
and help was always at hand. I learned so much from their
experiences. At each show I stood and watched the successful
Briard breeders, how they presented their dogs, how they handled.
In those days we had Ruth Bumstead, Nancy Tomlin, Tony Armstrong
and Storm Jones (McHardie-Young in those days), just to mention
a few. I observed and copied their handling until I found
a style to suit me and my dogs. Over the next two years I
absorbed all I could on the breed - travelling to Belgium,
Holland, Sweden and, of course, France, talking to breeders,
looking at litters and attending Rassemblements (breed assessments)
in France and Belgium and shows in other countries. It was
very important to me to look, listen and to learn. Lots of
different opinions on the breed, lots of different types,
lots of different ideas. I absorbed everything, my brain took
in the bits I considered important and filtered out the rest.
As the Briard was a French dog, the French connection was
very important. I wanted to breed the 'Le Berger de Brie',
chien de France, and not an English version or variation.
This was my ideal until the terrible news of CPRA (Central
Progressive Retinal Atrophy) in our breed erupted. This meant
a lot of compromise. Coupled of course with our stringent
quarantine laws which meant it was not that easy to import
new blood. Therefore any 'new blood' was highly valued, because
it was only here in the UK that we had CPRA! Something we
always wondered about as a couple of French imports were diagnosed
with it too. You can understand the frustration felt when
we received negative replies from overseas, including France,
saying that CPRA was nowhere else to be found. It also meant
that many people from abroad did not want to purchase a UK-bred
Briard. As if this was not enough, our breed also suffered
from HD (Hip Dysplasia) in varying degrees. Health became
top of the agenda. With all this facing us I decided to go
full steam ahead and try to do something for the breed. Breeding
Champions was at the back of my mind. Breeding for health
became a priority and as Briards had such large litters I
reasoned that there must be one puppy in 'that litter' of
good enough quality to be able to move forward with. I started
looking to where I could outcross, to get the new blood we
so badly needed. Luck was with me. Jim and Jean O'Donnell
introduced me to Joyce Lockyer who, with her husband, had
returned from the US where they had been living for some time.
They brought with them two Briards, one black bitch, St Briard's
Nadia Comanec and the fawn Am Ch Beau Cheval's Rigmarole.
They bred a litter, between these two. Luckily when I went
to see them they still had a few puppies available. My first
outcross therefore, was the fawn dog Sting-Mariell of Farouche.
My second one was Fr & Int Ch Oukhase de Millespois whose
French owner was on a working assignment in Edinburgh and
had brought his dog with him. My third was a Dutch import,
called B'es by Nature vd Ridderweide. I borrowed her from
her very kind and helpful owner, Helen Lord. My next outcross
was between Farouche Queen of Sheba and Int Ch Tzigane du
Rou et du Noir. Queen of Sheba, a daughter of Oukhase, had
gone to live with my friends in Belgium, Poul and Leona Vanwynsberghe
(affix "of the Gloaming"). Poul offered her back
to me in whelp after I sadly lost a bitch from torsion which
I had imported from him, 'Lady of the Gloaming', out of his
grey bitch Indira and Tzigane. Sheba whelped in quarantine
and sadly most of the litter was lost immediately after birth
and I was left with four puppies. My outcrossings created
a lot of interest overseas and I received many enquiries for
puppies. I made lots of friends all round the world including
the UK. I always tried to let people select their own puppies,
whether for the show ring or as a pet, whenever possible.
I discovered early that what we all perceived to be pick of
litter varied from person to person. Therefore, I usually
asked people to select two puppies and if one of them was
what I had selected for myself they could have the other.
It worked very well. I feel very proud of all the puppies
I have sold whether it was for the show-ring or as a pet,
in the UK or overseas, whether they have ended up a Champion,
a CC winner, a brood bitch, stud dog, foundation stock. But
most of all my main satisfaction has come after my dogs have
been eye tested clear or xrayed for HD with good results and
that they all have gone to good loving homes, turned out happy,
healthy and well adjusted and made many people very happy.
