Berger Picard

Everyday life

Long walks and shared activities belong in a Picard’s routine. Someone who enjoys hiking may find a healthy adult an enduring companion. Scent games and tracking also give the dog something to think about. In tracking, it uses its nose to follow a trail laid earlier. Training classes can provide another activity if both dog and person enjoy them.

Kennel organisations give different guides to exercise. Britain’s Royal Kennel Club lists up to an hour daily, while the American Kennel Club stresses high exercise needs and recommends at least one long walk each day. Planning depends on how active the individual is and how demanding the outings are for that dog. Training and time to recover also belong in the routine.

A garden can be pleasant for an active dog, but spending time there alone offers little shared activity. What matters more is whether its people can do things with it every day. Family life should also include an undisturbed resting place. Other dogs and cats need gradual introductions. Whether living together works depends on the animals involved and their previous experience.

Everyday dog training: recall, a loose lead and clear communication ↗

Day-to-day care

The Picard has a harsh outer coat over a soft, dense undercoat, the lower layer of hair close to the skin. A thorough check and roughly weekly brushing make a practical routine. During seasonal shedding, loose hair needs brushing out more often. The American Kennel Club then recommends brushing every day or two. The coat should retain its naturally shaggy outline.

The beard and muzzle should be checked for food after meals and cleaned when needed. After outings through undergrowth, the paws and coat also deserve a check. Regular tooth care and nail checks are part of the routine.

Size and build

The breed’s name connects it with Picardy in northern France, although rough-coated herding dogs also lived elsewhere in north-western Europe. An origin limited exclusively to that region cannot be established with certainty. Picards were shown at a French dog show in 1863 and recognised as a distinct breed in France in 1925. Dedicated breeders helped rebuild numbers after the world wars.

The international standard describes a strong, agile body that should not look heavy. Males stand 60 to 65 cm at the shoulder and females 55 to 60 cm. Shoulder height is measured from the ground to the highest point above the shoulders. The standard does not prescribe a fixed weight. The beard, eyebrows and large upright ears are distinctive, but the eyebrows should not hide the eyes.

Coats can be fawn or grey. Brindle dogs have darker stripes through the base colour. The long tail often curves slightly at the tip. This natural appearance should not be confused with a lack of care.

From puppy to senior: caring for your dog through every life stage ↗

Health

Hip and eye examinations are particularly important for breeding dogs. The American breed club reports hip dysplasia, abnormal development of the hip joint that can cause pain and joint wear. Written results for both parents should be available when choosing a puppy. The reports show how the parents’ hips were assessed and help inform breeding decisions. Offspring can still develop joint problems after clear parental results.

Progressive retinal atrophy, or PRA, has also been described in the breed. It damages the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, and gradually reduces vision. An early change may be uncertainty in dim light. Regular specialist eye examinations complement discussions about conditions in the family.

For this uncommon breed, data on the frequency of individual conditions are limited. Responsible breeders should also openly discuss known heart problems, seizures and other conditions in related dogs. Repeated lameness, pain or worsening difficulty finding the way around need veterinary examination, however fit the dog otherwise appears.