Cam, Troi, Hamish and Mac

(This story has been taken from "French Letters")

Written by Margaret Walker

This article was written in March 1999 and sadly since this artcle all but one (Hamish) have passed on. 

John and Margaret McKillop live in  Auckland with two and a half - yes that's right, two and a half - Briards permanently in their household and 2 more who are constant visitors belonging to thier daughter and son-in-law just 500 meters away.It came about that 11 years ago the dog they had died. After 10 weeks with out a dog at all, they saw an ad in the paper for Briard x Lab puppies.  After lokking up in a dog book to see what a Briard was, they decided they liked what they read and Briard x Lab black male puppy 'Cam' joined thier family.

'Cam'

Having never had any experience with Briards they didn't have much idea of what to expect, but knew the general accepted behaviour of a Lab. But it seems the only thing Lab about 'Cam' was his short hair. They were perplexed with the antics and cleverness of this dog until reading an article in the 1992 French Letters. They were stunned, these were the things Cam did. Now they knew and understood why their dog was so different and realised that tehre were other out there that did the same things their's did. Shortly after that they decided that' with 'Cam' at age 7, it was time to introduce a puppy again - but this time it had to be a full Briard. They mentioned it to thier youngest daughter and her husband, and they said 'better get two' - they wanted one as well!!

Through a friend just round the corner, who also owned a Briard, they got the name of the breeder and duly rang Linda at Angevin and requested '2 Briard puppies please'. After convincing Linda that 'Cam' was indeed Briard X (ed. we worked out that 'Cams' mum was in fact from the 'P' litter) and yes they did indeed know just what tehy were letting themselves in for, 2 black male Briard puppies arrived at Auckland Airport in Sep 1994. In fact there were actually 4 puppies from the Angevin 'RR' litter in that particular flight, one of the others being a fawn male.

So into their household came 'Troi (Treu Leng Gau), and 'Hamish' his litter brother went just down the road to live with daughter Kirsten and husband Meng.

Life continued on in the 'normal' manner (that only lives with Briards in them can) for about 7 months and then Margaret and John noticed an ad in the paper for a Briard needing a new home. They followed the ad for a short time and then it disappeared. Some few months after that they met a man walking his fawn Briard in townnorth of Auckland. They knew this was where the one that had been advertised had gone to, so they stopped to talk to the and they became friends. It turned out that this couple, because of travel commitments, could not keep their dog. John and Margaret wanted him, but were going away themselves for a month so their daughter said they would have him, and into the family circle came 'Shom', who was the fawn puppy that had arrived on the same flight as 'Troi' and 'Hamish' and was their little Brother. So the 3 litter brothers were reunited and now live in each others backyard, so to speak.

'Troi and Shom'

Integrating a male dog into an already established pack is never an easy thing, even more so when that dog has already had 2 previous homes, so to ensure that all dogs settled and learnt their place with no violence 'Shom' and 'Hamish' spent a few days with Mark Vette, an animal behaviourist, and then a few months later, when 'Shom' and 'Hamish' were kenneled at Mark Vette's, 'Troi' and 'Cam' spent a week there also to ensure full integration of all 4 dogs.

'The three brothers'

Anyone would think that three and a half Briards within the family circle (one and a half with Margaret and John and two with their daughter and her husband) plus one close round the corner,  would be enough for anyone, but NO!! - not for Margaret and John. Just before Xman 1998, I received a phone call regarding a Briard that was needing to be rehomed:- a 12 month old black male, from the Artemis Kennel, born in November 1997. I rang a few people including Margaret and John in an effort to help find a suitable home foe this dog. I guess it was inevitable. 'Sumo', as was known then, came home with Margaret and John a week before Xmas to live with 'Troi' and 'Cam'. Six months prior to this the family Border/Springer X had died (he didn't get a mention earlier - he wasn't a Briard!!, but he was a lovely dog who had lived with them permanently for thelast couple of years, having previously spent many years sharing his time between the two households).

'Shom'

With 'Cam' fast approaching 12, thoughts had already been turning to another dog. 'Mac' as he is known, brings the Briard fraternity in the McKillop household up to two and a half plus the 2 extened family dogs.

'Troi'

'Mac' has settled in very well, is accepted by and accepts, both other dogs, is a lovely looking black boy, and together they make a wonderful, impressive trio. Margaret brushes dogs in her sleep, as she also helps groom 'Hamis' and 'Shom', and John has to extend his mountain bike towing time (yes that is right, these wonderful guys pull John on his bike at up to 30kph) to accommodate 4 Briards. 'Cam', being in his senior years, does not join in particular activity.

'Mackie'

Now for some answers from these amazing folk.

What is life like living with two and a half Briards permanently, plus extened family ones as well?

John...

Hairy and hectic! Not much spare room in the bed! The MacDonald Encyclopedia of Dogs said about the Briard, "It prefers to live outside"....our dogs have not read the MacDonald Encyclopedia of Dogs!

Margaret....

It's a streaming surge of sworling hair, wet tongues, mac needs a steady supply of beard wipers, a constant Melle of tapping toes and hairy legs, tails and cold noses.

Most embarrassing moment?

....John...

I gues it would have to be the time whilst being towed by Troi on my bike, luckily on grass and at about 20kmph, the front wheel hit a pot hole. The bike stopped, but Troi and I did not. Troi, of course, then came to a stand still and, although I managed to keep hold of his lead, I executed a rather superb somersault to land somewhat ungainly in a heapat his feet. This happened on the walkway behind the house, in veiw of dozens of houses and the whole episode can be, and is, vouched for, often, by Margaret who watched the whole sorry performance from an upstairs window!!

Most exasperating?

...Margaret...

Trying to drink ANYTHING with two and a half Briard noses shoving your elbow.

Most satisfying?

...Margaret and John.....

The little affectionate nose butts and kisses that they give and the way they always want to snuggle up close for body contact. Wanting to join in everything you do. Admiring comments from people walking along the path behind our house, when they see these magnificent black guys playing, chasing, or sleeping on the deck. Or standing on the patio table, a favourite spot for watching the world go by. Also looks and comments and questions as we walk them out on the street.

Most disappointing?

....Margaret and John...

With a Briard!... You must be joking!

Favourite food??

...Margaret..

Any fruit but specially the expensive type like Grapes! (well they are French dogs ED) Salami, and raw broccoli - Troi would walk over hot coals to get a piece of Vogels bread - a whole carrot for each brings a short time of peace and quiet to the house. These guys even love lettuce!!!!!!

Other interests?

....Margaret and john....

What...with all these Briards! ! !

Here we have John and 'Mac' participating in NZ's latest 'white-knuckle' activity - mountain biking with airborne Briard - a challenging sport - but (according to John!!) a most enjoyable one. Bothe 'Troi and 'Mac' now have the hang of the concept - but there ia always the 'unexpected distraction' to cope with and I have heard that the human has separated from the bike a couple of occasions, but with no serious damage reported!!!

'Mac and John'