Berger Picard
bair-ZHAY pee-KAR
France· Picardy, northern France
The Berger Picard is a medium-sized, rustic French herding dog with a harsh, weatherproof coat and distinctive tousled eyebrows and beard.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Medium
Exercise needs
2 hours+ per day
Home size suited to
Medium or larger
Grooming frequency
Weekly brush
Coat length
Medium, harsh
Sheds
Low
Lifespan
12-13 years
Town or country
Country preferred
Garden size needed
Medium or larger
Where it comes from
Origins of the Berger Picard
Picardy's flat, windswept farmland offered little shelter, so a hardy, weatherproof dog was needed to work long days in rain and wind. The scarcity of cover and harsh winters favoured a lean, wiry-coated herder over a heavily coated one. Centuries of isolated farm breeding produced a dog valued for stamina and independence rather than looks.
- Region
- Picardy, northern France
- Climate it was bred for
- Cool, wet lowland farmland with exposed plains
- Original job
- Driving and guarding sheep and cattle on open farmland
The long read
About the breed
Generations of farm work driving sheep and cattle across exposed plains shaped a dog that is tough, independent-minded and thrifty, needing little in the way of pampering or shelter.
Life with a Berger Picard suits an active household prepared for a dog that thinks for itself; they are affectionate with their family but can be reserved with strangers and need consistent, patient training rather than harsh correction.
Once reduced to very low numbers after both World Wars, the breed survives today mainly in France with small but growing numbers abroad, prized as an all-round working and companion dog.
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Friendliness
3/5
How openly the Berger Picard greets people it does not know.
Trainability
3/5
How readily the breed takes to training in an ordinary home.
Energy
3/5
How much daily exercise and stimulation the breed expects.
Barking
3/5
How vocal the breed tends to be day to day.
Grooming
3/5
How much coat work the breed needs to stay comfortable.
Suits a first-time owner
3/5
How forgiving the Berger Picard is for someone taking on their first dog.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Skull
The Berger Picard's skull is judged on balance rather than size — proportionate to the body, with a clean cheek and a stop typical of the breed. Coarseness or an over-refined head are both faulted.
Timeline
History & development
1800s
Farm sheepdog of Picardy
Documented as a working farm dog droving sheep and cattle across northern France.
1863
First shown in Paris
Exhibited at an early Paris dog show, distinguishing it from the similar Beauceron and Briard.
1914-1945
Near extinction
Both World Wars devastated Picardy's farmland and the breed's population fell to a handful of dogs.
1955
Breed club founded
French enthusiasts formed a club to rebuild numbers from surviving farm stock.
2004
US recognition and film exposure
American Kennel Club interest and the film 'Because of Winn-Dixie' introduced the breed to wider audiences.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Slightly longer than tall, with a level topline and a deep, moderately broad chest.
- coat
- Harsh, crisp and weatherproof, about 6cm long, with a dense undercoat and shaggy eyebrows and beard.
- ears
- Erect, medium-sized, set high and slightly rounded at the tip.
- eyes
- Dark, alert and lively, giving a keen, questioning expression.
- head
- Long and dry, with a flat skull and a slight stop.
- size
- Dogs 60-65cm, bitches 55-60cm
- colour
- Fawn or grey in various shades, including brindle.
- temperament
- Lively, alert and independent, affectionate with family but reserved with strangers.
- general appearance
- A medium-sized, rustic sheepdog, well-boned but not heavy, with a harsh, tousled coat.
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
Dogs like this
Berger Picards added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
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Made for the Berger Picard
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Berger Picard illustration — and one everyday accessory that suits any dog.
The book
Pawpoint: The Complete Dog Breed Book
Every officially recognised breed plus the unofficial ones nobody else documents. 400+ pages, hardback, printed and shipped from the UK.
Own stock — shipped by us
Framed poster
Berger Picard Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Berger Picard illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Berger Picard Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Berger Picard illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Berger Picard Mug
Ceramic mug with the Berger Picard illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
Travel Water Bottle & Bowl
550ml bottle with a fold-out drinking trough.
Fits any dog
Pawpoint on YouTube
Watch the full Berger Picard video
Breed deep-dives, history and honest ownership talk. New film every week.
Watch now