At a glance the quick version
The FCI and UKC standards set no weight; Wikipedia gives 23-32 kg for the breed overall.
Coat and looks how to spot one
rough, harsh double coat
A shaggy, crisp outer coat around 5-6 cm long lies over a soft, thick undercoat, giving a slightly tousled look that stands up well to wet and wind. Tall, naturally erect ears and a lanky, athletic frame complete the outline.12
Personality what they are like
A lively, affectionate herder with a calm core. It is watchful around the home and bonds well with children, but it likes to think for itself, so it responds best to early socialisation and reward-based training.124
Daily activity how busy a day looks
An energetic working breed that needs daily exercise and something to do; herding, long walks and training games suit it well.24
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The rough coat is designed to be low-fuss: an occasional brush through keeps it tidy, and it is meant to look natural rather than trimmed.12
Home where they are happiest
Suits an active home with room to move and regular outdoor time; the weatherproof coat copes well with cool, damp weather.32
Company who they like around
A family-oriented dog that enjoys being involved with its people and gets on well with children when raised with them.12
The story where it all began
One of France's oldest sheepdog types, the Picard was shown at the first French dog show in 1863 and recognised in France in 1925. Fighting across Picardy in both World Wars left very few dogs, and breeders rebuilt the breed afterwards, founding the Les Amis du Berger Picard club in 1955.132
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The film Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) starred a Berger Picard, and the producers brought five Picards over from Europe for the shoot.3
- 2
The breed was at France's very first dog show in 1863.1
- 3
A German Picard called Joker played a starring role in six Bavarian comedy films between 2014 and 2021.3
- 4
Its naturally upright ears, set high on the head, are one of the breed's trademark features.1
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Group 1 (Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs), Section 1 Sheepdogs; standard dated 04.08.2010, country of origin France. The standard notes first official recognition in France in 1925 and definitive recognition in 1959.1
- UKC
- Herding Dog Group; recognised 1 January 1994.2
- AKC
- Herding Group; full recognition on 1 July 2015 (per Wikipedia).3
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Accepted onto the import register on 1 April 2014 (per Wikipedia).3
Popularity Ranked 166th of AKC-registered breeds5
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Berger Picard. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily during heavy sheddingevery 3 days
- Double coats insulate against cold and heat, so shaving is not recommended
- Bathevery 10 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard No. 176, Berger de Picardie fci.beused for recognition, height, coat, colours, temperament, history
- UKC Berger Picard breed standard ukcdogs.comused for recognition, height, coat, colours, temperament, history
- Berger Picard, Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for weight, lifespan, AKC/KC recognition, population, fun facts
- AKC Berger Picard breed page akc.orgused for temperament, training
- AKC, The Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2025 akc.orgused for popularity
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.