Berger Picard

The Berger Picard, a rare herding breed, is thought to be the oldest of the French shepherds. It is useful for work with sheep and with cattle, and is a good guard dog. Its rustic, scruffy appearance has made its acceptance into the show dog world slow, and it is only recently becoming recognizable amongst the American public. The 2005 popular film, "Because of Wynn Dixie"� introduced the breed to the U.S. The Berger Picard (bayr JHAY pee KAHR) is an elegant dog of medium size and structure, standing an average 22 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder. It is powerful and agile. This breed possesses a well-defined musculature, and is lightly long in the back. It carries itself in an alert, ready attitude, and is known for its characteristic "smile"�. The large ears are high-set and held erect, and very wide at the base. The eyes of the Berger Picard are large, dark and expressive. The natural tail when held relaxed reaches to the hock, and has a J-curve at the tip; it may be carried high in a curve when the dog is working. This breed has a very coarse, stiff coat, of which the guard hairs are 2 to 2 ½ inches long. The eyebrows are heavy but do not obscure vision, and there is heavy feathering on the snout and jaw, and moderate ruff around the neck. Extremely weather-repellent, the coat gives the dog an overall unkempt appearance. The undercoat is sparse when present. Coat color may be any variation of either gray or fawn. Historians believe that the Berger Picard developed from dogs the Celts used to herd livestock a few thousand years ago. In the 9th century they brought a dog fitting the description of the modern Berger Picard into northern France and the region around the Pas de Calais. In time it came to be called the Berger (Shepherd) Picard (of Picardy), from the region in which it was most familiar as a livestock herder. Some experts believe that it is closely related to the Belgian and Dutch Shepherds, and others insist it shares a more common ancestry with the modern Beauceron and Briad, all herding dogs. Throughout the Middle Ages, paintings and tapestries depicted representations of the Berger Picard. When France held its first dog show in 1863, the Berger Picard was exhibited in the same class as the Briard and Beauceron. But in an era when a more refined, sophisticated appearance attracted the public's imagination, the Berger Picard was largely overlooked and continued to be confined to its role as working livestock dog on the farms of northeastern France. It was not recognized by the French Kennel Club as a distinct breed until 1925. The years of the second world war brought devastation to the countryside and poverty to the French peasantry. Many dogs were abandoned in the war's confusion or starved to death. Entire kennels were destroyed, because scarce food supplies had to first go to the human population. The Berger Picard was not spared from this holocaust, its home territory was located where the worst of the trench warfare occurred. By the end of the war the breed was nearly extinct. But the Berger Picard had some loyal fanciers that worked to resurrect the breed. In the late 1940's these few devotees searched the Picardy farms for individuals who were the best representatives of the breed to serve as foundation stock, and the Berger Picard was on the road to recovery. Today the population is stable but the breed still rare: there are about 3500 Berger Picards in France today, and another 500 in Germany. It is estimated that there are perhaps 250 in the United States and Canada combined. The United Kennel Club welcomed the breed in 1994, and it became eligible for the American Kennel Club's Stock Foundation Service in 2007. The Berger Picard is suited to life in any home environment. It is still used as a stock dog, but can also be happy as a full time household companion. This dog is happy, loyal and ready for any activity. It is like many herding breeds in that it tends to bond closely with its owner and its human pack. It will not do well if left alone for long days, or if expected to be alone and keep to itself. This breed needs human companionship. It needs moderate but daily regular exercise a long walk daily will keep it in good condition both physically and mentally. The Berger Picard is a good guard dog, and has strong territorial tendencies. It is not an excessive barker, but will bark to warn the household of a visitor's approach. The individual may be suspicious and reserved initially with strangers. This breed is naturally friendly with family, affectionate, good-natured and possesses a marked sense of humor. It shares the intelligence of many a herding breed, and enjoys having a "job"� to do, whether it be chasing the Frisbee, or herding the sheep. It is amenable to training and enjoys the bonding experience that obedience work offers. The Berger Picard is good with cats and with other household pets. It is generally friendly with other dogs, unless they are strange dogs entering the property uninvited. This breed is friendly and playful with children, but its innate enthusiastic personality and herding instincts may be quite overwhelming for young children. Many owners of the Berger Picard find that it is a good dog to take to the office it is willing to lie under the desk for hours waiting for the owner's day to finish. This breed also enjoys competitions in obedience and agility, and does very well in herding trials. Bred to work livestock for long days, it has good stamina and is happy to hike a long trail with its owner.

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