High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Briard is a large breed of dog, one of many herding breeds. The Briard has been known for some centuries. Charlemagne, Napoleon, Thomas Jefferson, and Lafayette all owned Briards. This ancient sheep guard and herder has also been used by the French Army as a sentry, messenger, and to search for wounded soldiers because of its fine sense of hearing. They were used in the First World War almost to the point of extinction. It became popular only after the Paris dog show of 1863 - in large part due to the improvement of the dog`s looks achieved by crosses with the Beauceron and the Barbet. The Briard is named either for Aubry of Montdidier, a man who was supposed to have owned an early Briard, or for the French province of Brie, although the dog probably does not originate in that locale. The Briard still serves as a herder and flock guardian today, as well as an esteemed companion dog. Some of the Briard`s talents are search and rescue, police work, military work, herding, watchdogging and guarding. Currently the population of Briards is slowly recovering. Experts state they are related to the Berger Picard. Also the Hawara Dog, common in Egypt, is considered to be the result of breeding between Briards and other breeds.