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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Briard

The Briard is a big, athletic French herding dog under a long, shaggy double coat — a working build that needs real fuel, joints that need protecting, and skin beneath all that hair that quietly depends on what is in the bowl.

Here is exactly how to feed a Briard on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that supports their joints, their hard-working frame, and that famous flowing coat.

  • Adult weight55–100 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan10–12 years
  • CoatLong, shaggy double coat — high maintenance
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A healthy Briard
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Briard's body needs

Every Briard trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Large, athletic herding build

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and steady, all-day energy for a tireless working dog — without the carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Hip dysplasia risk

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3s help calm joint inflammation, and staying lean takes load off large-breed hips.

  • Long, shaggy double coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting that long, healthy coat and easing the dryness and shedding a heavy coat is prone to.

  • Deep chest, bloat-prone

    Needs: Measured, calm, split meals

    Calorie-dense freeze-dried raw lets you serve smaller, measured portions across the day — easier on a deep-chested dog than one large, hurried bowl.

  • Sensitive, devoted worker

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers that can feed chronic skin and digestive upset, keeping a hard-working Briard comfortable and clear.

How much to feed a Briard

Quick answer: a healthy adult Briard (55–100 lb) needs about 8.3–15.0 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
55 lb 8.3 oz 4.1 oz
66 lb 9.9 oz 5.0 oz
77 lb typical Briard 11.6 oz 5.8 oz
88 lb 13.2 oz 6.6 oz
100 lb 15.0 oz 7.5 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Briard

For a Briard we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit lighter or sensitive dogs, while richer Beef fuels hard-working, high-energy or underweight Briards. Salmon adds extra omega-3 for that demanding coat. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Briards

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Daily support for Briards

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Treats Briards love

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Feeding a Briard by life stage

  • Puppy: Large-breed Briard puppies should grow slowly to protect developing joints. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals and resist overfeeding — fast growth raises hip dysplasia risk in big breeds.
  • Adult: Feed an active adult Briard to a lean body condition, split across two (or more) measured meals to ease the deep chest. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to feel, not the bag.
  • Senior: Activity eases with age but the appetite often does not. Trim portions, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition for an aging large-breed frame.

Common Briard concerns — and the diet connection

  • Hip dysplasiaCommon in large breeds and partly genetic, but lean weight plus joint nutrients — glucosamine from bone and cartilage, plus omega-3 — help support comfort and day-to-day mobility.
  • Gastric torsion (bloat)Deep-chested dogs are more at risk; measured, calorie-dense meals split through the day and calm eating around exercise are sensible feeding habits that reduce strain on the gut.
  • Skin & coat healthThat long double coat depends on the skin beneath it — an omega-rich, whole-food, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and helps keep the coat strong and the shedding manageable.
  • Energy & lean muscleA working herding dog runs on clean animal protein and fat for sustained energy and muscle maintenance — not on carbohydrate fillers.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Briard: what to know

A Briard is a deep-chested, large working breed, which makes how it eats matter as much as what it eats. Feed measured meals at least twice a day rather than one big bowl, and avoid heavy exercise right around mealtimes — deep-chested dogs are more prone to gastric torsion (bloat).

All that coat hides the body underneath, so go by feel, not by eye: run your hands along the ribs and check for a waist regularly. Weigh portions instead of guessing, and re-check the amount every few weeks as activity and season change.

Briard feeding questions

How much should I feed my Briard?
A healthy adult Briard (55–100 lb) needs roughly 8–15 oz of freeze-dried raw per day depending on size and activity, split between two or more meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean body and adjust every few weeks.
What is the best food for an active, hard-working Briard?
A complete freeze-dried raw diet built on real meat, organs and bone. Richer proteins like Beef fuel high-energy working dogs, while leaner Chicken or Cod suit lighter or sensitive Briards. Feed to body condition and adjust with the seasons and workload.
How do I switch my Briard to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Because raw is rich, start at the lower end of the range and watch the stool and waistline as you go.
Is a Briard prone to bloat, and does feeding affect it?
As a deep-chested breed, Briards carry more bloat risk. Serving smaller, measured meals across the day rather than one large bowl, and keeping things calm around exercise and mealtimes, are simple feeding habits that help reduce strain on the gut.
Does my Briard's coat depend on its food?
A great deal. The long double coat is built from what is in the bowl — an omega-3-rich, whole-food diet feeds the skin barrier from the inside, supporting a strong, healthy coat and helping keep shedding and dryness in check.

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  • Vet-formulated
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  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.