Berger de Picard

or The Picardy shepherd 

 
Photos courtesy of Heike Fox

HISTORY

As the name suggests, the Picardy shepherd originates from Northern France and is thought to be one of the oldest herding breeds in the Country.  Some say that its ancestry dates as far back as the 4th century BC to the invasion of the Celts, others say it was introduced to Northern France in the 9th century by the Franks.  Whatever the truth, the breed has certainly been around a long time and sheep dogs with the distinctive prick ears, longish rough coat and strong, medium to large size frame are depicted in paintings from the Middle Ages.

In 1863, Picardys were exhibited with Beaucerons and Briards, but when shown in 1899, the French Kennel Club refused to recognise the breed.  The breed standard was not officially accepted until 1925, but because there was no club to defend the breed, interest in the Picardy Shepherd gradually waned and it began to die out. 

After the Second World War, the breed, after a great deal of research, was re-established but there is speculation that the Bouvier de Flanders has contributed to the genes of the current Berger De Picard.

The Picardy Shepherd was recognised by the United Kennel Club on January 1st, 1994.

APPEARANCE

The Picardy Shepherd stands between 21 to 26 inches high and weighs between 23 to 32 kg.  It is well-muscled and has a strong, elegant frame.  The tail reaches the hock and has a slight up-curve at the tip. The coat is rough, wiry and waterproof with hair no longer than 2.5 inches and a light undercoat.   It comes in various colours including grey, grey-black, blue-grey, red-grey, light and dark fawn.  The ears are sharp and erect and held high.  The Picardy has heavy ‘eyebrows’ but they should not shield the eyes. 

TEMPERAMENT

This is a working breed and has all the traits of a good herding dog.  It is also an excellent guard. This dog is described as being loyal, faithful, intelligent and occasionally mischievous but, as with all breeds, benefits from obedience training and careful socialisation. Being a working dog, it requires plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.  The Picardy enjoys companionship and is heralded as being particularly good with children.  While it has all the intelligence associated with herding dogs, it is said to be a sensitive creature and can have a tendency to be stubborn if not handled correctly. 

HEALTH

Picardy shepherds are a relatively healthy, disease-free breed but testing for hip dysplasia and genetic eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy(PRA)  and retinal dysplasia (RD) is recommended.  The litter size varies from 2 to 10 pups and the average life expectancy is 13 to 14 years.