Both Carlin Pinscher and Briard are originated from France. Carlin Pinscher may grow 36 cm / 14 inches shorter than Briard. Carlin Pinscher may weigh 34 kg / 74 pounds lesser than Briard. Carlin Pinscher may live 3 years more than Briard. Both Carlin Pinscher and Briard has almost same litter size. Carlin Pinscher requires Low maintenance. But Briard requires High maintenance
There are conflicting views as to where the Carlin Pinscher hails from, with some reports saying France and others the USA. The names of some breeders suggest it could be France.
The dog hasn’t got a long history, being developed only in the early 1900s. Two breeders, Morgan and Buenafe left their Miniature Pinscher with a Pug owner for a while and on return discovered that the dogs had mated, producing puppies which looked like miniature Rottweilers.
It was in 1998 that a breeding program began and a Boxer was also brought into the mix to improve the characteristics of the dog. The dog is still being developed and isn’t recognized by the major kennel clubs.
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.
The Carlin Pinscher has been developed to be a social and loving companion. Started as a cross between a Miniature Pinscher and Pug, other breeds have also been brought in. He still has varied appearances, often looking like a tiny Rottweiler but also looking like anything between the Miniature Pinscher or the Pug.
This is a small sized dog standing at anything from 27- to 33 cm and weighing 5 or 6kg. The body is compact with sturdy legs coming from the Pug side. The skull is a dome shape, the ears can be erect or floppy and unless the tail is docked it can be long, curling somewhat over the back. The coat is short and smooth and comes in shades of tan, brown and black.
The Carlin Pinscher is small but with a strong personality, being gentle and sweet in nature. He promises to be a loyal and affectionate companion for his human family, loving to be involved in all their activities.
He is an energetic, playful little dog and also intelligent, so apart from a walk and ball games, he’ll need some toys for indoors too that can provide physical- and mental stimulation. With early training and socialization, the Carlin Pinscher is a good friend of children and he will get on well with other pets in the house too. He is a small dog so children should be supervised and taught to handle him with gentleness and kindness.
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 Carlin Pinscher makes an ideal little pet and he will be content to live in a small home in the city or in the country, just so long as he is with an owner who loves and cares for him. They are balanced, easy-to-get-along-with dogs, being even-tempered, playful and outgoing.
He is active, intelligent, strong-willed, stubborn and brave. It is true that people who have kept mixed-breed dogs rave about them. Certainly mixed breed dogs have earned themselves a reputation for being superb family pets. They’re healthy, feisty, quaint and entertaining.
These days many mixed breeds are no longer pavement specials but part of careful breeding, such as with the Carlin Pinscher. He is full of personality and makes a great family pet, getting along with other animals and also being good around children.
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.
The Carlin Pinscher is a feisty little dog who can live to be up to 13, 14 or 15 years of age. He is a fairly healthy breed too, but there will always be some issues that the Carlin Pinscher might be prone to. Typical dog ailments include eye problems, hip dysplasia, liver problems, skin- and dental problems.
All liver problems with a dog are serious and will need veterinary intervention. A noticeable symptom of liver disease is jaundiced yellowing of the white of the eye. You might even see a yellowing on the underside of the ear flap. Your pet will have loss of appetite, constipation as well as highly colored urine.
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.
With his short, smooth coat, the Carlin Pinscher is a low to moderate shedder who is easy to maintain. The short coat will simply need a brush-down twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. If he is dusty, you can wipe the coat down with a warm, damp cloth.
Every dog, large or small needs a balanced diet that consists of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. A well balanced diet keeps a dog healthy but also in shape. A dog requires certain ingredients in its diet, depending on age, activity levels, size and stage of life such as pregnancy or illness.
For starters, dogs need fresh, cool water at all times. If you’re confused about dry kibble or semi-moist dog food for instance, speak to your vet about what your Carlin Pinscher needs. It’s always good to give your pet variety, so mixing in some rice, vegetables and meat will be wonderful for your pet as will some raw meat from time to time.
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.