Picardy Sheepdog

Other name: Picardy Shepherd

Photo: adult dog of Picardy Sheepdog breed
© Anne Richard / Shutterstock
Photo: adult dog of Picardy Sheepdog breed
© Brigitte Convent / Shutterstock

The Picardy Shepherd is medium sized sheepdog with a long, shaggy coat. This ancient breed can be traced back to 800 AD, while the "modern" version was developed in France during the middle of the 19th Century. It's a close relative of the German shepherd, the Bearded Collie, and the Belgian shepherd, and shares many of the same personality traits. Like its cousins, the Picardy Shepherd is a highly intelligent animal, energetic, and very loyal. Although their numbers are growing, Picardy Shepherds are still rare. There are less than 4,000 registered in their home country.

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Life expectancy

The Picardy Sheepdog has a life expectancy of between 12 and 14 years

Temperament

Size

Medium

Adult size

Female Between 22 and 24 in
Male Between 24 and 26 in

Adult weight

Female Between 44 and 66 lb
Male Between 44 and 66 lb
Coat colour
Brown Blue Sand
Type of coat
Long
Eye colour
Brown
Good to know

Picardy Shepherds are very rare. Any potential owners will have to contact a specialist breeder. You may have to wait a few months before finding a puppy.  And they can be very expensive, especially from top breeders.

They do have a “naughty” side. Even a well-trained Picardy Shepherd will retain some of it's mischievous nature. This can be entertaining and will certainly keep you on your toes. However, it can lead to bad behaviour if you let them get away with too much. 

It's important to note that the Picardy Shepherd is a working dog that hasn't been as domesticated as much as some other herding breeds. Keeping them as just a "pet" is not ideal. Their natural work ethic needs to be satisfied. This means you'll need to keep them entertained with interesting games and activities. Alternatively, you can enter them into obedience and herding competitions.

More details about the Picardy Sheepdog

Picardy Sheepdog: Origins and history

Although it's hard to pinpoint its exact origins, references to long-haired herding dogs go back thousands and thousands of years. However, many experts suggest that cattle dogs originated in and around France during the 8th and 9th centuries.  The modern-day Picardy Shepherd appeared in the mid 19th century and made its first appearance at a Parisian dog show in 1863. It was officially recognised as an independent breed during the 1920s. It was thought to be on the brink of extinction following World War II. Luckily, its numbers have been growing steadily since the late 1940s, although it is still a rare breed. It's estimated that there are less than 50 registered in the UK.

FCI classification of the Picardy Sheepdog

  • Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)

  • Section 1 : Sheepdogs

Training a Picardy Sheepdog

These dogs will provide a bit of a challenge to the inexperienced dog owner. However, with the right training methods, and plenty of patience, they can learn how to handle these interesting and lively characters. Expert dog handles will find these animals a joy to train. Picardy Shepherds regularly perform in obedience training competitions and are capable of doing some pretty amazing things.

Picardy Sheepdog: Purchase price

Because they’re quite a rare breed, Picardy Shepherds are more expensive than most dogs. A purebred puppy is hard to come by, especially in the UK. We do not have enough data to set an average price for the Picardy Sheepdog.

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