2008 BCA National
Rassemblement 2008 – the Gathering
September 22 – 25, 2008
Graciously Chaired by Jeanne Lorang. For questions contact:Jeanne Lorang
Each necklace is handmade and unique, by custom jeweler Jill Reyna with her apprentice, our own Claude Marie Cooper. Match that favorite show outfit or pick colors that go with everything. Choose natural stones with Briard heads, cropped or natural eared; or elegant Swarovski Crystal sets with a Briard in profile from Touchstone jewelry. Swarovski Crystals contain 32% lead.
2008 Briard Rass Entry Form - Print a copy for yourself here.
2008 Briard Rass Entry Form - Fill out- and Email! Click Here
2008 Beauceron Rass Entry Form - Print a copy for yourself here.
2008 Beauceron Rass Entry Form - Fill out- and Email! Click Here
2008 Briard and Beauceron Rass Paypal Payments - Click Here
Welcome Beauceron's
The Beauceron is the cousin of our beloved Braird
They will be joining us this year to participate in our National Specialty. It will be great fun
having them with us this year, participating in the Rass and other events we are hosting.
WELCOME to all members of the American Beauceron Club !!!!
rassemblement (m)
n.= gathering, grouping; assembly, congregation; union; concourse; college; gather, muster
an assembling or coming together of a number of persons, usually for a particular purpose
Gather together with a particular purpose – Briards!
- Have you ever left the show ring with your Briard and had one overriding thought – what was that judge thinking?
- Have you ever wished you could ask a judge you respect about your Briard, and get a critique that you could review any time?
- Have you ever wished you could ask a judge you respect about your Briard, and get a critique that you could review any time?
- Have you ever wished you could ask a judge you respect about your Briard, and get a critique that you could review any time?
- Have you ever wondered how your Briard would be judged in another country, but can’t afford the trip?
- Have you ever wished that your special spayed or neutered Briard could be evaluated by experts?
Well, there is one event that answers your questions, fulfills your wishes, and gives even more. That is the BCA Rassemblement! Come join us in Ft, Mitchell, KY for the next Rass, held in conjunction with the BCA National Specialty.
What is it? With roots in Europe, the Rass has been held in the US ten times since 1974. At the most basic, it is a chance to have your Briard evaluated by European experts, who have bred or judged Briards for many years, and to get a detailed written assessment of your Briard in a non-competitive, learning environment. But the Rass is so much more!
What are some of the extras?
- The chance to talk to the evaluator as he goes over your dog, to ask questions and get hands-on explanations
- The opportunity to watch as many other Briards are evaluated by the same expert or to be in the ring as dogs you have bred or dogs you know are evaluated
- A way to compare the individual strengths and weaknesses of a wide variety of Briards over time.
Throw in question and answer sessions with the evaluators, and the fun of making new friends in the relaxed atmosphere of the Rass, and you have an event not to be missed.
Who may participate?
Any Briard of any age 8 weeks and over may participate. Puppies are rated separately from adults, but the process is the same whether the Briard is a neutered pet, a top show dog, a veteran, or an 8 week old puppy. The more Briards participating, the more valuable a tool the Rass becomes.
Who will be the evaluators in 2008?
The Rass Committee is proud to introduce the evaluators for 2008.
Mr. LIN MONTENOT has made two previous trips to our Rass, as the evaluator in 1982, and again in 2000. We are pleased to welcome him again!
My history with dogs starts in 1937. Indeed, my father was a hobby breeder; hence my passions for 2 close cousins, the Beauceron and the Briard.
At that time, during the second world war, we lived in Picardy and our dogs participated actively in the conflict. At age 7, I discovered American chewing gum, our village being on the road from Normandy to Paris!
