Post by charmingnancy on Apr 25, 2009 16:01:22 GMT -5
Berger Picard (Picardy Sheepdog)
Group: 7- Herding
Origin: France
Purpose: Sheep and Cattle Herder
Description:
Sturdy looking dog, medium sized, with a hardy but elegant shape, robust, strong and well built, with an intelligent, alert and lively look. This dog is characterized by his appearance which is similar to that of the Griffon.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat: Harsh, semi-long, not curly, not lying flat, must be harsh and crunchy to the touch. The length of the hair must be 5 to 6 cm over the whole of the body including the tail. Undercoat fine and dense.
Colours: Grey, greyish-black, grey with blackish tinge, blue-grey, reddish-grey, light or dark fawn, or a mixture of all these tinges. There must be no large white spot, a light white spot is tolerated on the chest and on the tips of the feet.
Head: Must be proportioned to overall size without being massive. Very slight stop, equidistant from tip of nose to top of skull, skull rather large but not exaggeratedly so. Hair approximately 4 cm long. Eyebrows well defined without hiding the eyes. Forehead: Viewed from the front it must not be flat but rather slightly arched with a slight depression in the center of the frontal sinus. Cheeks: Must be neither too strong nor too flat, must be fairly round. Behind the cheeks, the hair is of the same length as that of the body. Muzzle: Strong, not too long, must not be pointed. The nose is always black, lips are dry and tight, back of nose is straight. Slight mustache and beard. Jaws: Strong, tightly closed with no superior or inferior prognathism. Ears: Medium size, with a large base, the base being set rather high on the head reminding one of sheep’s ears,always naturally held straight, tips slightly rounded, a slight divergence in the way they are held is tolerated. Length: 10 cm. Never more than 12 cm for a male of maximum size. Eyes: Medium size, not prominent, dark coloured, neither light nor particoloured, more or less dark according to the colour of the coat (but in any case, never lighter than hazel). Expression: The expression must be neither vicious nor suspicious.
Neck: Strong and muscular, of a good length, upright when in action and reachy at the shoulder, carrying the head proudly.
Body: Brisket deep without exaggeration, must not descend lower than the elbows, the perimeter of the thoracic cage, taken from immediately behind the elbows, must be superior to 1/5 of the height at the withers, the length of the body must be slightly superior to the height at the withers, the back must be straight, the loins solid, ribs well arched in their upper third then flattening out gradually towards the sternum, belly slightly tucked in, haunches melting progressively into the buttocks, the bony structure apparent but without exaggeration.
Tail: Hairy, with hair the same length as that of the body. At rest, the tail must reach the tip of the hocks and hang straight with a slight curve at the end. In action, the tail may be held higher but must never be held over the back.
Forequarters: Shoulders long and slanted imparting much ease to the movements, muscular without being heavy, the legs are upright, timber is dry, joints are well marked without seeming malformed, pasterns are slightly sloped from back to front giving suppleness to the limb and facilitating quick stops.
Hindquarters: The thighs are long and muscular. The upper portion of the thigh is fairly long, the knee-joint is strong, the hindquarters must not be too straight nor too far behind, not too close nor too open. There must be no disharmony between the thigh and the haunches, all must merge together in a pleasant curve. Solid legs support the hindquarters strongly but lissomly, timber is pronounced but not exaggerated. The hocks are moderately angulated, neither too open nor too closed, not too high, a good angulation of the heel is absolutely essential for our sheepdog. Hind cannons strong and dry, perpendicular to the ground when standing, all limbs solidly upright when seen from all sides.
Feet: Rounded and short, well closed, arched, nails short, strong and dark coloured. No dewclaws or extra fingers, a dog with dewclaws is not disqualified but rather faulted. Firm sole, showing a certain suppleness; being a plantar cushion, the sole must be capable of absorbing part of the impact.
Faults:
(a) Hair or coat shorter than 4-1/2 cm, not sufficiently harsh, with a tendency to be curly or flat.
(b)Stop too pronounced or insufficient. Coat too short or too long. Eyebrows absent or too pronounced.
(c) Forehead not sufficiently arched or too arched, depression too accentuated.
(d) Cheeks too full or too flaccid or not muscular enough.
