Family-friendly:5/5Exercise needs:5/5Easy to train:4/5Tolerates being alone:3/5Likes other pets:3/5Energy level:5/5Grooming needs:4/5Shedding:4/5

Picardy Sheepdog

The Picardy Sheepdog is attractively rustic in appearance, medium to large in size with a solid, muscular build. They should not be heavy or coarse, but should look elegant when moving despite their ‘shaggy-dog’ appearance. The coat is semi-long with a crisp, harsh top-coat and softer insulative undercoat. The breed’s appearance is made all the more attractive by the high set pricked ears, fringed with long fur, and soft beard.

Two Picardy Sheepdogs sitting and watching into the distance

Two Picardy Sheepdogs laying in the grass

Lifespan

12 – 13 years

Weight

Between 24-35kg

Height

Between 60-65cm for males, and 55-60cm for females

Colours

Colours come in Fawn with or without a dark overlay, or Brindle.

Size

Medium/Large

UK Kennel Club Groups

Pastoral

The need-to-know

Dogs suitable for experienced owners
Extra training required
Generally healthy breed
Enjoys vigorous walks
Enjoys one to two hours of walking a day

Medium dog
Some drool
Requires grooming every other day
Chatty and vocal dog
Barks, alerts and may be physically protective/suspicious of visitors

Could have issues with unknown dogs but gets along with known dogs
Gets along with other pets with training
Great family dog
Needs a large garden
Best suited to countryside

Can be left occasionally with training

Generally healthy breed

The Picardy Sheepdog breed is generally a hardy breed with no widely recognised breed specific health problems.

Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
None but there are several recommended schemes that the Kennel Club recommends which can be found here.

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Personality

Describe by breed supporters as easy-going and mellow, yet mischievous, the Picardy is certainly a character. Although bred to work and still easily capable of working livestock, they also have a strong prey drive and desire to hunt, and yet also form a strong bond with family, and will quite happily laze around at home if that’s what their people are doing!
Devoted and loyal, they have a protective urge to alert owners to strangers and suspicious activity, and should be socialised early, and carefully to ensure they have the skills to cope with pet life. Often described as a teddy bear, or a German Shepherd in a Muppet suit, the Picardy Sheepdog is undeniably an attractive and appealing dog – but make sure you can meet their needs, they do need training and some sort of hobby or job to be fulfilled and content.

Vet Rating

Family-friendly:	5/5
Exercise needs:	5/5
Easy to train:	4/5
Tolerates being alone:	3/5
Likes other pets:	3/5
Energy level:	5/5
Grooming needs:	4/5
Shedding:	4/5

History and Origins

Considered to be the oldest of the French Sheepdog breeds, the Picardy Sheepdog, known in France as the Berge Picard, was introduced to northern France in the 9th Century by the Franks. Opinions vary as to whether the Picardy Sheepdog is more closely related to the well-known Briard and Beauceron breeds, others believe they share a common ancestry with the Dutch and Belgian Shepherds. First seen in the showring in France in 1863, the breeds rustic, natural appearance did not make it a popular show dog, and the breeding stock was further decimated by the two World Wars.

As a farm dog from north-eastern France, trench warfare in the Somme almost saw the breed become extinct. Today, there are approximately 3500 Picardy Sheepdogs in France, around 500 in Germany and 400 in the United States and Canada. Currently, there are only around 40 examples of the breed in the UK, making them extremely rare.

Ideal Owner

Ideal Picardy owners should have some experience of working breeds, particularly pastoral types and surprisingly, sighthound types. Beneath the rather scruffy, lay-about look, there is a clever mind and a robust, athletic body – owners will be experienced in positive reinforcement-based training, and enjoy long walks, training for fun or even dog sports. The Picardy is capable of anything you’d like to do with a dog, as long as you have the patience to train them.

Health and Common Concerns

Generally, a healthy breed, but be sure to buy from breeders who only use health tested stock to breed from. Check the breed club website and Kennel Club website for further details on the required health tests.

Exercise Needs

For the adult Picardy, at least two hours a day of dog walking, running and training. Add in games and puzzle solving on top and you should have a happy, relaxed canine companion. They are not put off by extremes of weather, although with any dog you should take care not to exercise in extreme heat.

Space Requirements

Better suited to the rural or rural suburb home than inner city, although they don’t need a large home, a big and securely fenced garden will be very much appreciated. Access to a variety of interesting and varied walking routes, plus places to securely let off lead and run free of course.

Nutrition and Feeding

The Picardy Sheepdog’s diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food. Discover more about balanced diets for dogs with our easy-to-follow guide.

Grooming Picardy Sheepdogs

A brush through once or twice a week will suffice, the Picardy does not require any special dog grooming, but may shed, and will mat if left unbrushed. As with all dogs however, a daily check over through the coat and of paws, ears, beard and eyes after exercise is sensible and will help avoid injury.

Training Picardy Sheepdogs

The Picardy lives to work with you – as long as you are a team, and you have built a strong bond, then the Picardy Sheepdog will be your loyal companion. Positive reinforcement works exceptionally well with this breed, whereas heavy handed or aversive methods will switch them off completely and damage any bond you have. Capable of high levels of obedience and easily able to excel in a variety of canine sports and competitions, but equally happy to relax and snuggle on the sofa, as long as they have had enough exercise and mental stimulation, the Picardy can be a ‘dog of a lifetime’ for the right family.
Pay attention to socialisation in the early months, this must be extensive but always positive, to ensure your Picardy feels comfortable and safe wherever you take them, and whoever they meet.

Best Family Dog

Great for the active owner who wants to take part in dog sports, or simply enjoys long walks every day. Families with older children who enjoy being involved in training may find this a suitable breed, but those without the time, or with very small children will not.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

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Did You Know?

The Picardy Sheepdog is often mistaken for a crossbreed, with their scruffy long coat and pricked ears normally associated with short coated breeds. So much so that when the producers of the film ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’ (2005) wanted a scruffy mutt for the title role, they chose the Picardy Sheepdog. Usually, any film with an animal as a lead character will need several identical or near identical animals to play the role. Finding identical looking crossbreeds is nigh on impossible, however they found that the Picardy Sheepdog fit the bill perfectly – and so Picardy Sheepdogs Scott, Laiko and Tasha landed the job!