The Berger Picard |
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Berger Picard History will be made July, 1 2015
as the Berger Picard makes its entry into the American Kennel Club Herding
Group.
The story of the Berger Picard began with the second Celtic invasion of Northern France around 400 BC. Thought to be one of the oldest of the French Sheepdogs, they were said to have been found in tapestries, engravings, woodcuts and paintings for centuries. The Berger Picard is said to of originated from the Picardie region of France and is thought to be related to the Briard and Beauceron, while others insist that they are the lost Shepherd and share common origin with the Belgian and Dutch Shepherd. The Berger Picard was used to work Cattle and Sheep as a perimeter herder.
The first documented appearance of the Berger Picard was at The French Dog Show in 1863 where they were judged alongside the Briard and Beauceron. The rustic appearance of the breed took some getting used to and for that reason they were not very popular as a show dog. Full recognition with the French Shepherd Club would not come for the breed till 1925.
The Berger Picard hit a stumbling block with the World Wars. The havoc wrecked on war-torn Europe almost brought the breed to extinction. After the World War II, breed fanciers began searching in Picardie looking for what might be left of the breed. In 1950, Radjah de la Bohme was bred to Wax de la Bohme and the rebuilding began. Their offspring would become the foundation for our breed today. The French parent Club, Les Amis du Berger Picard was established in the late 1950. Sense then, Clubs throughout Europe have helped in the rebuilding of this breed.
The Berger Picard would find its way to the United States in the 1970’s. The fanciers in the US were geographically spread throughout the country and this rare breed failed to gain significant interest from fanciers until the breed gained recognition by the United Kennel Club in January 1994. From that point on, the breed was on its way. The breed entered AKC FSS in 2007; moving into Miscellaneous in January 1, 2013 and full recognition has been granted by the American Kennel Club Board of Directors for July 1, 2015.
The story of the Berger Picard began with the second Celtic invasion of Northern France around 400 BC. Thought to be one of the oldest of the French Sheepdogs, they were said to have been found in tapestries, engravings, woodcuts and paintings for centuries. The Berger Picard is said to of originated from the Picardie region of France and is thought to be related to the Briard and Beauceron, while others insist that they are the lost Shepherd and share common origin with the Belgian and Dutch Shepherd. The Berger Picard was used to work Cattle and Sheep as a perimeter herder.
The first documented appearance of the Berger Picard was at The French Dog Show in 1863 where they were judged alongside the Briard and Beauceron. The rustic appearance of the breed took some getting used to and for that reason they were not very popular as a show dog. Full recognition with the French Shepherd Club would not come for the breed till 1925.
The Berger Picard hit a stumbling block with the World Wars. The havoc wrecked on war-torn Europe almost brought the breed to extinction. After the World War II, breed fanciers began searching in Picardie looking for what might be left of the breed. In 1950, Radjah de la Bohme was bred to Wax de la Bohme and the rebuilding began. Their offspring would become the foundation for our breed today. The French parent Club, Les Amis du Berger Picard was established in the late 1950. Sense then, Clubs throughout Europe have helped in the rebuilding of this breed.
The Berger Picard would find its way to the United States in the 1970’s. The fanciers in the US were geographically spread throughout the country and this rare breed failed to gain significant interest from fanciers until the breed gained recognition by the United Kennel Club in January 1994. From that point on, the breed was on its way. The breed entered AKC FSS in 2007; moving into Miscellaneous in January 1, 2013 and full recognition has been granted by the American Kennel Club Board of Directors for July 1, 2015.
