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The Briard is an old French breed which goes back in history as far as Charlemagne, having been seen in tapestries of that period, history also attributes two Briards to Napoleon. Sometimes known in France as "Chien Berger De Brie" or sheepdog of Brie, this name is thought to have originated in one of two ways. The first explanation is that they originated in the ancient region of Brie, an environ of Paris. The more romantic alternative stems from an old legend of the Middle Ages which recalls the murder of Sir Aubry de Montdidier. His dog took it upon himself to relentlessly pursue the assassin, a man named Macaire. The King ordained that a judiciary duel should take place between man and dog. This strange conflict was fought out in 1371 on the Isle de Notre Dame, and the dog of which the description is very similar to that of a Briard , was the winner. The dog might well then have been known as the dog of Aubry (chien d'Aubry), and it is easy to see how this could have changed, in common usage, to 'chien de Brie'..... read more
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