It is commonly admitted, as with most of today’s herding breeds in France, that the berger picard originated with the celt dogs introduced during the second invasion around 400 BC.
In the Middle Ages, numerous paintings and engravings represent sheepdogs which were medium sized, strong boned with mid length crisp coats and naturally upright ears. In the Bergerie Nationale at Rambouillet, a painting, dating to the start of the 19
th century, shows the 1
st master shepherd in the company of a dog resembling in many ways a Berger Picard of today. The 1
st Picards were shown together in the same class with Beaucerons and Briards back in 1863. In 1898, we find proof of a Picard breed: it is tricolor, that is piebald with red brown markings. <!--[endif]-->
The breed prototype is TAMBOUR belonging to a M. Emile BEDUT. In Amiens in 1889, more than 15 Picards were presented to M. E. BOULET the judge, president of the French Sheepdog Club, but he refused to recognise the breed! <!--[endif]--> However, several Picards did take part in practical trials for garding and defense, both in France and abroad. <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--> At the Lille show in 1908, 3 Picards were registered in the catalogue, only one of them was typical: RATON belonging to M. DELEVAT, a beige dog that died of starvation in 1914 during the German occupation. In 1912, M. FONTAINE, vice president of the Club St Hubert du Nord described the Picard as : “a medium sized dog, no more than 60cm high, of dark color mixed with white hair or dark brindle”. But the dog fancy officialdom at the time still refused to recognize the breed, E. BOULET, president of the French Sheepdog Club being one of the foremost opponents.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--> After the War, TOURMENTINE, whose name should be remembered by all Picardiers, was back into the breech, with DRETZEN, and managed to convince certain influential members, notably the new president of the French Sheepdog Club E. PLAYART. By 1925, the Berger Picard had an officially recognized standard, and they reappeared in shows, but the committee of the French Sheepdog Club let the breed die a slow death without a second thought!
That a number of breeders used Picards to create the Bouvier des Flandres (Flemish Cattledogs) is generally accepted as fact by numerous dog fanciers, among which a M. THORP, president of the French Flemish Cattledog club. <!--[endif]-->
Up till the 2
nd World War, the breed, with no club to defend it, dwindled despite the inefficient but faithfull few. After the war, the breed had to be build up from nothing. At this time M. COTTE started sifting through Picardy to find well typed subjects from which to breed. I have frequently been asked if, to rebuild the breed at this time, other breeds, like the Bouvier des Flandres, were used. Not being of the same generation as Messrs COTTE, DELSIPEE and HECQUET, I can’t really say for certain. Those that approve this theory add that it would be a natural and just state of affairs. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--> Those against it point out that the Berger Picard has naturally upright ears quite the opposte to those of the Bouvier des Flandres.
On this score, I can call to mind several Bergers Picards from the same blood line and from severall different kennels that had floppy ears.
Finally, an emminent colleague, the SCC judge, Dr LUQUET, stated in his book “les chiens de bergers français” printed in 1970, “the Berger Picard remains wolflike: longer than tall, especially regarding its body, its head and crest, the flat sided ribcage, its shoulder and croup”, he adds that it is interesting to compare this with the Bouvier des Flandres that, though sharing the same origines has evolved , through human selection, into the totally opposite type: squat and mastifflike.
Nowadays, many Berger Picards live as guard dogs or family dogs and give great satisfaction to their masters proving to be good natured, faithfull, intelligent and safe. They have a heritage of healthiness and balance.
From Le Berger Picard d’hier et d’aujourd’hui par J. SENECAT (1979).