Page 251 - ShowSight - February 2020

actually cleaning my closet and didn’t have my phone on me and it was blowing up. I didn’t know for hours.
I’d also like to share: please do your homework when purchas- ing this breed. Visit the puppies, ask questions and demand health reports. Spend some time with the breed to make sure they are the right fit.
VALERIE BLACK
I live in a suburb of Milwau- kee, Wisconsin, in a neighbor- hood (no kennel, my dogs live in our home). I am a long time hospital based PA, so with my medical background, I am very interested in health testing my dogs, learning more about breed preservation and genetic studies. Our National Breed club, the Berger Picard Club of America, has our DNA bank at the Univer- sity of Missouri and we have been
fortunate to be able to have early research there done on our dogs via that DNA bank.
Do I hope the breed’s popularity will change or am I comfort- able with the placement? The Picard is a rare breed and not for everyone! We have only been fully recognized in AKC since July of 2015 and I don’t expect really ever to be a super popular breed, which is just fine. Picards are known to have fertility issues in gener- al, so that can decrease population. Some of the hardest issues, most likely for any breeder, are if an owner does not do well with his/her puppy and wants to return it. I personally would much rather have a few dogs and owners who research the breed, come meet my dogs prior to getting a puppy, and keep in touch with me if there are any questions about how to handle a situation with their pup etc. Remember, most of us involved in developing the parent club for this breed did so to protect and preserve it, which is not the same as selling puppies.
Does the average person on the street recognize the breed? Most folks don’t know what breed it is but they do stop cars and ask and, of course, if you have two of them they really ask! Sometimes at a show or a Meet the Breed event children know what the breed is from the “Because of Winn Dixie” movie.
What qualities in the field also come in handy around the house? Picards are bred to herd sheep, and do best with a “job “ to do which may or may not involve actual herding. They are extremely bonded to their owners and while that may not(and usually does not always) mean they are always obedient, they do want to please their owners and preferably be next to them at all times (unless a squirrel, rab- bit etc runs past and sometimes then! They just can’t help it—the chase is on!) They do have a prey drive, and really have to have one in the way they are bred to herd. They are bred to herd pretty independently of the shepherd, and are perimeter herders, moving large groups of sheep over long distances. They must be protective of their flock for that reason, and need to be built well, strongly muscled, lean dogs who have the strength and stamina to be able to work the fields all day.
What about the breed makes them an ideal companion? They are ideal companions in the fact that they adore their “person”— are wonderful with children and families as long as they have been exposed and raised around children. I do think for a Picard to be a great family dog that very early exposure is key, and I have noticed this as over the years I have worked more and more at having small children come over to play with very young puppies, over and over again—even as early as a week old, I have had them hold them.
Pick them up etc and it makes a huge difference in the long run. The more puppies and young Picards are exposed to all sorts of different situations, children, loud noises, commotion around the house etc, the more “bomb proof” I think they are later on.
Are there any misconceptions about the breed I’d like to dispel? The average person either thinks the breed is so cute and that they are easy dogs to be around and require no work at all, or they have read that they are standoffish and are afraid of them. Some of the dogs initially who came over from France were more standoffish and aloof with strangers, but most folks have worked hard to social- ize them (over and over again), so by and large the dogs met at large events are confident and easy to be around. This requires work by the owner and dog and can take two years for some of them to be that confident.
What special challenges do breeders face in our current eco- nomic and social climate? I think any of us who stay abreast with the news and potential legislations that are not friendly to breeders of purebred dogs, instead encourage dog rescues and the concept of adoption instead of purchasing a well-bred dog from a reputable breeder is concerned about the current political climate. We all have to do our best to stay aware and be active politically.
At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? Sometimes an eight week old puppy will declare itself and when I watch my puppies grow, I get a sense overall of conformation as well as confidence etc. I always have a group of AKC judges help evaluate my litters along with temperament testing so that I don’t make a mistake. Usually what I have seen as baby puppies is what continues as they get older, but occasionally I am surprised, not by structure which doesn’t really change, but the overall dog when I see one at a year.
The most important thing about the breed for a new judge to keep in mind? I think for any herding dog movement is key—if a dog is unable to move the way it should it can’t be put togeth- er correctly and won’t be able to do its job in the long run. Picards are bred to work the fields all day so they have to be put together correctly.
The best way to attract newcomers to my breed and to the sport? We really don’t have an issue attracting newcomers to the breed, but I do think many people are so intimidated by the dog show world they think they can never do what we do. I always encour- age my new puppy people to go to puppy class, obedience classes as well as conformation class with their dogs. We, as a small group in general, meet at shows with our dogs—some come who don’t show as well. We call our get togethers “Picardy parties” which are usually built around a show, but we socialize also, go out to dinner together etc. And of course, we talk! Many of us, me included, never were involved in any show experience or really any AKC experience, before getting our Picards. I do think by encouraging folks to try and helping mentor them, it can help get more people involved. And AKC has so many events folks can do with their dogs, not just the conformation ring, which helps also.
My ultimate goal for the breed? I’ll say it again—to preserve and protect it the way the French intended! We want to keep this wonderful rustic, loving, comical herding dog the way it has always been, which is the breed I and many others fell head over heels in love with.
My truly favorite memories are the interactions with families and children—I have always gone to all the Meet the Breed events that AKC has had (as well as more local events near my home) ,and with a well socialized Picard who any child can come up to and pet, it is truly a pleasure. Of course, also the first time I was able to show my own Picard at the Westminster Kennel Club show in 2016 was incredible also, of course!
Berger Picard Q & A
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