(e) Muzzle too long, narrow or too strong, pointed or too square, closed nose, measly spotted nose, commissures of the lips coarse, fleshy lower lip, hooked bridge, absence of mustache or beard. (It is important to remember that the hair on the head must be approximately 4 cm long and that both mustache and beard must be clearly visible.)
(f) Slight prognathism, 2 missing premolars, no CAC or reserve. Four premolars, none excellent, caries (according to their severity), broken or cut teeth.
(g) Ears too large or resembling those of the Belgian Sheepdog, set too low or set too close together on the head.
(h) Everything that does not correspond to the description of the eyes.
(i) Long skinny neck, short thick neck, neck that emerges abruptly from the shoulders, flabby skin.
(j) According to the severity of the defect, body too heavy or too light, too long, too leggy or too low to the ground, rib cage too flat or too curved, bouvier-shaped body, haunches too straight or too tapered.
(k) Rat-tail, tail too hairy, too short, carried sideways, poorly carried.
(l) Shoulders too long (Greyhound like) or too straight (Bouvier like), spindly or heavy, too far apart or impeding movement, timber too slight or too heavy, joints weak or seeming knotty, pastern too straight, or too slanted and pushing the foot too far forward.
Disqualifications:
(a) Height under the minimum limit, even for puppy class; more than 2 cm above the maximum limit.
(b) Head: lack of type, disproportion, without furnishings or covered with too much hair.
(c) Forehead: flat or domed skull, receding forehead or forehead sloping over the eyes.
(d) Muzzle: Disproportionate to the skull, drooping flews, nose any colour but black, lack of pigmentation in the mucous membranes (gums).
(e) Loss of more than four teeth, pronounced prognathism.
(f) Ears badly carried.
(g) Particoloured, slanted or dissimilar eyes, eye colour too light.
(h) Wild expression, evasive look.
(i) Body: any excessive deviation from the standard.
(j) Tail carried always over the back, carried low because of surgery (nicking), rudimentary tail or no tail at all.
(k) Forequarters: any excessive deviation from the standard.
(l) Hindquarters unsound (faulty, defective) overall.
(m) Double dewclaws on every limb.
(n) Coat: hair shorter than 4 cm or longer than 6 cm, curly or very flat, soft or woolly.
(o) Coat colour: black, white, harlequin or piebald tinges, too much white on the chest, totally white feet, white in the coat in any other areas than those indicated.
Size:
Height: Between 60 and 65 cm. for the male, between 55 and 60 cm for the female.
Temperament:
The Berger Picard's attributes include a lively, intelligent personality and a sensitive and assertive disposition that responds quickly to obedience training. By and large Picards are laid back and mellow but they are known for having a stubborn streak and being reserved towards strangers.
Picards are energetic and hard working, alert, loyal and sweet-tempered with children. They are happiest when they have a job to do. They also have a protective nature, making them a good guard dog. However, they are not excessive barkers.
The breed also has a well developed sense of humor making them an endearing companion, and they continue to be used very effectively as both sheep and cattle herder in their native land and elsewhere.
Health:
Berger Picards due to lack of over breeding is a relatively healthy, disease free breed. Hip dysplasia is known, but not common because the dog is not super heavy. Nevertheless a reputable breeder will have hips and elbows x-rayed and eyes certified for hereditary diseases.
History:
Thought to be the oldest of the French Sheepdogs, the Berger Picard was brought to northern France and the Pas de Calais in the 9th century by the Celts.
Some experts insist that this breed is related to the more well-known Briard and Beauceron, while others believe it shares a common origin with Dutch and Belgian Shepherds. Although the Berger Picard made an appearance at the first French dog show in 1863, the breed's rustic appearance did not lead to popularity as
a show dog.
The breeding stock of the Berger Picard, or Picardy Shepherd, as it is known in some countries, was decimated by the ravages of World War I and World War II. With its population concentrated on the farms of northeastern France, trench warfare in the Somme reduced the breed to near extinction.
The Picard's easy care and happy, though mischievous, temperament have started the breed back on the road to recovery. Nevertheless its numbers are still limited, even in its native country. Today, in France there are approximately 3,500 dogs and in Germany approximately 500 of this breed.
The Berger de Picard was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1994.
At present there are fewer than 250 Berger Picards in the United States and Canada.