Life went on, my studies leading me to a career in road and railways transportation, which allowed me to visit the Ford factory, near Detroit, in 1982. Parallel to my job, I enjoyed dog activities with dog clubs and judging dog shows and "Nationales d'Elevage" in France, as well as abroad: Holland, Belgium, Spain, Luxemburg and Germany. For the last 40 years as a judge and Briard educator, I attended many seminars, assisting our mentors of the time, including my father, Robert Montenot. I have been married for almost 50 years and have 2 children and 4 grand-children.
Thank you for inviting me for the fourth time.
Mme MONIQUE WEBER LO GIACO will be new to our Rass. She has a long history with the breed.
I was born in 1950. I attended my first dog show at the age of 8, with my brother who loves Collies. My first breed was Toy Poodles, which I bred under my registered kennel name of Lady Fontaine La Belle. While showing dogs, I met my husband to be, Monsieur Weber, who was already a judge.
After our wedding, and after a long conversation with my husband who had Briards since 1954, we picked our first Briard together in 1973. My husband prefers tawny and has had only tawnies; I prefer black males. We choose a black female, Vanda de la Tour Saint Genin. Since that first Briard, I never could part from this breed. I was completely seduced by the temperament and the appearance of the Briard. We have had a modest production, of constant quality, including dogs selected at Rassemblements. We still have the same line, the youngest born 10 months ago, and we hope we can continue this line as long as possible. In the 80’s when my husband was president of the French Briard Club we had a Rassemblement with 998 Briards!
I judge only a few breeds, because I only want to judge what I love and what I know perfectly; this must remain a passion and not routine. Far beyond knowledge and judging, our Briards are our inseparable companions.
How is the Rass organized? Over a period of several days, individual dogs are evaluated by one of our invited experts, and assigned an overall rating. The AKC Briard standard is used for evaluation. On the last day of the Rass, those dogs that received a rating of Excellent - “Pre-select” return to the ring, and the evaluators jointly “Select” those whose overall quality is worthy of recognition. During this process, the evaluators explain their reasoning, and point out the strong and weak points of each dog, selected or not. “Selection” is the culmination of the Rass. The entry for each Briard includes a pedigree and photo (watch for upcoming details on early entries). These are published with the written evaluations in a Rass book, providing a permanent record of the Rass experience.
What does your dog have to know to participate in the Rass? Your Briard must know how to trot on a leash, and stand with all four feet on the ground. During the evaluation, your dog will have a nose to tail, hands on examination. So, your Briard must be able tolerate this kind of exam by a stranger.
What do you have to know to participate in the Rass? There are no fancy ring maneuvers required. You do not have to stack or bait, but you may if you choose. In the Rass, the dog can be shown at its most natural, free stacking and moving on a loose lead. The goal is to present your Briard at its natural best, so show accordingly. More than one person can handle the dog, in and out of the ring. In fact, it’s easy to find someone to take your dog in the ring for you, if you are not comfortable. Your dog can be shown with a regular or show collar, and you can be as dressy or casual as you like – it’s up to you! The Rass is about the qualities of the dog, not the handler. As evaluations are done singly, the evaluator’s attention is focused only on one dog, alone in the ring, at a time.
How do I enter the Rass? Entry forms and instructions will be available soon. Discounts will be provided for early entries, as well as multiple entries. Entries can also be made on site.
What do you walk away from the Rass with? Most importantly, you will have a detailed written evaluation of your dog, rating dozens of individual areas ranging from measurements of height and length, to the alignment of the feet and the shape of the eyes. Each dog is assigned a rating based on the overall quality of the dog, but it is the details that often prove to be the most valuable to the Briard breeder, and the most educational for every Briard owner. The Rass books, published after every Rass and available for purchase, are an invaluable reference for the breed, and the more Briards that participate, the more information available. Plus, you get a goodie bag!
So, come join us in 2008.
The Rass is held in the days before the Specialty, at the Specialty site. Come a few days early, and you will leave very satisfied, with an increased knowledge of your dogs, and the Briard. Plus a lot of fun memories! We look forward to seeing you.Rass Committee 2008
Jeanne Lorang, Rass ChairJeanne Lorang