MyDogBreeds
Norwich Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but Briard is originated from France. Norwich Terrier may grow 44 cm / 17 inches shorter than Briard. Norwich Terrier may weigh 34 kg / 74 pounds lesser than Briard. Both Norwich Terrier and Briard has almost same life span. Norwich Terrier may have less litter size than Briard. Norwich Terrier requires Moderate maintenance. But Briard requires High maintenance
Hailing from the United Kingdom and once known as the Cantab Terrier, the Norwich Terrier may be small, but he was bred to hunt rodents.
Closely related to the Norfolk Terrier, he is an old dog breed, having existed since the 19th century. Its understandable that such a dog would also be the mascot of Cambridge students.
It is believed that he was bred from Irish Terriers and some believe it came from the Trumpington Terrier, an extinct breed.
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.
As one of the smallest terriers, the Norwich Terrier is also quite a rare dog breed. He is such a cute little dog this, weighing just 5 to 5.5kg and standing at between 23–25cm at the withers.
He has erect ears and a double coat that can be wheaten, red, tan, black and tan and grizzle. The tail has always been docked previously, giving the dog an attractive, compact look but these days it is left long. These dogs have small litters – usually between one and three puppies.
The Norwich Terrier is a friendly little dog and is essentially a companion to humans. Just because he is small, doesn’t mean he is frail and helpless. He is a feisty, hardy dog with a brave heart and just loves his human family.
The Norwich Terrier is also strong willed and assertive and it can be of benefit to have him trained and socialized. He is energetic too, so he’ll expect a walk each day, a run in the park and ball games. They also make excellent little watchdogs, at least warning you of approaching strangers.
They are good with kids if the children have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals, and they get on well with other pets in the home too.
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 Norwich Terrier is guaranteed to make you a splendid pet as he is active, friendly, social and intelligent, as well as being loving and loyal.
You can rely on this little canine friend to want to be with you and take part in all your activities. He won’t do well if you put him in the back yard and forget about him, as he craves human company.
When you do whatever it takes to ensure your Norwich Terrier is an active and treasured member of your family, you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful pet and companion for many years.
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 lifespan of the Norwich Terrier is between 11 and 13 years and he is considered a healthy breed. Every dog owner needs to know that there are some health issues which will require veterinary intervention.
Cataracts, an eye disease may be inherited and it is where the eye gets a cloudy look. Other illnesses to look out for include Patellar Luxation, a problem where the dog's kneecap is dislocated from its normal anatomic position. The condition is fairly common in small dog breeds.
Check problems with the teeth - more specifically incorrect bites because of how the teeth meet.
Sometimes these dogs can battle with breathing problems. Upper Airway Syndrome is when the dogs breathing is raspy.
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.
Norwich Terriers are active little dogs and were bred to be working dogs – hunting vermin but also accompanying their owners on horseback. You can see that he has been used to an active lifestyle and will require a daily walk and games. He will also want toys which can keep him occupied in between his active sessions.
His size allows him to adapt easily to life in the city or the countryside but wherever he is, he will need a good dose of exercise.
The double coated Norwich Terrier, with his wiry topcoat and soft undercoat will need to be brushed twice a week to avoid matting. This is a dog that will require stripping of the old hairs from the coat. This is a process which ensures the coat retaining its texture and appearance.
If you’re in any kind of doubt, speak to a professional groomer. As it is, many owners of this dog who don’t show their dogs, have them professionally groomed.
Always choose a high-quality dry food. Try and avoid those commercially manufactured foods which contain wheat and gluten and lots of preservatives and colorants. These can affect your pet’s health negatively.
Choose quality foods where protein is at the top of the list of ingredients. Give your pet some homemade food too, keeping his diet as simple and nutritious as possible. Some boiled chicken chopped up together with brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach will do him the world of good.
A tiny bit of raw meat every once and again will be a good thing. Avoid foods such as chocolates, ice-cream, popcorn, onions and spicy foods as these will upset your pet’s digestive system.
Provide him with a warm, dry, soft bed. If he is outside for any length of time, make sure he has a sheltered area away from the sun and rain.
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.