Berger Picard Dog Breed Information
Also known as: Picardy Sheepdog, Picard
A rough-coated medium French herder with upright ears and a beard, briefly famous after the film "Because of Winn-Dixie". Vulnerable native breed status, very rare in NZ.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, great with young children dog. On the practical side: low grooming demands and minimal drool.
About the Berger Picard.
The Berger Picard is a medium rough-coated French herder with a goatee and upright ears, looking more like a scruffy farm dog than a show breed. The film “Because of Winn-Dixie” raised brief international interest in the early 2000s. NZ presence remains minimal and the breed is on the vulnerable native list in France.
Personality and behaviour
Independent and observant, the Picard thinks before responding. Affectionate with family but reserved with strangers in a calm, sizing-up way. Less drive than a Belgian Shepherd, more presence than a Labrador. The trait that surprises new owners is the streak of stubbornness: the breed asks “why” and a handler who can answer succeeds.
Care and exercise
75 minutes a day of off-lead exercise plus light mental work. Coat is low-maintenance: a brush every two weeks and a hand-strip once or twice a year. The wire jacket suits all NZ regions, though Northland heat needs management with shade and water.
The Berger Picard, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 3.7Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Dogs
Physical
avg 1.7Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Drooling
Social
avg 3.3Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Watchdog / Protective
Adaptability
Personality
avg 3.8Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Berger Picard.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Berger Picard costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Berger Picard costs about
$283per month
$65
$9
$48,400
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$110 / mo
$1,325/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$83 / mo
$995/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$44 / mo
$530/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$8 / mo
$100/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$38 / mo
$450/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $3,750 + setup $450) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Berger Picard compare?
This breed
Berger Picard
$48,400
13-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$4,200
- Food (lifetime)$17,225
- Vet (lifetime)$6,890
- Insurance (lifetime)$12,935
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,300
- Other (lifetime)$5,850
Reference
Average NZ medium dog
$38,920
12-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,200
- Food (lifetime)$13,200
- Vet (lifetime)$6,000
- Insurance (lifetime)$11,400
- Grooming (lifetime)$2,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,720
A Berger Picard costs about $9,480 more over a lifetime than the average nz medium dog, mostly higherfood and higherother.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZKC breeders test for these conditions and share results without being prompted. If a breeder won't share screening results, that is itself an answer.
Occasional
3 conditionsHip and elbow dysplasia
An occasional condition in the Berger Picard. Worth asking about and DNA testing where available.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
An occasional condition in the Berger Picard. Worth asking about and DNA testing where available.
Eye anomalies
An occasional condition in the Berger Picard. Worth asking about and DNA testing where available.
The Berger Picard in NZ.
- Popularity: Extremely rare. Likely fewer than 5 NZKC registrations per year if any.
- Typical price: NZ$3000–4500 from registered breeders
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Wire coat handles all NZ regions; manage heat with shade and water.
- Living space: Lifestyle block or rural home with daily exercise.
Who the Berger Picard is for.
Suits
- Active rural and lifestyle households
- Experienced dog owners who want a thinking breed
Less suited to
- Apartment dwellers without daily outdoor access
- First-time owners who want a "do exactly what I say" dog
Common questions.
Is the Berger Picard related to the Bouvier or Briard?
Are they good family dogs?
If the Berger Picard appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Briard
A large French shaggy herder, often described as a "heart wrapped in fur". Affectionate to family, watchful of strangers, and one of the heaviest grooming commitments of any working breed kept in NZ.
Beauceron
A large French herder and guardian, sometimes mistaken for a Doberman by Kiwis at the dog park. Working drive, sharp protective instinct, and a black-and-tan or harlequin coat are the hallmarks.
Bearded Collie
The shaggy "Highland Collie", an older Scottish drover and the long-haired cousin of the Border Collie and the Old English Sheepdog. Bouncy, vocal, sweet-natured, and a more popular NZ family dog than its registration numbers suggest.
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
A medium shaggy Polish herder, often shortened to "PON" in NZ working-dog circles. Built on roughly the same template as the Bearded Collie and Old English Sheepdog, with a shorter back and a sharper protective edge.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.