Get to Know

Our Australian Briard Breeders

Breeders
On this page you will find a list of Briard breeders listed State by State. For those who have email access an email contact is included, also if they have their own website, a link is there for your convenience.
The breeders listed here are listed as a service to the prospective Briard owner. This in no way implies that the owners of this site are responsible for any problems that may arise in the purchase of a pup from these breeders.

Some Questions to Ask a Breeder

Is the family hip history known? - Not just the parents but at least 3 to 4 generations back. Many of the dogs being bred now have either a European or American background which makes it very easy to check on. All American dogs that have passed a hip exam are issued with an OFA number - a complete list of OFA certified Briards can be found here. Dogs with a European background MUST have a hip rating of A or B to be bred from.  The Scandinavian countries have very tough hip grading systems and once again if a dog fails this, then it cannot be bred from. Do they advertise truthfully? Australian Briards MUST be advertised numerically ie 2:2 = 4 or just a total number. If you see an ad for an Australian litter with a letter describing the hips - that is not truthful and the breeder is decieving you.

Have one or both parents been DNA tested for the Briard specific eye disease CSNB? At least ONE parent MUST be clear, it does not matter so much if the other is a carrier, only 50% of the resulting offspring will be carriers but none will be AFFECTED. Do both parents have DNA Profiles ? Does the breeder prove parentage by DNA ?

Temperament, some people forget about this, but if you are going to bring a new puppy into your home, it will be part of your family for the next 10 - 14 years so it is very important that you can live comfortably with the new pup. The parentage is most important, it is best to see the mother and father in their home environment and see how they react with you. Sometimes it will not be possible to see the father - but the mother of the pups should always be there. If she has any other offspring from previous litters, check them out, see how approachable they are.

Guarantees, What happens if the puppy you bought as show/breeding stock does not turn out ??- obviously not every pup is going to be a world beater, but does the breeder have a replacement or money back policy? If the puppy, either show or pet, you have bought turns out to have major health concerns, what is the breeder going to do about it?? 

Ongoing help, Whether you are new to the breed or an old hand there will still be lots of times you will want your breeders' help - are they willing to provide this help?? And if the worse comes to the worse and you cannot keep your dog for some reason are they willing to take it back or help rehome it if needed??

Are the parents Champions? If so, what is their show record? Do they have any major wins? Check out our show and dog sports result pages. If the parent/s are not Champions, why not?? Sometimes there are very legitimate reasons why a dog cannot be shown, such as an injury or various other reasons - make sure you ask. Does the breeder show or just breed ? Does the breeder prove their dogs either in the show ring or dog sports arena - good breeders are always looking for knowledge on structure, temperament, and fit for purpose - those who 'just breed' do not have this knowledge and don't have a balanced view of the Briard
Are the puppies registered? If you want to show or breed from your puppy - it MUST have full registration. There are several different types of registration and they do differ from state to state. To be eligible for registration both parents MUST be on full registration, the breeder must be a member of the State canine body and hold a breeders Prefix - check BEFORE you buy - it may be too late afterwards.
So, what is a responsible breeder??
Responsible Breeders DO:
Are familiar with the Code of Ethics of their National and State body Registry
Breed in order to improve the breed and produce the best puppies they possibly can, and usually plan to keep at least one of them.
Have a well defined breeding program in place.

Always have a recognised title at one end of the dogs name
Ask as many questions of you as you do of them.
Breed only dogs that closely match the breed standard and are free of serious health and temperament problems. They do not breed for the latest fad colour, and are truthful in their assessments
Tell you if they think you would be better off with another breed of dog or no dog at all.
Provide referrals to other breeders if they don't have anything available.
Hip score, elbow score, prove parentage by DNA 
Provide a registration slip, a pedigree, and up-to-date shots/health records with every puppy they sell.
Honestly discuss any special problems/requirements associated with the breed.
Offer FREE assistance and advice on grooming, training, showing, etc., for the life of the dog.
If, for any reason and at any time, you cannot keep the dog, will take it back.
Normally breed only one or two litters a year, max!
Have dogs that are clean, healthy, happy, and humanely cared for.
Responsible Breeders DO NOT:
Appear overly eager to sell or "get rid of" a puppy.
Breed simply to produce puppies to sell.

Breed consistently from the one dog and or bitch.
Breed a bitch on every season, or more than once a year.
Have breeding stock that consists of a "mated pair".
Claim that all of their puppies are "show/breeding quality".
Claim that their breed has no problems (some have fewer than others do, but every breed has at least a couple).
Sell puppies that are less than eight to ten weeks old.
ell puppies without papers (registration slip and 3-5 generation pedigree), or charge extra for papers.

