I feel like I have to explain a little bit about the way we do training in Holland.
Since 1979 there have been special training groups for briards. Puppy-course, obedience, agility, herding and the man work training. A lot of people prefer to train with their own breed, if possible. Of course Holland is small country, so it is not difficult to find a briard training group not too far. Trainers are qualified and do all have a lot of experience in briards. I agree with Mark that a briard doesn't need hard training and punishment. If there is one dog with a will to please, then it is the briard. It is so easy to train them.
I have trained briards since 1979 in obedience, puppytraining (starting at 8 weeks) and herding. Some people do like to do the manwork, which is: obedience, tracking and man-work. Like every training it is very important to have good trainers. There is no need to hurt a dog. Long ago, there was just one way of training dogs, that was called the 'German way' of training. That was hard, no positive reinforcement etc. In the seventies came the first signs about a totally other way of training to Holland, coming from England. The 'English way' is the contrary of the German way. The famous Charly Wyant, who wrote the book 'heel away your dog', opened our eyes. So we all went to England and that's how started a totally different way of dog training.
In Holland there are, beside the breed training, also many dog schools, at every 10 miles there is a school, so as you understand, a lot of people is training their dog. That is perhaps more important in Holland than in the States, because this is such a small country (like New England I guess) with many, many people (17,000,000) and hundred-thousands of dogs. Dogs have to behavior, otherwise you get troubles with the police. There are not many places left to let your dog go off leash.....
Since many years, aspirant trainers do get there lessons that way, and you don't get your trainer certificate without having proved that you can train a dog yourself by having certificates with your own dog.
What I want to tell you is that there is nothing against the manwork training, but just with the good trainers and, very important, I think people should not start with this kind of training. People should get some experience themselves first.
I know there are insecure briards and we all know. As long as temperament tests are not included in breeding programs and breeders do only look at the exterior of a dog, there will not change much. But, at the other hand, there is a group of briard breeders (14) in Holland who did make their own rules, including temperament tests in the breeding program. They also have to let their litter tested by 7 weeks, after that people and breeder are going to talk about which puppy to who, depending on the test.
Two breeders do have their own training school, specially to give their puppy-owners all the attention and help they need, starting at the moment they get their puppy. Of course, this is not possible in the States. I can tell you that we in Holland are so jealous of you who live in such big country, but seeing your puppies so many times because of living in such a small country is one thing good for us.