COLOUR & COAT
Briard colours are fawn, black and although rare in the UK there are is also Gray. Many fawn Briards have a dark tail, ears, and face and may have dark hairs -- called an overlay -- in the body coat. Blacks can also have a lot of grey through their coat. Fawn puppies are born very dark red or black that lightens to fawn by three or four months of age and further paling to light tan or even white by two years of age. As the adult coat comes in, the colour again changes to deep gold or red and may continue to change for another four or five years. Colour is a matter of personal preference. The Briard's proper coat has been described for centuries as a "goat's coat. " It is dry, coarse, and makes a rasping noise when rubbed. Dirt and water do not readily cling to the hair and it is easily brushed out when dry. If kept well-groomed, Briards shed very little, but if left un brushed, the coat gets heavily matted, sometimes necessitating clipping the hair and putting the Briard through a lot of pain and discomfort, so it is important to bear this in mind when considering a Briard – do you have the time to put to the coat? A minimum of 2-4 hours per week is needed to maintain an adult coat, and an adolescent changing coat can require much more time and can matt so quickly! A Briard coats continue to grow throughout their lives, falling naturally into long, shiny, slightly wavy locks. Well-cared-for coats, like those found on older show dogs, get well over 12 inches in length and reach halfway to the ground.