Berger des Picard: A Loyal and Protective Dog with a Quirky Personality
The Berger des Picard, also known as the Picardy Shepherd or simply the Picard, is an ancient breed of herding dog that originated in France. They were used to herd sheep and cattle for centuries before they almost disappeared during World War I. Thanks to dedicated breeders who worked hard to revive their population after the war, the Berger des Picards still exists today.
Physical Appearance:
The Berger des Picard is a medium-sized dog that stands between 22-26 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between 50-70 pounds. They have a thick double coat that can range from fawn to gray-black in color with some variations like brindle or white markings on its chest and feet. Their eyes are small and dark brown, their ears are triangular-shaped, and may be cropped or remain natural.
Temperament:
One of the defining features of this breed’s personality is its loyalty towards its family members. The Berger des Picard bonds deeply with their owners; they’re protective dogs by nature but not aggressive unless provoked. They tend to be independent thinkers making them suitable for experienced handlers capable of being patient yet assertive while training.
Although originally bred as herding dogs, these days most Berger des Picards live as companion pets. However, because it’s ingrained in their genetic makeup they exhibit strong hunting instincts since work was instilled through generations which could make life difficult if living with other non-canine pets inside homes.
Health Problems:
As a relatively healthy breed overall average lifespan is around 12 years but don’t let assumptions get ahead rather prioritise regular check-ups so problems could be diagnosed early on preventive measures could follow suit.
Exercise:
Due to working history mentioned earlier make sure you commit enough time towards daily exercise including long walks/runs (2+ hours per day) mixed up games or some fun activities that could keep the dog entertained and interested.
Special Grooming Needs:
The Berger des Picard has a double coat which can be prone to matting so regular brushing is required. Avoid over-bathing as this may strip essential oils from their skin leaving them prone to skin diseases.
Training:
Although they’re generally good-natured, basic obedience training is necessary for Berger des Picards because of their independent nature. They respond well to positive reinforcement techniques such as clicker training without much severity and negative reinforcement unless absolutely needed.
Compatibility with children/pets:
They are known to get along well with children but proper supervision should always be maintained between dogs and kids; make sure you introduce them early on around other family pets in case there’s any unexpected behaviour from either side leading towards conflict prevention before it even occurs!
Personality quirks:
They have many quirky personality traits like a love for muddy puddles hence frequent bathing being mentioned earlier, over-excitement at mealtimes – making high-quality dog food your best friend in handling these situations!
Famous examples: While not widely known outside France, this breed was featured in a French film “Le chien” released back in 2005 portraying heartfelt moments of how versatile yet loving companions these dogs can become despite hardworking origins against all odds!