A long-haired sheepdog first developed in France, the Briard breed of dog has a long, luxurious coat that can come in any solid color except white. He is vigorous and alert, powerful and agile. The head of the Briard breed of dog gives an impression of length; from the occiput to the tip of the nose should comprise about 40% of the height of the dog at the withers. Viewed from above, from the front or in profile, the silhouette of the head should suggest two rectangular forms, equal in length but differing in height and width, blending together rather abruptly. The larger rectangle is the skull and the other forms the muzzle. The head joins the neck in a right angle and is held proudly alert. The head is sculptured in clean lines, without jowls or excess flesh. The Briard's expressive gaze is frank, questioning and confident. His eyes are set well apart with the inner corners and outer corners on the same level. Large, well opened and calm. The color must be black or black-brown with very dark pigmentation of the rim of the eyelids, whatever the color of the coat. The ears should be attached high, have thick leather and be firm at the base. The length of the natural ear should be equal to or slightly less than one-half the length of the head, always straight and covered with long hair. The natural ear must not lie flat against the head and, when alert, the ears are lifted slightly, giving a square look to the top of the skull. The ears when cropped should be carried upright and parallel, emphasizing the parallel lines of the head; when alert, they should face forward, well open with long hair falling over the opening. The cropped ear should be long, broad at the base, tapering gradually to a rounded tip. The width of the Briard's head, as measured across the skull, is slightly less than the length of the skull from the occiput to the stop. Although not clearly visible under all of the hair, the occiput is prominent and the forehead is very slightly rounded. The muzzle with mustache and beard is somewhat wide and terminates in a right angle. The nose of the Briard breed of dog is square rather than round, always black, with nostrils well opened. His black lips are of medium thickness, firm of line and fitted neatly, without folds or flews at the corners. The teeth--strong, white and close in a scissors bite. The neck of the Briard breed of dog is strong and shaped like a truncated cone, clearing the shoulders well. It is strongly muscled and has good length. The Briard's topline proceeds downward from the prominent withers to the back which is straight, to the broad loin and the croup which is slightly inclined. The croup is well muscled and slightly sloped to give a well-rounded finish. The chest is broad and deep with moderately curved ribs, egg-shaped in form. The breastbone is moderately advanced in front, descending smoothly to the level of the elbows and shaped to give good depth to the chest. The abdomen is moderately drawn up but still presents good volume. Tail--uncut, well feathered, forming a crook at the extremity, carried low. In repose, the bone of the tail descends to the point of the hock, terminating in the crook, similar in shape to the printed "J" when viewed from the dog's right side. In action, the tail is raised in a harmonious curve, never going above the level of the back, except for the terminal crook. The tail of the Briard breed of dog is never docked. His shoulder blades are long and sloping forming a 45-degree angle with the horizontal, firmly attached by strong muscles and blending smoothly with the withers. Legs are powerfully muscled with strong bone. The forelegs are vertical when viewed from the side except the pasterns are very slightly inclined. Viewed from the front or rear, the legs are straight and parallel to the median line of the body, never turned inward or outward. The distance between the front legs is equal to the distance between the rear legs. The construction of the legs is of utmost importance, determining the dog's ability to work and his resistance to fatigue. Dewclaws on the forelegs may or may not be removed. Feet--strong and rounded, being slightly oval in shape. The toes are strong, well arched and compact. The pads are well developed, compact and elastic, covered with strong tissue. The nails are always black and hard. The hindquarters of the Briard breed of dog are powerful. The pelvis slopes at a 30-degree angle from the horizontal and forms a right angle with the upper leg bone. Legs viewed from the side, the legs are well angulated with the metatarsus slightly inclined, the hock making an angle of 135 degrees. A distinctive trait of the Briard is the existence of double dewclaws on the rear leg, placed low on the leg. Occasionally a nail may break off completely; a missing nail is not penalized so long as the digit itself is present. The Briard's outer coat is coarse, hard and dry. It lies flat, falling naturally in long, slightly waving locks. On the shoulders, the hair is generally six inches long or more. The undercoat is fine and tight on all the body. The head is well covered with hair that lies down, forming a natural part in the center. The eyebrows do not lie flat but, instead, arch up and out in a curve that lightly veils the eyes. The hair should not mask the form of the head or completely cover the eyes. The Briard breed of dog comes in all uniform colors except white, such as black, gray and tawny. The deeper shades of each color are preferred. Combinations of two of the colors are permitted, provided there are no marked spots and the transition from one color to another takes place gradually and symmetrically. White is permitted only in the form of white hairs scattered throughout the coat and/or a white spot on the chest not to exceed one inch in diameter at the root of the hair. The Briard breed of dog is so agile that he can make abrupt turns, springing starts and sudden stops, as befits a herder. His gait is reminiscent of a large feline, and gives the impression that he does not touch the ground.