Berger Picards are medium-sized dogs with muscular bodies covered with rough, shaggy coats. They also feature ears that stand at 4-5 inches high, and a strong tail that appears in the shape of J. The Berger Picard also has dark eyes that are usually covered with their shaggy brows. They also feature a beard and a mustache.
Berger Picards are great companions for active owners because of their impressive stamina. They can be great partners for a lot of outdoor pastimes. If you want a Berger Picard, be prepared to do lots of activities to cope with them.
Berger Picard Breed Statistics
| Dog Breed Group | Herding Group |
| Breed Size | Medium |
| Height | 23.5-25.5 inches (male); 21.5-23.5 inches (female) |
| Weight | 50-70 pounds |
| Lifespan | 12-13 years |
Berger Picard Breed Ratings
| Energy level | |
| Exercise needs | |
| Requires attention | |
| Playfulness | |
| Trainability | |
| Shedding | |
| Grooming | |
| Friendly with family | |
| Friendly with kids | |
| Friendly with strangers | |
| Friendly with other dogs | |
| Prey Drive |
Berger Picard History
The Berger Picard is believed to be an ancient breed that originated from France, in the Picardy region where they got their name.
Before the Industrial Revolution began in Europe, France was an agricultural nation. Berger Picards were among the pasture dogs developed and are believed to be the oldest among French shepherd dogs.
It was in 1863 when the Berger Picard was first seen in a dog show, and since then, breeders have worked on fixing the breed. However, by the 20th century, the breed was almost wiped out because of the two world wars.
Fortunately, a handful of breeders dedicated most of their time to resurrect the breed and they succeeded. And by the 1960s, France officially recognized the breed.
The breed would have remained in France if not for a movie film in 2005, where he was one of the cast. Immediately, a year after, the Berger Picard Club of America was formed.
By 2007, the American Kennel Club recognized the dog breed, and in 2015, the breed was placed under the herding group. Today, these dogs rank 144th as the most popular dog breed in the US.
Berger Picard Temperament
Berger Picards are loyal, good-natured, and observant dogs. They are also very lively dogs with big personalities. They have a great sense of humor and will surely make your day bright by making you laugh.
These dogs are intelligent and love learning new things. They can easily communicate with people through just a stare. But this intelligence may also mean that they can be independent-thinkers and stubborn.
Like many herding breeds, Berger Picards are highly observant. They find it easy to read people’s minds, too, and know how to respond. They can even be excellent therapy dogs.
Berger Picards are loving and affectionate dogs to their owners. They like to give hugs, so although they are good with children, toddlers would need supervision as the size of this dog may accidentally injure them.
They also have strong protective instincts and can be very suspicious of strangers. You can expect these dogs to stay alert when someone new comes to your home. They will make excellent watchdogs, but they should not be aggressive.
They should also get along well with other pets, even cats, if raised with them. As for strange pets, they can be territorial.
These dogs need to have early socialization if you want to make them more well-rounded. It will also help make them more well-rounded and accustomed to anything new.
Training should also come easy with these smart dogs. Just remember to be gentle, and shower them with lots of positive reinforcements.
Berger Picard Care Requirements
- Nutrition: Berger Picards should do well on any type of diet as long as it’s high-quality and well-balanced. Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are all essential nutrients, so you should find food sources that can provide them. When buying ingredients for your dog’s meals, you must purchase high-quality ones. Even for dog food or dog treats, and make sure to check the label. Your dog food mustn’t contain fillers, additives, and by-products that can cause digestion problems for your dog. Be very careful about the number of calories you feed your dog daily. Remember, overweight dogs are more prone to health disease. If you’re giving him treats for training, calculate this on the number of calories he gets per day. You can ask your vet for more guidance on your dog’s nutrition and diet. Ask if your dog is allergic to any food ingredient and make sure to stay away from those.
- Grooming: Berger Picards have medium-length double coats that shed seasonally. You would have to give it a once a week brushing to keep the shedding at a minimum, but you might need to do this daily during the shedding season. Brushing your dog’s coat will also promote healthy hair growth, remove debris, and prevent mats and tangles. Baths can be given occasionally, depending on how dirty your dog’s get. But ears should be cleaned regularly to prevent ear infection. And like any other dog breeds, your dog’s nails should be trimmed regularly, too, as long nails will cause pain and discomfort to your dog.
- Exercise: Berger Picards were bred to work in the field, so it’s expected that they have high energies. They need daily exercise, which might involve lots of physical and mental stimulation. This is highly important if you don’t want a destructive puppy inside your home. Long walks should usually suffice, but if you’re outdoorsy, you can take them on a hike, swim, or a bike ride. Just be sure to keep them on a leash at all times. If you have a secured yard, you can have play sessions like fetch or ball games. You can also let them participate in dog competitions, and training them for it is a great exercise too.
- Health: Gerber Picards are generally healthy dogs with a long lifespan. But as dog owners, it’s essential to be aware of possible health conditions your dog may acquire. Gerber Picards are most prone to progressive retinal atrophy, an eye condition. Hip dysplasia is often seen too, so it’s essential to get those joints exercised. Other genetic health conditions may appear, so we advise meeting at least one of your dog’s parents. You can also get them examined or tested to detect certain diseases early. Regularly monitor your dog’s behavior, too, and if you noticed any changes, take him to the vet immediately.
- Lifespan: The life expectancy of Berger Picards is 12-13 years.
Famous Berger Picards
- Winn-Dixie: The Berger Picard from the film “Because of Winn-Dixie”
- Euro: The Berger Picard star from the movie “Daniel and the Superdog”; the first Berger Picard to complete the 60 Weave Pole Challenge
- Coco: The Berger Picard from the movie “Are We Done Yet?”
Fun Facts about Berger Picards
- Berger Picards originated from the Picardy region, in France.
- They are believed to be the oldest French shepherd dogs.
- The name “Berger” means shepherd, and “Picard” originated from Picardy, where they came from.
- The pronunciation of their name is “bare-Zay-pee-car.”
- They almost went extinct during the two world wars.
- They were not recognized in France until 1925.
- The dogs became famous in the US after a film featured them in 2005.
- They were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2007.
Check Out Other Herding Dog Breeds:
Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Bearded Collies, Beaucerons, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Bergamasco Sheepdog, Border Collie, Bouviers des Flandres, Briards, Canaan Dog, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Collie, Entlebucher Mountain Dogs, Finnish Lapphund, German Shepard, Miniature American Shepherd, Norwegian Buhunds, Old English Sheepdog, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Polish Lowland Sheepdogs, Puli, Pumi, Pyrenean Shepherd, Shetland Sheepdog, Spanish Water Dog, Swedish Vallhunds