Plate 110 · Continental Europe
Berger Picard
皮卡第牧羊犬
“A shaggy French farm dog that survived the Somme.”
- Origin
- France
- Picardy
- Region of origin
- Named after Picardy (now part of Hauts-de-France); the marker is the reference point of the Somme department at its centre.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Shown in 1863; recognized in France 1925
- Today
- Herding dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Picardy
A rustic, rough-coated sheepdog from the farms of northern France.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Herding sheep and cattle on the farms of Picardy.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Claims that it came with the Celts or the Franks are theories that not every authority accepts; a 2018 genetic study suggested that it, the German Shepherd and several Italian herding breeds descend from one widespread European herding stock. It appeared at the first French dog show in 1863. Trench warfare in the Somme nearly wiped it out.
04 · Today
Herding dog · Companion
A rare herding and companion dog.
Personality
- Loyal
- Good-natured
- Observant
- Humorous
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- High energy: lots of daily exercise and mental stimulation.
- Grooming
- Easy most of the year; brush often while it sheds.
- Training
- Intelligent and eager to please, with a stubborn streak; start early.
Living with one
- Size
- Large
- Lifespan
- 12–13 years
- Coat
- Shaggy, wiry, weatherproof coat; fawn or brindle
Field note
Picardy, its home region, was the scene of heavy fighting in both world wars, which almost ended the breed.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Herding Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 1, standard 176), The Kennel Club (UK): accepted onto its import register in 2014
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Herding Group, recognized 2015.
Still rare; figures from the Berger Picard Club of America, reported without a date, give about 3,500 dogs in France and about 400 in the United States and Canada. AKC registrations: ranked 166 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Berger Picard — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/berger-picard/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Berger Picard — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berger_Picard
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · The 2018 genetic study, one author’s Frankish-origin theory, the 1863 show, wartime losses, population estimates.
- Picardy Sheepdog — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/PICARDY-SHEEPDOG-176.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin France; Group 1, section "Sheepdogs"; accepted 1955.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Named after Picardy (now part of Hauts-de-France); the marker is the reference point of the Somme department at its centre.
