Briard vs Flat-coated Retriever
Compare the Briard to the Flat-coated Retriever. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Briards and Flat-coated Retrievers.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - Both the Briard and the Flat-Coated Retriever are good for new owners, but the Briard is a slightly better choice.
- Children - Both the Briard and Flat-Coated Retriever are great with children.
- Grooming - The Flat-Coated Retriever is very easy to groom. The Briard has high grooming requirements.
- Barking - Both the Briard and Flat-Coated Retriever are very vocal and will bark/howl frequently.
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| Breed Name | Briard | Flat-Coated Retriever |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 8-10 yrs. |
| Height | 23-27 in. | 22-24½ in. |
| Weight | 50-90 lb | 55-80 lb |
| Intelligence | High | High |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | France | United Kingdom |
| Origin Year | 1200 AD | 1859 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | Yes | No |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Medium Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Large Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 20°F to 80°F | 20°F to 75°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | Medium-High | High |
| Exercise Required | High | High-Very High |
| Top Running Speed | 19 mph | 24 mph |
| Strength | High | High |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | High-Very High | Medium |
| Shedding | Medium-High | Medium |
| Dander | Medium | Medium |
| Drool Amount | Low | None-Low |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Briard | Flat-Coated Retriever |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | No |
| Family/Pack | Yes | Yes |
| Independent | Yes | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | Yes |
| Average | No | Yes |
| Focused & Patient | Yes | No |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Below Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Below Average |
| Chasing | Average | Average |
| Follow Commands | High | Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | High | Below Average |
| Herding | High | Below Average |
| Hunting | Below Average | High |
| Protection | High | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | Below Average | Below Average |
| Sledding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Watch | High | Average |
| Breed Name | Briard | Flat-Coated Retriever |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 10-12 yrs. | 8-10 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Cancer | No | Yes |
| Breed Name | Briard | Flat-Coated Retriever |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Rough | Yes | No |
| Wavy | No | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Medium | Yes | Yes |
| Long | Yes | No |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black | Yes | Yes |
| Gray | Yes | No |
| Tawny | Yes | No |
| Liver | No | Yes |