Berger Picard
Smart as the Bergers are, novice and unexpericed owners can choose to raise them. Active owners can be suitable for the Bergers’ playful personality. Swimming, running, fetch games are favored by them. Owners can take them out for some exercise, adding interaction.
| Other Names | Picard, Berger de Picardie, Picardy Shepherd, Picardy Sheepdog |
| Color | fawn or brindle |
| Height | Males: 23.5-25.5 inches. Females: 21.5-23.5 inches. |
| Weight | Males: 50-70 pounds. Females: 45-65 pounds. |
| Life Span | 12-13 years |
| Personality | Loyal, Good-Natured, Observant |
| Exercise | Needs Lots of Activity |
| Origin |
| Popularity | #146 |
| Groom Needs | Occasional Bath/Brush and Seasonal Shedding |
| Kids Friendly | Yes with supervision |
| Dog Friendly | Yes with supervision |
| Watch Dog | |
| Family Dog | |
| Litter Size | 2–10 pups |
Berger Picard Video
Introduction
The Berger Picard is a medium-sized dog, well-muscled, rugged, and with plenty of energy. With a harsh, crisp kind of coat, around 2 inches all over his body, the coat needs brushing about twice a month, and only during the shedding season, but fur doesn’t need washing or trimming. His coat comes in grey, black-grey, red-grey, blue-grey, and light, or dark fawn. A small white patch would be allowed on his feet if he were in the show ring. This dog needs an owner who can always be relied on to give him walks and not be ever be separated from the family. He needs an owner who is involved with him and if not, he won’t be willing to learn and will even experience behavioral problems. He is very sensitive to a harsh voice and he needs patience, calmness, and a firm, consistent, confident owner with clear rules that are abided by. Sometimes this dog can bark excessively and he needs proper communication that it is unwanted behavior. Making a good watchdog, he would rather be inside with you than being alone outside. He stands about 26 inches at the shoulders and weighs around 70 pounds. Pleased to wait for you to go out and play with him, he makes a wonderful jogging companion.
Living with Berger Picard
The Berger Picard are shaggy. So when it comes to grooming, people will think of difficulty and mess by having a glimpse of the Bergers’ appearance. However, any breed need some method and techniques to groom successfully. The Bergers might easily get shaggy again after brushing and grooming. Though it takes some efforts for owners to make them tidy, owners can choose to keep its rustic appearance. The coats of the Bergers are rough and tousled coat, so many owners choose to remain its natural hair style. And their coats don’t require any special care. Metal comb are suitable for dogs with soft and fine coat. Soft brush are more appropriate to keep the Bergers tidy. For example, owner can buy a pair of hound glove, with which owner groom them during the pet-owner interactions. Owners still need to brush them regularly, as any mat or tangles should be removed to keep dog in good overall health. Once-every-other-week grooming is enough for them. This breed is almost odorless as the oil content is low in their fur. As you can see, this breed can be suitable for some noive and unexperienced owners.
Bergers are fond of exercising. In the fields, the Berger Picard can be active and athletic to work. Stamina can be a piece of cake for the Bergers. This energetic breed need an active owner. Daily exercise is of great importance for the Bergers, which lead to not only physical health but also mental health. The Bergers enjoy all-out running. So owners need to offer them a secure fence yard to run off all his energy. The Bergers will eaily get groomy when kept in an apartment for too long. They require a good outlet to work off some energy, if owners cannot offer this oppotunity, the Bergers might break something on your desk, or tear something up like sofa. Destructive Bergers can be annoying, but owners need to know the problems is on you, rather than dogs. Take them out for at least a one long walk every day, a daily brisk walk, weekly all-out running can be all applicable to the Bergers. They also like swimming and playing fetch games. Owners can choose to add deep emotional connections and interactions with the Bergers through exercising together.
The Berger Picard are not critical about food, yet owners should feed them premium quality dog food. A basic tip about feeding is to offer them clean and fresh water. Apart from water, owners should concern about the knowledge about human food, as some of human food can cause danger to dogs. Dogs should be feed with different amount of food when they are at different ages. Owners should distinct the meals between puppy and adult dog. Owners should get aware of some basic measures and syptoms about bloat and overweight issues which could easily occur in feeding. At this time, calorie consumption and weight level can be important, and owners should check it out regularly. When it comes to the comparison of commercially manufactured and home-prepared, owners should know that nutrient food which is approved by your veterinarian is the key point. So either commercially manufactured or home-prepared food can be all applicable to the Bergers only if its ingredients are healthy and nutrient. Athletic and active as Berger Picards are, owners need to feed them enough good nutrition to make them grow up sane. If owners find it hard, it’s a good idea to ask your vet for advice.
Berger Picards are of great health in general. However, careful breeders will give them some health screening tests, so that breeders can better decide the breeding plans. When owners raise a puppy Berger, it is not a good idea to bath them regularly. Though a adult Berger is not critical about food, owners need to feed them with high quality food. Bathing, grooming and exercising also play an important role in raising healthy dogs with strong built. Take them out for a brisk walks or runs will bring not only physical health, but mental health. Some Bergers will suffer from some unavoidable diseases, such as eye disorders and joint diseases. progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, patellar luxation are common among the Bergers.
Total Annual Cost: $3100
Cost is estimated for the first year and may vary depending on many factors, such as dog food, health care, leash, collar, licensing, possible fencing, crates, training and obedience classes, dog-walking, grooming, treats, toys, flea, tick, and heart-worm meds, microchips, etc.
History
The Berger Picard originates from France. This is probably the oldest of the French shepherd dogs. He arrived in Picardy and the Pas de Calais with the Celts in AD 800. ‘Berger’ in French means shepherd.
Although the Berger Picard made an appearance at the first French dog show in 1863, the breed’s rustic appearance did not lead to popularity as a show dog.
Some have claimed that the Picards were used once to smuggle matches and tobacco over the Belgian border. The dog’s back would be shaved and the goods would be wrapped in a goatskin pouch that looked like the dog’s hair.
Later on, the two World Wars nearly caused this dog to be extinct – now he is considered a rare breed.
By the time 1970 came around, there was the occasional Picard being brought to America.
In 2002, these dogs had a fabulous break – some Hollywood producers cast this dog breed in the starring role of the movie Because of Winn Dixie. Five Berger Picards were imported from France, and three of them (Scott, Laiko, and Tasha) performed in the movie. The American public was introduced to the breed when the movie debuted in 2005.
The Berger de Picard officially recognized by the AKC in 2016.
Helpful Information
Breed Club: Berger Picard Club of America
Breed Club Link: http://picards.us/picard-rehome/
Breed Club Rescue: Berger Picard of America Rehome
Breed Club Rescue Link: http://picards.us/