Desamee Molly Bear never made a Champion, but then she was
not bought to show. Instead she gave me so much, companionship,
a lovely pet, a good playmate to my children, the grounding
and training in the showring that I needed in the early days,
and she gave me my very first Champion, Ch Farouche D'Albert
in Megsflocks (owned by Megan Butler), and Farouche Vivant
Bonnie (owned by Yvonne Dahlmark) who went to Sweden and did
a lot of winning and gained all her three Certificates (but
did not do the working test in order to become a Swedish Champion).
Yvonne now has a Lhasa Apso, a daughter to my export Farouche
Crème'de la Crème. 'Simba' (Ch K'sar Royal Jaguar
of Farouche) was the pretty one and the first Briard I campaigned
to the title. I bought her from her breeders Tony and Judith
Armstrong after she had been returned at the age of two by
her first owners. Many more Champions followed: Ch Farouche
Chaplin handled by Marjory Williams (he qualified for the
Finals of both Pup of the Year and Veteran Stakes), Ch Farouche
Cassandra (who qualified for the Final of the Veteran Stakes)
and Farouche Chandler, owned by Maggie Foreman, all three
from the same litter. Ch Farouche Mr Higgins was owned by
Sue Wyss ('Zabadak') and sire of several Champions and top
winning progeny. His litter brother Farouche Black Panther,
(who was the late Poul Vanwynsberghe's and my pick of the
dogs, Poul choosing the name) was bought by Jan and Gordon
Rual and he became their stud dog producing many top winners
including the breed record holder, Ch Gilcoru Passion D'Brie.
Litter sister Farouche Hollywood Girl went to Finland and
became the foundation bitch to Kennel Boondocks, producing
top winners for Anu and Jari Pellas in Scandinavia. Farouche
Royal Harry, again a litter brother, went to live in Harare
with Paul and Sheila Caminade-Lavault. Harry became a Champion
of Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. As far as I'm aware
he is the first UK-bred Briard to become a Champion of three
countries. Farouche's Big Surprise became a Champion of South
Africa, owned by Mr & Mrs Warren who lived in Zimbabwe.
They already had a fawn bitch, which they had imported from
France. These two produced the first Briard litter in Zimbabwe.
Farouche D'Emile and Farouche D'Esmee became Australian Champions
owned by Harriet Wilson. Chris James bought Farouche Estee
Lauder and Farouche Sweet Sensation and campaigned them to
their titles. They became the foundation bitches for Wychbold
and again have produced many Champions for Chris. Farouche
Picasso, a top winning puppy, became a Champion ably handled
by Alan Mease, who was a great help to me as it was difficult
to handle two dogs in classes following one another. I must
not forget Anne Webb here, because I asked her to handle him,
I think it was ten minutes before I was due to take Picasso
into Open Dog at Working Breeds of Wales. She had never handled
him before and came out with a first, the Dog CC and BOB.
Picasso's son Farouche Prince Charming became my last Champion
and I retired him in 1996 after winning Best in Show over
two days at Newmarket. 'Billy' also qualified for Pup of the
Year. He is now almost 12 and takes each day as it comes and
he still moves beautifully, like a young dog. A real pleasure
to see.
Others with CCs here in the UK, who never got their crown
but I feel immensely proud of are: Farouche D'Emmeline and
Farouche D'Estelle, who were owned by Glynis Young, Farouche's
Incredible Hulk, who was owned by Maureen Goody and Farouche
Sir Winston owned by Maggie Foreman ('Sammie' is a litter
brother to Prince Charming). I believe 'Sammie' and another
grandson of Ch. Farouche Mr Higgins, (Zabadak breeding) are
so far the only two Briards to have achieved gold status in
the KC Good Citizens award scheme.
Finally, to mention a few in Scandinavia who gained all their
qualifying certificates towards the title but did not do the
obedience/working test: Farouche Get Carter, Farouche Georgie
Girl, Toshiro of Farouche, Farouche La Paloma and Farouche
Mr Wonderful etc.
Not only were my dogs' xrays read in the UK but also by the
Swedish Kennel Club's HD expert. Because our system of scoring
is so different I felt it important that all my Scandinavian
puppy buyers should understand the score, and this would help
them in their breeding programme.
