French Charm Sealed with a Smile By Donna Beadle

he rustic appearance Celts, and showed at the first French dation Stock Service in April 2007 and and whimsical nature show in 1863, but was not recognized in will make the next step towards full rec- of the Berger Picard was France until 1925. The fighting in North- ognition when it enters the Miscellaneous brought to light in the ern France during World War I and World Group in January 2013. 2005 movie, Because War II devastated the farm country where Known as ‘the dog that smiles’, the of Winn-Dixie, but the the Berger Picard made its home. With the Berger Picard is a medium-sized dog with Treal life story of the Berger Picard is much diligent efforts of breed enthusiasts, the a shaggy appearance, and whiskered eye- better than the breed’s depiction on the breed was brought back from the brink of brows and muzzle. Their coat is crisp and silver screen. extinction with currently more than 5,000 weatherproof with colors ranging from The Berger Picard originated on the worldwide. fawn to gray with many variations in Picardy Plateau in Northern France and is There were several unsuccessfulbetween. The ears of the dog stand erect one of the oldest and rarest French - attempts to establish the breed in North and wide on the head and are often shag- dogs. While it is unknown what breeds America; but in the mid-2000s, interest gy. The dog is a tad longer than tall, well- the dog is related to, many speculate rela- in the dog rose once again, and fanciers muscled and has a free flowing gait with a tion to the Beauceron, , Dutch and organized a successful effort to establish long, easy stride. Another characteristic of . The breed was brought the breed in the United States. The Berger the breed is their long tail that forms a “J” to France in the ninth century by the Picard was admitted to the AKC Foun- at the bottom.

114 • ShowSight Magazine, December 2012

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