Sources:
CKC (Breed Standard)
Berger Picard Club of America (Temperament and History)
BPCA (Health)
Pictures:
Photobucket
Group: 7- Herding
Origin: France
Purpose: Sheep and Cattle Herder
Description:
Sturdy looking dog, medium sized, with a hardy but elegant shape, robust, strong and well built, with an intelligent, alert and lively look. This dog is characterized by his appearance which is similar to that of the Griffon.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat: Harsh, semi-long, not curly, not lying flat, must be harsh and crunchy to the touch. The length of the hair must be 5 to 6 cm over the whole of the body including the tail. Undercoat fine and dense.
Colours: Grey, greyish-black, grey with blackish tinge, blue-grey, reddish-grey, light or dark fawn, or a mixture of all these tinges. There must be no large white spot, a light white spot is tolerated on the chest and on the tips of the feet.
Head: Must be proportioned to overall size without being massive. Very slight stop, equidistant from tip of nose to top of skull, skull rather large but not exaggeratedly so. Hair approximately 4 cm long. Eyebrows well defined without hiding the eyes. Forehead: Viewed from the front it must not be flat but rather slightly arched with a slight depression in the center of the frontal sinus. Cheeks: Must be neither too strong nor too flat, must be fairly round. Behind the cheeks, the hair is of the same length as that of the body. Muzzle: Strong, not too long, must not be pointed. The nose is always black, lips are dry and tight, back of nose is straight. Slight mustache and beard. Jaws: Strong, tightly closed with no superior or inferior prognathism. Ears: Medium size, with a large base, the base being set rather high on the head reminding one of sheep’s ears,always naturally held straight, tips slightly rounded, a slight divergence in the way they are held is tolerated. Length: 10 cm. Never more than 12 cm for a male of maximum size. Eyes: Medium size, not prominent, dark coloured, neither light nor particoloured, more or less dark according to the colour of the coat (but in any case, never lighter than hazel). Expression: The expression must be neither vicious nor suspicious.
Neck: Strong and muscular, of a good length, upright when in action and reachy at the shoulder, carrying the head proudly.
Body: Brisket deep without exaggeration, must not descend lower than the elbows, the perimeter of the thoracic cage, taken from immediately behind the elbows, must be superior to 1/5 of the height at the withers, the length of the body must be slightly superior to the height at the withers, the back must be straight, the loins solid, ribs well arched in their upper third then flattening out gradually towards the sternum, belly slightly tucked in, haunches melting progressively into the buttocks, the bony structure apparent but without exaggeration.
Tail: Hairy, with hair the same length as that of the body. At rest, the tail must reach the tip of the hocks and hang straight with a slight curve at the end. In action, the tail may be held higher but must never be held over the back.
Forequarters: Shoulders long and slanted imparting much ease to the movements, muscular without being heavy, the legs are upright, timber is dry, joints are well marked without seeming malformed, pasterns are slightly sloped from back to front giving suppleness to the limb and facilitating quick stops.
Hindquarters: The thighs are long and muscular. The upper portion of the thigh is fairly long, the knee-joint is strong, the hindquarters must not be too straight nor too far behind, not too close nor too open. There must be no disharmony between the thigh and the haunches, all must merge together in a pleasant curve. Solid legs support the hindquarters strongly but lissomly, timber is pronounced but not exaggerated. The hocks are moderately angulated, neither too open nor too closed, not too high, a good angulation of the heel is absolutely essential for our sheepdog. Hind cannons strong and dry, perpendicular to the ground when standing, all limbs solidly upright when seen from all sides.
Feet: Rounded and short, well closed, arched, nails short, strong and dark coloured. No dewclaws or extra fingers, a dog with dewclaws is not disqualified but rather faulted. Firm sole, showing a certain suppleness; being a plantar cushion, the sole must be capable of absorbing part of the impact.
Faults:
(a) Hair or coat shorter than 4-1/2 cm, not sufficiently harsh, with a tendency to be curly or flat.
(b)Stop too pronounced or insufficient. Coat too short or too long. Eyebrows absent or too pronounced.
(c) Forehead not sufficiently arched or too arched, depression too accentuated.
(d) Cheeks too full or too flaccid or not muscular enough.
(e) Muzzle too long, narrow or too strong, pointed or too square, closed nose, measly spotted nose, commissures of the lips coarse, fleshy lower lip, hooked bridge, absence of mustache or beard. (It is important to remember that the hair on the head must be approximately 4 cm long and that both mustache and beard must be clearly visible.)
