Picardian Sheepdog - a breed of French dogs. Representatives of this species can become excellent companions, guards and shepherds, but Picardy dogs are not suitable for every owner. Novice breeders should opt for other breeds, as inexperienced owners are unlikely to cope with the nature of this animal.
Breed history
The Picardy Sheepdog is a descendant of shepherd dogs that came with the Celtic tribes to the territory of modern Europe in the first millennium BC. In France, this breed appeared in the ninth century and for many centuries accompanied the shepherds on pastures.
In the nineteenth century, Berger de Piccardi was bred by French breeders, however, during the First World War, the breed was almost destroyed.
The breed was restored by the end of the forties of the twentieth century. The Picardian Shepherd Dog was recognized as a breed in 1923, and its FSI standards were approved in 1964. Despite the efforts of breeders, there are few representatives of this species, but in 2013 the FSI nevertheless singled out the Picardians as a separate breed. Now in modern France, there are about 3,500 individuals.
Picardian shepherd: description of the breed
Dogs weigh between twenty-three and thirty-five kilograms. Height (height at the withers) in males - from sixty to sixty five centimeters, and in bitches - from fifty five to sixty cm.
The colors of the Picardians are diverse: pale gray and gray-blue, reddish-gray and gray-black.
Due to their long legs, these dogs are considered the highest among shepherds. And despite the peculiarities of the coat (tough, a bit disheveled and a bit untidy), the Picardians look elegant and smart. The Picardy Sheepdog has well-developed muscles and a strong elongated back. The head of these dogs should be large and fit the size of the dog. The forehead is flat and has a small groove separating the frontal arches. The muzzle is quite powerful, the nose is black, the lips are tightly compressed and dry, the straight back of the nose. Small beard and mustache.
The ears of representatives of this breed are quite long, straight and slightly turned forward. The eyes are dark brown, medium in size. Thick eyebrows hang over the eyes, which, despite their "bulk", poorly protect the eyeball, as they do not cover the eye.
The neck is long, muscular, strong and quite mobile. The special structure of the jaws provided these shepherd dogs with an unusual funny "smile". The tails of the Picardians are covered with wool of the same length as the entire body of the animal. In a dog at rest, the tail hangs straight, forming a slight bend at the end. During movement, the tail of the animal rises, but does not go beyond the level of the back.
The hair of representatives of this breed of shepherd dogs should not have large white spots (their presence indicates inconsistencies with standards and is considered a vice), but small light spots on the chest and the tips of the paws are allowed. The length of the coat is not more than four centimeters on the face, 5-6 centimeters on the body.
Picardian Shepherd: character
These animals are restrained in the manifestation of emotions, however, they suffer greatly from prolonged loneliness and require constant "communication" with the owner, the devotion of the dogs is unlimited.
These shepherd dogs are extremely attentive, energetic, hardworking and alert, persistent and sometimes overly stubborn. However, they get along well with children and other pets. They always try to be closer to the family and the owner, patiently and quietly waiting for the time to walk and play.
Training and purpose of the breed
For proper training, dogs need early training and socialization. And in order for the Picardian shepherd not to be capricious and not bored during training, it is necessary to conduct short trainings of diverse program and style. Raising a Picardian, one should not use rudeness. The owner of such a dog needs to be patient and train his pet firmly, consistently and fairly.
The Picardy Shepherd (photo of the breed is presented in the article) is a magnificent and skilled shepherd. In addition, these dogs are used for guard duty. The Picardians are excellent guards for livestock, family members, and territory.
Remarkably cope with the role of companions, despite their lack of sociability.
Care, maintenance and grooming
A Picardian shepherd dog, the care of which is quite simple, should not be kept in an apartment. These dogs are more suitable for spacious enclosures near the country house.
The Picardians' wool is warm, which allows them not to freeze on the street in any weather. Hair care is simple: it is enough to comb the animal once a month. Often bathing Picardians is not recommended, as this can violate the protective barrier of the coat. It is possible to use dry shampoos.
In nutrition, these dogs are not whimsical. For the proper development and maintenance of health, the Picardy Shepherd Dog needs significant physical and mental stress. They love long walks, running next to bicycles and swimming.
Health
Picardian shepherds live thirteen to fifteen years. The most common diseases in this dog breed are hip dysplasia and infectious eye lesions. In puppies of the first year of life, eye infections occur due to drafts or ingress of dirt; at an older age, these diseases do not appear. Among the hereditary diseases of the Picardy Shepherd Dog, retinal atrophy occurs.