BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION
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Photo courtesy of Seanna O'Neill |
Breed Registries:
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Note: The breed registries indicated above are the most recognized all-breed registries. The breed may also be recognized by other registries not indicated here. For further details about dog registries, please see the document: Dog Breed Registries in North America.
* — The FCI is the World Canine Organization, which includes 84 members and contract partners (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 339 breeds, with each being the "property" of a specific country. The "owner" countries of the breeds write the standards of these breeds in co-operation with the Standards and Scientific Commissions of the FCI, and the translation and updating are carried out by the FCI. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees.
Origin:
France
Height:
Males: between 23½ and 25½ inches
Females: between 21½ and 23½ inches
Breed Profile:
The Berger Picard (also known as the Picardy Shepherd or Berger de Picardie) is one of the oldest French breeds of sheep-herding dogs. Some believe that the breed is related to the Briard and Beauceron, while others believe he shares a common ancestry with the Dutch and Belgian Shepherd breeds. The two World Wars nearly caused the extinction of the Berger Picard and it is still rare, even in France.
The Berger Picard is a medium-sized, muscular dog, slightly longer than tall, with a distinctive rough coat and erect ears.
He is lively, alert, energetic, and affectionate. In France, he is still primarily used for herding. His intelligence and protective instincts make him suitable as a guard dog as well. He thrives on human companionship so makes an excellent family companion and is very good with children.
The Berger Picard has a distinctive shaggy, rough, double coat. The coat colour is either grey, grey-black, grey with black highlights, grey-blue, grey-red, light or dark fawn, or a mixture of these shades. There may also be white markings on the chest and tip of the toes.
Photo courtesy of Élevage Noble Picard Kennel
Health Issues
If you are considering the adoption of a Picardy Shepherd puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances, this should include hip x-rays and eye testing. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
- Health and Nutrition — Growing section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website which includes information on several health and nutrition related issues.
- Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) — Providing a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
- AKC Canine Health Foundation — Working towards developing scientific advances in canine health.
- Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF)
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
- Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
- University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip)
- HealthGene — HealthGene Corporation is the leading provider of veterinary DNA diagnostic services in Canada.
Breed Standards
- CKC Breed Standard
- UKC Breed Standard
- Le Standard du Picard (FCI Standard)
Grooming Information
- Grooming — This section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.
Training Resources
- Training — For training information, see this growing section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
Photo courtesy of Élevage Noble Picard Kennel
Additional Information
- Herding Dogs — The Herding Dogs section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website includes training and general information about Herding/Stock Dogs; listing of Stock Dog Clubs and Associations; listing of upcoming shows and events; and more.
- Clubs, Sports & Activities — For information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your dog.
- Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website provides information and listings of organizations that are involved in various dog jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Protection Dogs, and much more.
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Select from the following links to view Breeder listings; Breed Clubs; Rescue Organizations; as well as Books and other Merchandise specific to the breed: |