(f) Slight prognathism, 2 missing premolars, no CAC or reserve. Four premolars, none excellent, caries (according to their severity), broken or cut teeth.
(g) Ears too large or resembling those of the Belgian Sheepdog, set too low or set too close together on the head.
(h) Everything that does not correspond to the description of the eyes.
(i) Long skinny neck, short thick neck, neck that emerges abruptly from the shoulders, flabby skin.
(j) According to the severity of the defect, body too heavy or too light, too long, too leggy or too low to the ground, rib cage too flat or too curved, bouvier-shaped body, haunches too straight or too tapered.
(k) Rat-tail, tail too hairy, too short, carried sideways, poorly carried.
(l) Shoulders too long (Greyhound like) or too straight (Bouvier like), spindly or heavy, too far apart or impeding movement, timber too slight or too heavy, joints weak or seeming knotty, pastern too straight, or too slanted and pushing the foot too far forward.
Disqualifications:
(a) Height under the minimum limit, even for puppy class; more than 2 cm above the maximum limit.
(b) Head: lack of type, disproportion, without furnishings or covered with too much hair.
(c) Forehead: flat or domed skull, receding forehead or forehead sloping over the eyes.
(d) Muzzle: Disproportionate to the skull, drooping flews, nose any colour but black, lack of pigmentation in the mucous membranes (gums).
(e) Loss of more than four teeth, pronounced prognathism.
(f) Ears badly carried.
(g) Particoloured, slanted or dissimilar eyes, eye colour too light.
(h) Wild expression, evasive look.
(i) Body: any excessive deviation from the standard.
(j) Tail carried always over the back, carried low because of surgery (nicking), rudimentary tail or no tail at all.
(k) Forequarters: any excessive deviation from the standard.
(l) Hindquarters unsound (faulty, defective) overall.
(m) Double dewclaws on every limb.
(n) Coat: hair shorter than 4 cm or longer than 6 cm, curly or very flat, soft or woolly.
(o) Coat colour: black, white, harlequin or piebald tinges, too much white on the chest, totally white feet, white in the coat in any other areas than those indicated.
Size:
Height: Between 60 and 65 cm. for the male, between 55 and 60 cm for the female.
Temperament:
The Berger Picard's attributes include a lively, intelligent personality and a sensitive and assertive disposition that responds quickly to obedience training. By and large Picards are laid back and mellow but they are known for having a stubborn streak and being reserved towards strangers.
Picards are energetic and hard working, alert, loyal and sweet-tempered with children. They are happiest when they have a job to do. They also have a protective nature, making them a good guard dog. However, they are not excessive barkers.
The breed also has a well developed sense of humor making them an endearing companion, and they continue to be used very effectively as both sheep and cattle herder in their native land and elsewhere.
Health:
Berger Picards due to lack of over breeding is a relatively healthy, disease free breed. Hip dysplasia is known, but not common because the dog is not super heavy. Nevertheless a reputable breeder will have hips and elbows x-rayed and eyes certified for hereditary diseases.
History:
Thought to be the oldest of the French Sheepdogs, the Berger Picard was brought to northern France and the Pas de Calais in the 9th century by the Celts.
Some experts insist that this breed is related to the more well-known Briard and Beauceron, while others believe it shares a common origin with Dutch and Belgian Shepherds. Although the Berger Picard made an appearance at the first French dog show in 1863, the breed's rustic appearance did not lead to popularity as
a show dog.
The breeding stock of the Berger Picard, or Picardy Shepherd, as it is known in some countries, was decimated by the ravages of World War I and World War II. With its population concentrated on the farms of northeastern France, trench warfare in the Somme reduced the breed to near extinction.
The Picard's easy care and happy, though mischievous, temperament have started the breed back on the road to recovery. Nevertheless its numbers are still limited, even in its native country. Today, in France there are approximately 3,500 dogs and in Germany approximately 500 of this breed.
The Berger de Picard was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1994.
At present there are fewer than 250 Berger Picards in the United States and Canada.
Sources:
CKC (Breed Standard)
Berger Picard Club of America (Temperament and History)
BPCA (Health)
Pictures:
Photobucket