Lunier Briards

One of the most infamous Briard trips was from France to the United States in 1789 when President Thomas Jefferson, a sheep farmer, purchased a Briard bitch in whelp, then spread her puppies to fellow sheep fanciers.  Jefferson extolled their virtues calling them "the most watchful and faithful of all servants".   
But it wasn't until later on that their merits were brought to the attention of the public.  Their versatile utilization during World War One earned them the admiration of soldiers who witnessed their bravery and ability to save lives.  Their keen sense of hearing detected approaching enemy.  They served as liaisons to the war front, carrying written messages through dangerous battlefields.    They pulled carts and wagons, carried ammunition on their backs, and eagerly aided the Red Cross by searching for wounded soldiers.  It was said that if a Briard passed a soldier by, the man was beyond hope.  Briards saved many lives.     Their heroism was so appreciated that the Head of a Briard was cast in the metal gate of one French cemetery.    At war's end, their numbers were so depleted, there was concern for the loss of the breed.   In 1922, some United Stated soldiers who returned from the war with stories of Briard heroism also returned with Briards.