History of Briards in New Zealand

Compiled by Bruce Gowan

1975
Evie Oakes arrived in Wanganui from Britian with her kiwi husband and her black Briard bitch Lullingstone Tess (Desamee Dominique Bear/Clonderlaw Abeille). On discovering that Tess was the first Briard in New Zealand, she sent to England for a black dog Baldslow Tohu-Bohu (Eng. Ch. Vir del Pastre of Baldslow/Lullingstone Millicent of Baldslow) who is a litter sister of Baldslow Touffe in Australia.

1976
In February Tess whelped the first New Zealand litter of Briards... 11 black puppies for the Bala prefix. Evie had her problems with the litter as Tess became very ill when the puppies were only a few days old and she had to hand rear them. Although Tess recovered, she was unfortuantely never considered healthy enough to be bred from again.

Meanwhile, Linda Shove in Port Chalmers (Angevin Kennels)  had been looking for a Briard puppy (after falling for the breed when she saw a photograph in a dog book of two black Briards with an Old English Sheepdog.) She hadn't heard about the Bala litter in Wanganui so had arranged to buy a puppy from Australia... this was Bendelbah Mamara Bear. "Michelle" was born in quarantine in Sydney as her dam Desamee Etoile Bear had been imported from England in-whelp to Beaune of Baldslow. She arrived in New Zealand in March and was soon joined at Angevin by one of the Bala Puppies, Abigail of Bala.

The first New Zealand champion was Baldslow Tohu-Bohu when he gained his final CC at the National that year. The first bitch Champion was Bendelbah Manara Bear who became a Champion later in the year.

1977
Early in the year Abigail of Bala became the first New Zealand bred Champion.

Then in June the excitement of the arrival at Angevin of the first fawn Briard in New Zealand. This was Bellesme Alkaid who was imported from England... a son of Dutch Ch. Valentine de la Petite Suisse du Nord at Desamee. At his first show the day after he came out of quarantine, Kaid took Baby Puppy of Group under Roy Burnell... this was the first Championship show Group win for a Briard here. He had gained his title by the end of the year.

1978
Early in the year, Ch. Abigail of Bala (who had been having a good run of Group wins) became the first Briard to go Best of Group, under judge Ernie Schache.

In June the first two Angevin litters were born (both on the same day... what excitement!) and several puppies were shown in both Islands. From the "A" litter (Kaid/Michelle) a black bitch went to Bruce Gowan in Wellington, Angevin Arlette Charbon. From the "B" litter (Kain/Abi) Linda kept Angevin Badine Doree (the first fawn bitch in the country) and Angevin Bibiche Noire went to Ken Robertson and Ewan Paynter in Wellington.

1979
These Angevin puppies were all shown with Badine Doree and Bibiche Noire becoming Puppy of Group winners. Both gained their titles on their first birthday with Arlette Charbon soon after.

The Angevin "C" litter (Kaid/Michelle) was born in February but none were shown. Then in June the "D" litter ws born (Kaid/Abi). Angevin Debonnaire Fauve went to Helyne Williams in New Plymouth and made up his title the following year just before he was tragically run over in thick fog. Angevin Dansette Dor, a lovely clear fawn, went to Karen Buchanan in Australia where she gained her Australian title as well as many Group wins. She now has Australian Champion progeny and has just become a grandmother.

During the 1979 National, Linda and the Wellington Briardist had long discussions about the breeds future here. As a result, it was decided that she should import a bitch and Ewan would import a dog, both from England. Nancy Tomlin in England was contacted and later that year Valois Black Shanida and Rolverden Rangler arrived in New Zealand for Linda and Ewan respectively. Both are black but both have one fawn parent, so they are carrying the recessive gene for fawn. They are both grandchildren of the beautiful Eng. Ch. Desamee Bambin Bear, still the breed record holder for bitch CC's at 11 years old and the first Briard to go Best of Group in England, from her very successful litter to Nor Ch. Desame Rudolphe Bear. "Nida" is from Eng. Ch. Baldslow Back (son of Vir) and Eng. Ch. Desamee Bashan Bear of Valois, and "Jito" (Rolverden Rangler) is from Desamee Boogaloo Bear of Rolverden and Eng. Ch. Desamee Emily Bear, daughter of D Ch. Valentine de la Petite Suisse du Nord and Eng. Ch. Lullingstone Lottie.

1980
Angevin "E" and "F" litters were born. Again none were shown but Angevin Farouche Fauve (Kaid/Abi) went to Jeanette Wisseman in Brisbane where he took his Australian title and several Group wins.

Valois Black Shanida had come out of her quarantine from England rather shy but by October she had recovered her natural temperament sufficiently to start to be shown. In spectacular fashion she gained her title in six weeks picking up several Group wins on the way including Junior in Show at Canterbury Working Dog Association and a Reserve of Group.

1981
Rolverden Rangler (who hadn't benn shown very often due to other commitments) became a Champion.

In July there were no fewer than four Briard litters! The first was for Bruce Gowan's Diamont Kennels (Ch. Rolverden Rangler/Ch. Angevin Arlette Charbon) and Bruce and Karen kept Diamont Monique Dernier. Next was Linda Shove's "G" litter (Ch. Rolverden Rangler/Ch. Valois Black Shanida) with Angevin Gentle Noire being kept by Linda and Angevin Gypsy Noire going to Tahiti as foundation bitch for the breed there. The following day the Angevin "H" litter was born (Kaid/Abi) and Angevin Hijo Noire and Angevin Horus Fauve both went to Tahiti with Gypsy. Finally in this puppy boom, was Ewan Paynter's Ocein litter (Rolverden Rangler/Ch. Angevin Bibiche Noire) with Ocein Noella being retained by Ewan.

Vernon Hirsch (Auckland) imported a black bitch from Australia, Marashar Germaine who gained her title the following year.

1982
Angevin "I" litter (Kaid/Abi). Angevin Inca Fauve went to Tahiti to replace Horus who had died from Parvo-virus in spite of having all his innoculations.

In June the Angevin "J" litter was born (Kaid/Nida)... a superb litter bout unfortunately, in spite of several puppies sold for showing, currently only Jenelle Dor d'Angevin is being shown (retained by Linda Shove).

Angevin Gentille Noire gained her title in fine style going Junior and Best of Group on the day.

1983
Angevin "K" litter (Kaid/Gentille) Diamont Monique Dernier gained her title.

Jenelle Dor d'Angevin became a Champion at the National and has since become a multi-group winner.

1984
Angevin "L" litter (Kaid/Nida) born in July. A black bitch, Lunelle Noire d'Angevin, has gone to Karen Buchanan in Australia and others of the litter have gone to show-homes in New Zealand.

Diamont Armand Ricochet (John Foster) gained his title.

Ch. Jenelle Dor d'Angevin was Best of Group at the 1984 National... the first National Group win for a Briard

To sum up:

By 1984 there have been five imports from England and two from Australia. There have been 15 litters born in New Zealand: One for Bala, 12 for Angevin and one each for Diamont and Ocein. Four puppies have been exported to Tahiti and three to Australia. There are 18 New Zealand Briard Champions plus two Australian Champions which were bred in New Zealand. Four Briards in New Zealand have become multi-group winners (all with at least one Best of Group) with another four having a few Group wins. There would be approximately 100 Briards in the country.

Kennel Gazette, November 1984