Berger Picard
About the Berger Picard
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 21-26" |
| Weight | 50-70 lbs |
| Coat Type | Wire |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $2,000-$3,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,500/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Berger Picards may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Berger Picard
The story behind the Berger Picard
Herding dogs have worked the Picardy region of northern France for a very long period, and the Berger Picard is generally regarded as one of the oldest French sheepdog types, though claims of ancient origin are traditional rather than documented. The dogs moved and guarded sheep and cattle across the flat wind-exposed farmland of the north. The type was shown in France from the late 1800s but never gained the popularity of the Briard or Beauceron, and the two world wars, fought heavily across Picardy, destroyed most of the population. French breeders reassembled the breed from surviving farm dogs in the mid-1900s, a standard and FCI recognition followed, and American recognition arrived much later after film appearances raised its profile. It remains rare.
Originally bred for: Herding, Droving, Farm work. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Berger Picard
An athletic medium herding breed does well on a quality adult diet with energy matched to daily activity, and this is generally an efficient keeper that does not need rich feeding. Beards stay cleaner with dry food or careful bowl choice, and portions should preserve a lean rangy outline.
Watch for: No documented breed-wide intolerance exists for this French herder. Bearded dogs occasionally develop irritation around the muzzle from trapped food rather than from ingredients themselves. Persistent digestive trouble or itching deserves veterinary assessment before any elimination diet is attempted at home.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Berger Picard
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.