Picardy Shepherd Dog

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN France
MOST SUITED AS Watchdog, sheepdog, and family pet.

SIZE
The shoulder-height is a minimum of 60cm (231/2in) for dogs and 56cm (22in) for bitches.

COAT
The coat consists of coarse and wiry, medium-length hair. The colours are grey, grey-black, blue-grey, red-grey, and light or darker fawn. A small white patch on the feet is not desirable but is permissible.

CARE REQUIRED
The Picardy Shepherd requires regular groom�ing with both brush and comb. The coat should on no account be trimmed.

CHARACTER
Energetic, intelligent, alert, loyal, amiable with children, and a little wilful. Usually they behave rather detachedly towards strangers. They like to bark and do so frequently which is a disadvantage if you live surrounded by other people.

TRAINING
The Picardy Shepherd must be properly socialized when young if it is to grow up as a well-balanced dog. Training this breed, which is full of character, is not an easy matter since they can be wilful and can sometimes be subject to fits of bad humour. If you decide on this breed, then you must learn to accept these moods; try hard not to break the dog's resistance because this can really harm its character.

They are very sensitive to the voice and it is necessary to tread carefully as you first begin to train them. Cheerfully given commands gene­rally work best.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Contact with other animals and children is not generally a problem. The Picardy Shepherd wants lots of attention from its handler and is not happy to share it with other dogs.

EXERCISE
This breed of dog requires lots of exercise. Run­ning alongside a cycle, swimming, and walking are all ideal ways to channel their energy in a positive direction.