PetzloverBriard is originated from France but Nebolish Mastiff is originated from Canada. Briard may grow 33 cm / 13 inches higher than Nebolish Mastiff. Briard may weigh 160 kg / 352 pounds lesser than Nebolish Mastiff. Both Briard and Nebolish Mastiff has almost same life span. Both Briard and Nebolish Mastiff has same litter size. Briard requires High Maintenance. But Nebolish Mastiff requires Low Maintenance
Through myth and legend, the Briard is thought to be a very ancient dog. A French herding breed, a Briard type of dog appears in writings as early as the end of the 14th century. According to legends the Briard was owned by Napoleon, Charlemagne, Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. As a cross between the Barbet and the Beauceron, the Briard came into popularity following its appearance in a Paris dog show in 1863. Bred originally to guard and herd sheep, these intelligent, independent dogs were often left on their own. Because they both guarded and herded, their size and structure as well as their personalities were different from other dogs that worked sheep. Those that herded only were fast, agile and smaller. Those that only guarded were heavier, bigger and stronger. The Briard was in-between these two types of breeds. He was well suited to any kind of farm work and guarded the crops from the sheep’s desire to eat them. They moved the sheep from one grazing area to another and then to their holding area at night. No humans had to assist the Briard in this work once they were trained.
During World War 1, the Briards were drafted into service as messengers, sentries and search dogs for lost or injured soldiers. In that time frame the breed served almost to the point of extinction. Breeding programs following the war brought them back. Today the Briard is a home companion, a police dog, as well as both military and civilian search and rescue dogs.
With the Mastiff breeds, the rarest and the smallest is the Nebolish Mastiff. Bred to be more agile than the giant mastiffs, the Nebolish was developed in Canada. They were developed by crossing several breeds, such as the English Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeux, Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff, Boxer, St. Bernard, and Deutsche Dogge. Perhaps there was some Great Dane as well. It was also hoped that they would have better health than the rest of the Mastiff breeds.
There are also those who believe the Nebolish Mastiff is not a Canadian crossbreed but rather the re-creation of the giant dogs that lived with the soldiers of Alexander the Great. Still others believe the breed is still being developed and no standard is yet true. They believe the dog is a hybrid. No one knows the exact breeding lines today and not many are breeding the Nebolish today. Thus, the dog is extremely rare.
Only the American Breeder Association (ABA), the Canada Molosser Association (CMA) and the Dog Registry of America Inc. (DRA) recognize the Nebolish Mastiff as a separate breed.
These dogs are courageous, loyal and dignified like all Mastiffs. They are protective of their families or their flocks. They are loving, intelligent and even-tempered. They are known to be great with kids since they are patient and calm – easy to train.
The Briard is a powerful, intelligent and independent working dog. They have a straight topline and their height is almost the same as their length. They have long, large, rectangular heads with wide muzzles. Their noses are also square and jet black while their side set, large eyes can be black-brown or black. Their ears have traditionally been cropped but with more countries outlawing it, they can now have natural ears set high on the head. They have a tail that is feathered and low-cut. The feet of a Briard are round, compact and large.
The Briard is a double coated breed with a long beard and mustache. Their hair completely covers the head and the eyes so that they are not seen. They have prominent eyebrows as well.
The Nebolish Mastiff is very much like all other mastiffs with the exception of height and weight. He has a large head, long legs, strong neck, oval shaped paws, wide chest and large bones. He has solid muscles, large ears and a wide snout. They usually weigh anywhere between 43 and 82 kg. They tend not to slobber like the other mastiff breeds as a result of their breeding. They have a black mask and tail may or may not be docked.
As mentioned previously the Briard is intelligent and independent. They are also loyal, rugged, protective and bond intensely with their humans. They are often aloof when it comes to strangers or even when new furniture is introduced into the household. They have to learn that anything new into the family environment is friendly and good. They are great with children and susceptible to separation anxiety because of their deep affection for their people. Socialization for puppies is a must. This will let them know that people and children, other dogs in general are not harmful to their families. They have great memories and once they learn something – right or wrong – it is almost impossible to change it. They were bred to be independent thinkers who acted on their own conclusions. This is still true of the breed today, making them appear to be stubborn.
They are great watchdogs, fearless and brave; willing to learn, eager to make you happy. They are basically gentle but that always runs up against their protective nature. A strong alpha leader is needed to handle this hard-working dog.
Yes, they are very good with children.
Agility and swimming
No – they don’t do well with apartments and small spaces. They need a large fenced in yard.
High but can be stubborn
Being a large breed, the Briard shares many of the same health concerns as other large breeds. They have a few of their own as well. Typical issues for a Briard might include:
Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration –degeneration of the photoreceptors and retina.
Bred to be much healthier than other mastiff breeds, the Nebolish has very few health concerns. They live twice as long as most other Mastiff and giant breeds at up to 14 years. The most often reported health issue is:
bloat – where the intestines and stomach organs are twisted or distended. Bloat can be deadly so don’t hesitate on treatment. Avoid it by not overfeeding after or before exercise.
Test for Hip dysplasia as it can cause lameness or arthritis.
It is best to feed the Briard smaller meals 2-3 times a day to prevent bloat. Feed 3-4 cups total for the day of a dry dog food that is high quality and made for large breeds.
Stationary Night Blindness – Congenital limited vision in the dark can vary from slight difficulty moving to complete inability to see in the dark.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration – Can lead to night blindness, limited or total blindness. Puppies with the disease can be blind before their first birthday.
Bloat (Gastric Torsion) – Stomach is distended and twists. Fatal if not treated quickly. Caused by eating a large meal quickly and either exercise immediately or drink a large amount of water right after eating.
Von Willebrand’s Disease – Blood clotting disorder leads to excessive bleeding. There is no cure, but it is manageable.
The Briard is a working dog and as such needs a job. They excel at agility, flyball, herding, obedience, confirmation and tracking. They need exercise and make excellent service dogs for people with disabilities and therapy dogs for those in emotional need.
Don’t overfeed and don’t feed too much protein in the first year. Feed 1-2 cups in two meals.
bloat – Tendency to become obese so don’t over feed. About 2-3 cups in 2 meals per day.
agility and flexibility
This intelligent breed actually enjoys training, toys and all kinds of mentally stimulating puzzles. They love water and are very good swimmers. They need an average amount of exercise - a couple walks per day. Need a large fenced yard. They make great therapy dogs and play catch.