The Briard is descended from sheep dogs that accompanied the Asian armies that invaded Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. This dog has a long, shaggy coat with a marked stop, cropped ears and fringed ears. It also has a plume of long hair at the end of its tail. All colors are acceptable but black, dark grey, or light grey is usually preferred. The height at the shoulder for males ranges from 25 to 28 inches for males and 23 to 26 inches for females.