Locating a Responsible Breeder
By Dorie Crowe
Now that you know the breed that will be right for your family, you are in need of a responsible breeder to help insure you get exactly what you want.
There are many legitimate, responsible breeders located all across the country. There are some things you should know about breeders as you begin the final stages of choosing your new companion.
One litter does not make a "breeder". Breeders will have a history with their breed. They first became involved because of their love of that breed and their commitment to helping improve it. They have studied the breed and the stock within the breed for a number of years. They know the Breed Standard. They have formulated a planned breeding program they think will help in their goal of improving the breed and eliminating any genetic problems within that breed. They take this very seriously. They are breeding for the future. They are breeding well-rounded animals that can do what they were intended to do.
These breeders carefully consider the pedigrees of the sire and the dam. They test their breeding stock for genetic disorders. They breed only when they think they have the best chance to reach their goals. Exhibiting in Dog Shows or Performance Events is the best way breeders have of evaluating their stock and their breeding program against others.
They are breeding dogs and bitches of the best quality. The resulting litters may have some wonderful show specimens and some may not be the best prospects for the show ring. The puppies that are not show prospects are sometimes referred to as "pet quality." Please do not misunderstand this terminology. This term may mean the pup is slightly over or under a height requirement; the bite may not be absolutely correct; or the pup just may be slightly less than perfect for their breeding program. Breeders do not breed for "pets" per se, although every show prospect pup in a litter may eventually end their show careers as a wonderful "pet". These pups that are deemed to be "pet quality" are still the result of years of study, skilled care and maintenance and careful breeding. While these pups may not be prospects for the conformation show ring, they may be excellent prospects for the performance event ring. These pups will also be excellent companions because of the predictability in their looks, temperament and stability.
When you purchase a purebred dog from a responsible breeder you are paying, in part, for the years of study, planning and experience that go into making your pup all that it should be. They do not breed dogs of inferior quality; they breed their best dogs. They deserve fair and reasonable compensation, which is usually applied back into their breeding program and their dogs. Expenses are high when delivering the type of care the responsible breeder takes on behalf of their dogs. They are not producing "pups for profit;" they are producing pups only when they believe they have some contribution to make to the breed's future.
In addition, you should realize breeders may not have only pups available. Sometimes when they have produced a champion and bred one or two litters from a particular dog they may then offer that dog for sale on the proviso the dog is spayed or neutered. This adult dog may become a companion that could also compete in performance events or remain at home and provide joy.
If your family need is for an adult dog rather than a puppy, and your breeder does not have one available at the time, you might consider a "rescue" dog. Your breeder may be able to recommend a local or national breed rescue.. Most rescue dogs make excellent family companions.
The ANKC registration papers you receive from your breeder will also indicate to you those years of study and planning. This is your dog's family tree. Your breeder will also discuss with you whether your particular pup should ever be bred. If your particular pup has a disqualifying fault they will not want that pup diluting the gene pool and perpetuating that fault. They may furnish you with a "Limited" ANKC registration, which would mean the dog could not be bred and produce puppies eligible for ANKC registration. Many breeders will require a veterinarian's certification that the dog or bitch you have has been spayed or neutered before they will furnish the signed papers enabling you to complete the registration process. Be wary of a breeder who sells every pup on Main Register.
Responsible breeders are not mass producing puppies with no idea of the background of the pup's parents; with no thought as to what they will look like; no thought to the genetic history; no clue as to their stability of temperament; no way to care for them or socialize them properly, and a buyer beware attitude.
Responsible breeders will take the time to evaluate your situation to help you determine whether their breed is correct for you. They carefully screen all prospective buyers. They will be exacting in their questions. They want to be just as sure of the success of the match as you want to be. They are available to you on a continuing basis for advice and help. They encourage this contact and want to know how things are going. In the rare instance that the pup or adult does not work out for you, they absolutely will take back their pup or help you to place it (whichever the two of you have agreed upon when you initially took the pup or dog). They will also suggest the best type of training for your pup. The breeder will be looking to you to act as a responsible owner and they will suggest many things that will enhance your ownership of a purebred dog.
When you are looking for a breeder some of the things you want to know are:
How long they have been breeding dogs
How many litters they have bred (many litters over a short period of time may indicate a puppy farm operation).
Whether they are involved in the show or performance ring
Do they belong to their local kennel club or local specialty or national breed Parent Club
What is their policy on taking back a pup that does not work out
Do they have a contract spelling out what they will do and what is expected of you?
Some of the things you should do are:
View the dogs in their care - do they appear to be well-kept? If you cant physically get to the breeder, ask for a video chat
Are they in good condition?
Clean? Appear to be well-nourished?
Are the eyes clear?
Do they appear happy?
View where the dogs are kept. Is it clean? Climate controlled?
Is there a smell of urine or faeces?
Is there an exercise area?
In the area where the dogs sleep, is there room to stand up, turn around easily; to lay on their side and stretch out their legs?
If there are several dogs, do they appear to be readily identifiable?
View the dam of the puppies (sometimes the sire is available to view as well). This is your best indication of what your pup will look like when grown.
Are the puppies alert, clean, have clear eyes, have the appearance of being well-nourished and happy?
Discuss what shots the pups have had to date.
Discuss the type of ANKC registration the breeder is willing to sign.
Discuss what type of training is available in your area.
Discuss what types of events your pup may be eligible to compete in when the age is appropriate. While you may not be interested at the time you receive your pup, this could be a great source of enjoyment and social activity for you at a later time.
These are just a few of the things you should be considering and looking for at the time you choose a breeder and your new family member. You should also remember that once you take your pup or dog home you now have a built-in support system of people who want this match to be successful and who will expect you to call whenever you are in need of advice, support or an extra cheer.
The new relationship between the breeder and you, and the new pup and you will be in place for many years to come - it deserves careful consideration. Good Luck!
Briard Breeders. As you will have learnt from your research, Briard breeders are few and far between. Briards are not the breed for everyone. If you want your choice of colour/sex, it is advisable to make a puppy booking well ahead of time. Most breeders will only breed when they have enough good homes lined up or when they want another puppy for themselves. Don't hesitate to contact a breeder living some distance or in another State from you. All are experienced in shipping puppies and are only a phone call or an email away.

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