I have been asked to add something about temperament too.
It goes without saying that whether it is a Briard or another
breed of dog, we want and expect a dog of a good temperament.
I bought my first Briard when my children were 18 months,
2½ years old and 5 years old. They have been brought
up with them. The children loved the dogs and the dogs loved
them in return. They were all one big family. The children
were part of 'the pack'; dogs don't understand the difference
between 'humans' and 'dogs' - to them we are all the same.
I would never, ever, ever risk the safety of my children.
My children are now grown up and have their own homes and
all own a Lhasa Apso each, for the simple reason that they
think the Briard is too big and too bouncy for their accommodation
and needs a lot of care and special attention. When they have
the right accommodation, large garden and can give more of
their time, they will want to have a Briard. I believe they
are right, they have been brought up with them; they know
what is involved with owning a Briard. That is what I call
being responsible and having a caring and understanding attitude.
The Briard is a dual-purpose dog. He is a guard and he herds
his flock. I think he is very misunderstood by some people.
Over the years I have heard people talk about bad and good
temperaments, pointing fingers at certain dogs and breeders
alike, when a dog has shown aggressive or nervous tendencies.
It is all very 'frothy'. It's either the dog or the breeder's
fault. Nobody tries to look into the underlying problem. We
either don't understand the breed, or it is genetic, or it
is man-made. If a dog has a bad temperament and it is genetic
I would suggest we all have a problem, because we all are
connected one way or another through the various lines and
therefore 'share' this problem and thus it should be addressed
and the initiative should come from our clubs. If it is not,
could it be that some people buying a Briard don't really
understand how to 'handle' a Briard? All breeds are different
and are bred for different purposes.
The best advice I ever received from anyone was from Jill
Partridge (Poldhu Briards) when I bought Desamee Molly Bear.
She said to me, "Treat her like one of your children".
Thank you Jill, a Briard does need to be treated like a child.
The first 2 years in his life are so very, very important.
He needs to know who the boss is (you will have problems if
he thinks he is the boss). He needs to know what he can do
and what he can't do. He needs a certain amount of discipline
(how many times have you seen an undisciplined dog and heard
the owner say, "Oh he is 'gay and lively' as the standard
says"). He needs to be socialised as early as possible
- he needs to meet people and other dogs, experience noise,
traffic, cars, different environments etc. I was also told,
"a Briard is not for the faint-hearted". You need
to put in a lot of work. If you are not prepared to do this,
you will have problems. If you do put in the time, he will
reward your work a hundredfold back. He is loving, loyal and
affectionate. He has a fantastic sense of humour. He is totally
devoted to his family; he will protect you, he will bark at
strangers to warn you, he is cautious (he does not really
know if they are friends or not, you will have to guide him).
It is all worth it in the end.
He is not suited to all people, and, whenever one has been
returned to a breeder for one reason or another, I would suggest
that in a vast number of cases the reason given has never
been the 'true' one. It is so easy to blame the dog, rather
than be honest and say, "Sorry, I made a mistake, I can't
cope, it's not really the dog for me and my family. What we
really need is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or a Labrador".
Having worked with some of these 'rejects' for anything from
4 to 8 weeks before re-homing them you get a pretty good idea
of what the problem is. Usually it is 'man-made'. I just wish
people could be a bit more honest with themselves. The Briard
is not the breed for everyone. In the end it is better to
admit you can't cope and give yourself and your dog a chance
of finding a new, and more suitable partner. Luckily I have
only had a few to rehome over the years, and in all cases,
the re-homing has been a great success. He is the breed for
me but not for my husband - he prefers the Labrador, of which
we have had two and they got on very well with our Briards,
both breeds picking up bad and good habits from each other.
They get on very well with my Lhasas too. My Billy and Lou-Lou
are inseparable.
I started off breeding for health only and beyond all expectations
I also managed to breed a few Champions along the way. Not
forgetting that it would not have happened without the help
of my mentors, my friends and my many puppy buyers to whom
I owe it all.
