Berger Picard

Also known as: Picardy Shepherd, Picardy Sheepdog

The Berger Picard is considered one of France's oldest sheepdog types, said to have arrived with Celtic tribes before the common era and later taking shape on the plains of Picardy in northern France. The rough double coat and shaggy eyebrows and beard kept the dog working in all weather, and a male carries up to 32 kilograms of lean, muscular frame. Both world wars, fought largely across this dog's home region, nearly wiped the breed out, and today's population descends from a small pool of survivors. The breed is known for an independent streak: it tends to work out its own way of handling a task rather than following commands by rote. The film Belle and Sebastian helped introduce the breed beyond France's borders. Life expectancy runs 12 to 13 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Berger Picard: how old in human years?

55–65 cmHeight
23–32 kgWeight
12–13 yrsLife expectancy

Komondor

FCI group: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
FCI section: Section 1: Sheepdogs
FCI: 176
Country of origin: France

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

3/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

2/5

At a glance

Height

Males 60–65 cm

Females 55–60 cm

Weight

Males 25–32 kg

Females 23–28 kg

Life expectancy

12–13 yrs

Coat

wire-haired, double coat (wire-haired)

Temperament & Family Life

Berger Picard's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 3/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Berger Picard's energy and exercise needs are moderate.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 4/5
Apartment friendly 2/5
Prey drive 3/5
Hunting instinct 2/5

Guarding & Alertness

Berger Picard's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 3/5
Watchfulness 4/5
Barking level 3/5

Grooming & Care

Berger Picard's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 2/5

Living with the Berger Picard

A Berger Picard always looks slightly tousled, as if it has just climbed out of a haystack, and sometimes it has. Under the farmyard look is a herding dog from northern France that takes things seriously: it works, it watches, and it notices everything that goes on around the house.

It has plenty of energy, so one sedate lap of the block will not do. It wants long walks, a chance to run and, ideally, a job: tracking, agility, or any work the two of you can do together. It is clever and quick to see what you want, but it has opinions of its own, so training goes best when sessions are short, varied and patient. A flat feels cramped to it; a house with a garden and an active family suits it far better.

With its own people the Picard is affectionate, and it is good with children, while strangers get looked over from a distance first. It will tell you a visitor has arrived without making a hobby of barking. Give it activity and your company during the day, and in the evening it stretches out on the floor looking every bit as rumpled as it did that morning.

Grooming and coat

A Berger Picard always looks as though it has just come in from a windy field, and that is exactly right. The harsh, wiry topcoat and short, dense undercoat shrug off rain and mud, and the coat asks for little: a brush once every week or two to lift out dead hair and dried dirt. It isn't trimmed or shaped, and it only needs a bath when it truly needs one. As you brush, part the hair and look at the skin for redness or flakes.

The eyebrows and beard are part of the Picard face, but they shouldn't cover the eyes: check that the eyes are clear and wipe the corners with a damp cloth when needed. The big upright ears get plenty of air, but grass seeds and dust find their way in easily, so take a look inside after walks through fields. Trim the nails when they start clicking on the floor.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

The Berger Picard is a farm dog bred for work, living around twelve to thirteen years, and an active, uncomplicated life suits it best. The health questions worth knowing about involve the eyes, the heart, the thyroid and the hips. Before buying a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing; after that, regular vet check-ups do the rest.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)

PRA is an inherited disease in which the cells of the retina slowly die off and sight fades, first in dim light. You might notice your dog hesitating over ditches on evening walks, or seeming unsure in unfamiliar places. Those shaggy eyebrows shouldn't hide the eyes, so if the look in them changes, see your vet, and ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.
Dilated cardiomyopathy

This is a disease of the heart muscle in which the heart enlarges, its walls thin and it pumps blood less well. A Picard might tire sooner, cough, breathe harder or lose interest in the long walks it used to wait for at the door. If your dog suddenly collapses or faints, it needs a vet immediately.
Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism means the thyroid gland makes too little hormone, and the whole body slows down. A normally lively dog can turn sluggish and put on weight, and the coat may thin or lose its harsh, sturdy feel. Changes like these are worth showing to your vet, who will decide whether tests are needed.
Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a fault in how the hip joint develops, so the ball of the thigh bone and the socket in the pelvis don't fit together as they should. You might notice your dog getting up stiffly after a rest, being reluctant on stairs, or bunny-hopping with both back legs when it runs. For a long-legged, active dog like this, sound joints matter, so ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (32 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 350 g of dry food a day, from €19,16 a month For a neutered, normally active 27 kg dog. Calculate for your dog