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Berger Picard
| Other Names | Picardy Shepherd, Berger de Picard, Bacardi Shepherd, Berger de Picardie |
| Country of Origin | France |
| Weight | 50 - 70 lbs. (23 - 32 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | 21.5 - 26 in. (55 - 66 cm) |
| Coat | Their weather-proof coat is harsh and crisp to the touch, not excessively long with a minimal undercoat. |
| Colour | Coat colors fall into two colors, fawn and brindle with a range of shade variations. |
| Litter Size | 3-8 Puppies |
| Life Span | 12–15 years |
| Origin & History | The Berger Picard is one of the oldest of all European herding breeds and is almost certainly the oldest from France. Because this dog was developed hundreds of years before written records were kept of dog breeding, very little can be said with certainly of its origins. However, canine historians and breed fanciers have been able to piece together much of this breed’s history. What is eminently clear is that this breed was developed primarily in France, mainly in the northern coastal region of Picardy, and that it has long served French farmers by herding and driving their sheep. The Berger Picard first enters the historical record during the Middle Ages. Tapestries, woodcarvings, and paintings from Picardy all depict a sheep herding dog that is virtually identical in appearance to the modern Berger Picard. There are many claims as to how the breed first arrived in Picardy. Some claim that the breed was first brought to the region by the Gauls, a collection of Celtic tribes that lived in France prior to the Roman conquest. If this is true, the breed is probably many thousands of years old. Although rarely suggested, it is also possible that the breed was created by the Romans, who were considered among the most skilled dog breeders of the ancient world. If the breed was developed by either the Celts or the Romans it is probably most closely related to the Collies. However, there is essentially no evidence for such an old origin and in any case the breed much more closely resembles other breeds. The most commonly claimed and by far most likely origin for the Berger Picard holds that the dog was first brought to the region by the Franks. The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes who originally lived along the Roman border on the opposite bank of the Rhine River. Some sources claim that the Berger Picard arrived with the Franks in the 9th Century, but that is simply not possible because the Franks first entered the Roman Empire in large numbers in the 4th and 5th Centuries. The Franks quickly became the most powerful and numerous group living in the territory that now comprises Belgium and Northern France, including the region of Picardy. If the Berger Picard was brought to Picardy by the Franks, it was most likely at this time. Eventually the Germanic Franks merged with the Romans and Celts of Gaul to create a new ethnicity and nation, the French and France. There is substantial debate among French canine experts as to whether the Berger Picard is more closely related to other French herding breeds such as the Briard and Beauceron or the Belgian and Dutch Shepherds. Although this mystery will probably not be solved until new evidence comes to light, in the opinion of this author the Berger Picard is almost certainly more closely related to the Belgian and Dutch dogs. In terms of appearance and size, the Berger Picard is considerably more similar to those breeds. The coloration and wiry coat of the breed are especially similar to those of the Belgian Laekenois and wire-coated Dutch Shepherd. The historical evidence also supports such a connection. Many of the Frankish tribes that settled in Picardy originally came from the lands that now compose the Netherlands and established an early stronghold in the territory that now comprises Belgium and Picardy making it most likely that the dogs of those regions are related. However and whenever the Berger Picard was first developed, it became a highly valued companion of farmers and shepherds in Northern France. The dog was used to herd sheep and drive them wherever the farmer needed for them to go. The Berger Picard was also partially responsible for the defense of its charges, and was often required to do battle with wolves and other predators. The breed became ubiquitous in its region of origin and was regularly depicted on artwork from the region. Breed members regularly appear in paintings, tapestries, wood carvings, and writings from the Middle Ages right down to the modern era. The Berger Picard was historically kept by working farmers who cared little for appearance or pedigrees. Despite this, the Berger Picard made an appearance in the very first French dog show in 1863, where it was exhibited alongside Briards and Beaucerons. The rustic appearance of the breed meant that it was never especially popular in the French show ring, although the breed did make regular appearances. However, it was not until 1925 that the Berger Picard was recognized as a unique breed. World War I proved devastating for the breed. Some of the bloodiest battles in history were fought in Picardy, including the infamous Somme. The entire region was devastated by the conflict. Breeding of Berger Picards almost stopped entirely, and many dogs perished in the fighting or when they were abandoned by owners who could no longer keep them. A number of Berger Picards served in the French armed forces, although the breed did not achieve the renown of other breeds such as the Briard, Bouvier des Flandres, and Pyrenean Shepherd. Breed numbers were beginning to recover when World War II broke out. Picardy found itself overrun by Hitler’s blitzkrieg and occupied by Nazi forces. World War II resulted in another population drop and by the time that France was liberated by Allied Forces the Berger Picard was in danger of extinction. Luckily for the Berger Picard, it did come out of the World Wars in better shape than many large European breeds. The dogs use on farms meant that it always had some purpose during the fighting, as did its use in the military. The Berger Picard also benefitted from being kept primarily in rural areas. After World War II ended, Berger Picard breeders and fanciers began to work together to increase the breed’s population. Their efforts have been aided by the breed’s charming appearance and good temperament. The Berger Picard remains a very rare breed but is certainly no longer in danger of imminent extinction. Most estimates claim that there are approximately 3500 breed members alive in France and another 500 in Germany. The breed continues to gain a reputation in its homeland and its popularity there continues to increase. Over the last few decades a number of Berger Picards have made their way to the United States and Canada. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Fanciers, the breed is now established in North America, although it remains very rare. Current estimates place the Berger Picard’s North American population at between 250 and 300 animals. In 1994, the United Kennel Club (UKC) became the first major English language kennel club to grant full recognition to the breed as a member of the Herding Group. In 2005, the film Because of Winn-Dixie used the Berger Picard to play the titular character. Although Winn-Dixie is supposed to be a mixed breed, the film needed several dogs that looked identical in appearance so a purebred was necessary. The Berger Picard was selected due to its appearance, which is similar to that of many mixed-breed dogs. Because the film did not mention the breed of its actor, the Berger Picard did not experience the massive increase in popularity that often accompanies a breed’s appearance in a popular children’s movie. In 2006, the Berger Picard Club of America (BPCA) was founded to promote and protect the breed in the United States. One of the clubs major goals was to have the breed earn full recognition with the American Kennel Club (AKC). In 2007 the BPCA attained the first step towards recognition when the Berger Picard was entered into the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service (AKC-FSS) the first step a breed must make before it achieves full recognition. In 2009, the American Berger Picard Alliance was founded to promote and protect the breed in the United States, Canada, and Latin American. The BPCA was named the official breed club with the AKC in October of 2011. At the February 2012 meeting of the AKC’s Board of Directors, it was determined that the BPCA and the Berger Picard breed had met sufficient criteria for the breed to be included in the AKC’s Miscellaneous Class, and the Berger Picard will officially join that group on January 1st, 2013. A substantial number of Berger Picards are still primarily used as working herding dogs. However, the breed is increasingly being kept primarily for companionship and as a show dog. Those breed members currently in the United States are almost all either companion animals or show dogs. In recent years, the breed has also been entered in other canine competitions such as competitive obedience and agility trials, in which it has had great success. Although this breed remains quite rare its future looks much brighter as its number continue to grow around the world. Provided that the Berger Picard and the BPCA continue to attain benchmarks set by the AKC, it is very likely that the breed will attain full recognition in the near future. |
| Personality | To bring up and prepare a Picard for its future life, it needs a well-balanced owner who can give the dog reassurance in everyday life along with daily pack walks. It has to be a member of the "pack," not to be locked away in a kennel and not to be isolated from the family. Intelligent, the Picard learns quickly but if the handler is not displaying a natural authority the dog will become stubborn and may not always want to learn. Meek or passive owners will most certainly run into behavior issues. It is a real task to train Picards for any kind of dog-sport. These dogs are very sensitive to the voice so being harsh with them is not necessary. One needs to be patient, calm, but firm, confident and consistent. Make the rules clear and sticking to them. It needs to be well-socialized when it is still young with close contact to friends, children, and even strangers, to give it the best start possible for a good and long life in society. If raised with other animals such as cats, pet rabbits, and geese, there is usually no problem in keeping them together. If well trained, the Picard usually will not hunt. In general it doesn't even have a strong hunting instinct. Picards that do hunt use sight more than smell. However, some lines do have stronger hunting instincts. Some like to bark and do so frequently unless the humans communicate to the dog that barking obsessively is an unwanted behavior. Without this proper communication between the human and the dog the barking can become a problem if you live surrounded by neighbors. Contact with other animals is not generally a problem. Energetic, alert, loyal and sweet-tempered with children, it is a fine sheep and cattle herder and a good farm guard. |
Care Requirements
| Health | Berger Picards due to lack of over breeding are a relatively healthy breed. Hip dysplasia is known, as are several eye disorders, including progressive retinal atrophy or PRA. A reputable breeder will have hips certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or by PennHip with the results posted at the OFA database. Eyes will be certified for hereditary diseases through the OFA as well (previously through the Canine Eye Research Foundation) and results should also be published on the OFA database. The Berger Picard also participates in the Canine Health Information Center. To obtain a CHIC number, dogs must have their hips and eyes checked with the results published on the OFA website and their blood banked for DNA plus one elective, either elbows, thyroid or heart evaluated |
| Grooming | Comb and brush the thick waterproof coat only about once or twice a month, if possible only during the shedding season (spring and autumn for a couple of days); don't wash or trim the fur, just clean it off when dirty. This breed is a light shedder and has no doggie odor. |
| Exercise | Lots of exercise is required for this breed, including a long daily walk. It will enjoy swimming, running beside your bike, and a nice long walk. The Berger Picard makes an excellent jogging companion. Enrolling it in obedience class or in an agility skills class is an excellent way to keep it happy. They do not do well in competition because they find it almost impossible to perform consistently. |
| Other Considerations | The Berger Picard will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is not important how big the yard is, as long as the dog gets enough exercise during the day. However, the Picard always tries to stay close to its owner and family, so even if you have a big yard and give the dog the choice to pick where it wants to be, it will rather stay inside with you than alone outside. Inside the house the Picard is usually a very quiet dog, waiting for its time to go out to run, play and sniff around. If the dog is trained to stay on its own for some time during the day, it doesn't cause problems (if you have two dogs it's even easier). However, lots of people take their Picards to work with them. They lay themselves down under a table near their owner and just wait to leave again or to go for a walk. |
