Berger de Picardie
Having arrived in Pas-de-Calais with the Celts as early as the year 800, there is little doubt that the Berger de Picardie is the oldest of standardized French sheepdogs. Descended from bearded herders of Eastern Europe, the breed's purity was ensured thanks to the relative isolation of the farmers in Aisne, Oine, Somme, Nord and Picardy regions of north-eastern France, who were and still are its primary breeders. Used for controlling and protecting livestock, as well as patrolling and guarding property for centuries, the Picardy Shepherd is an excellent and resilient worker, known to be very smart and trainable. However, it never reached the popularity of other French sheepdogs, such as the Beauceron or the Briard. The World Wars nearly drove the Picardy to extinction and this magnificent breed remains rare to this day. Very strong and athletic, the Berger de Picardie is an impressive herder of sheep and cattle, but its intelligence and versatility also make it suitable for obedience training and service work.
This bearded, erect-eared sheepdog has a rough, thick weatherproof coat, allowed in solid shades of gray and fawn. The average height is around 25 inches.
