Miniature Poodle vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison

Miniature Poodle vs Berger Picard - Breed ComparisonMiniature Poodle is originated from Germany but Berger Picard is originated from France. Miniature Poodle may grow 27 cm / 10 inches shorter than Berger Picard. Miniature Poodle may weigh 24 kg / 52 pounds lesser than Berger Picard. Both Miniature Poodle and Berger Picard has almost same life span. Miniature Poodle may have less litter size than Berger Picard. Miniature Poodle requires Moderate maintenance. But Berger Picard requires Low maintenance

History

miniature poodle - historyThe Poodle is no stranger to the dog world and has been a familiar face in Western Europe for hundreds of years. Though they have lived in Europe for centuries, their origins are unsure, with some saying they hail from Germany and others say France.

The Miniature Poodles have been used in both countries as gundogs for water birds.

They have always been admired for their intelligence, and Miniature Poodles are believed to have been bred from Standard Poodles. It is interesting to note the 3 official sizes of the Poodle are Toy, Miniature and Standard – all considered one breed and judged according to the same written standard, just with different size requirements.

berger picard - historyIn the Picardie region of northeastern France saw visiting Celts/Franks enter the region along with a shepherd dog. They arrived in the Pas de Calais in 800 AD and might be the oldest shepherd dog of France. Named for Pacardy, the Berger Picard is certainly one of the most ancient of today’s French breeds. Some believe this shepherd comes from the lines of Dutch and Belgian Shepherds, while other insist he is related to the Beauceron and Briard.

Never popular as a show dog due to its shaggy appearance, even though it was entered in Frances first dog show in 1863, the breed was almost extinct following the second World War. Currently there are a little under 5000 left in the world with most of them, 3000, in France. The Picard is a good herding dog and loved by the shepherds of the Picardy region. The United Kennel Club recognized the rare breed in 1994, but the AKC did not recognize it until 2016.

The Berger Picard is a loyal, people-oriented dog, good with children and families if socialized as a puppy. In 2006 the Berger Picard Club of America was formed as more and more dogs are being imported from France. There was a genetic study done this year that proposes that 7 breeds of shepherd all descended from a European herding dog that was all over Europe before 1859. This dog was the father of the Berger Picard, the German Shepherd, The Bergamaso Shepherd, the Lupino de Gigante, the Cane Paratore, the Cane da pasore della Lessinia e del Lagorai , and the Pastore d”oropa. After recognition, the Picard was shown for the first time at Krufts in March 2016. They followed that with a best of breed win by Gabby, Guess V.D. Benedicks

Description

miniature poodle puppy - descriptionWith good care the lifespan of the Miniature Poodle is 14 – 16 years of age. This purebreed dog is small, standing at 28 – 38cm in height and weighing 7 – 8kg.

The coat is typically curly, springy and dense. Colors of the coat can be cream, beige, silver, black, brown or apricot. They are low shedding dogs and are regarded as being hypoallergenic. The ears are floppy and the tail is usually docked to give the dog a nice, compact look.

Temperament:

The Miniature Poodle is intelligent and learns easily, so you won’t have any trouble with training him and having him socialized.

He is a lively dog and loves a game and a walk, loving as much time as possible spent with his human family. He gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

They are not overly-friendly with strangers, and therefore make excellent watchdogs. They’re the kind of dogs who need both physical and mental stimulation though, and he won’t be content to be left and ignored – after all he counts himself as a member of your family! They make wonderful pets, being playful and energetic and loving water, always ready to swim with you.

berger picard puppy - descriptionThe Berger Picard is a muscular, medium sized, faithful companion. He is especially great with an owner who is athletic and energetic. They have a rugged constitution, slightly longer back, and full tail. The coat is thick, strong and harsh. They are never overweight or bulky. This gives the Berger Picard the look of a mixed breed dog. They have erect ears and thick eyebrows. This lanky looking dog is alert and lively. Movement is efficient, free and tireless. They have strong bones with a sturdy build and a take charge personality.

They have a strong rectangular head that is not massive. His eyes are oval and medium sized, never round or protruding. Eye color should be dark and never yellow. Cheek muscles are strong, and muzzle is smooth, ending abruptly at the nose. Scissors bite, deep chest and round feet. There should not be any dewclaws on the back legs.

Characteristics

miniature poodle dog - characteristicsWhen you take a Miniature Poodle into your home and your heart, there are many wonderful positive aspects that come with him.

You won’t have any trouble training him as he is clever and bright. He is such a loving, loyal pet and he takes his job of guarding you seriously too.

Because they aren’t aggressive, they're easy to keep in the city or the countryside, so long as he receives plenty of love, companionship and exercise. Perhaps the only thing that may require a little bit of effort on your part is the fact that his coat will require quite a bit of upkeep to keep it looking good and healthy.

In exchange for looking after him, you’re going to benefit from having a wonderful canine friend and family pet in your life for many years.

berger picard dog - characteristicsThe Berger Picard needs to be a part of a pack with an owner who is clearly the pack leader. This is an intelligent, friendly, and sensitive to harsh voice scolding. They are not easy to train, and you need to be calm and patient when working with him. The Picard has a tendency to be stubborn with an owner who appears to be weak. If raised with or socialized to children and other animals, they will live fine with them. They are best in a rural environment rather than a close neighborhood. They are very quiet dogs, but they need a job and they excel at work.

Health Problems

miniature poodle puppies - health problemsDog’s thrive on good nutrition and exercise, and if your Miniature Poodle gets both of these combined with plenty of love, he can live to be up to 16 years of age and even older.

They are robust little dogs, but even so, they can get sick. Ear infections, joint diseases, obesity, dental disease and bloat are common dog diseases to look out for -

Bloat:

This is a life-threatening condition where your pet’s stomach fills with gas. The swollen stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm and the dog battles to breathe. The dog could also vomit, be drooling and lethargic.

The stomach can also twist putting the dog in shock. This bloating can occur with any dog breed and efforts can be made to avoid it by feeding the dog smaller more frequent meals as opposed to one larger meal which he gobbles up.

The dog shouldn’t exercise immediately after a meal either. You also want to avoid obesity at all costs.

Mitral Valve Disease:

When the mitral valve malfunctions, blood isn’t being pumped out of the heart to the rest of the body. If the mitral valve weakens or leaks it can lead to endocarditis.

Quite a number of dogs develop some form of heart disease during their lifetime, with a high percentage being due to mitral valve insufficiency, which is more common in smaller dogs.

Your dog may have a cough, be lethargic and lose weight. The first signs of a leaking mitral valve is a heart murmur. At first MVI doesn’t have obvious clinical signs, but with time the efficiency of the heart is reduced and congestive heart failure develops. Your veterinarian will evaluate your pet and suggest treatment.

Sebaceous Adenitis:

A skin problem sounds fairly mild but it can cause havoc in your pet’s life, causing him to be constantly licking and scratching himself. The hair becomes dull and brittle, and breaking the skin from continuous scratching invites bacterial infection. These skin infections will require veterinary intervention.

berger picard puppies - health problemsThe Berger Picard is not a heavy or extra-large dog, but they still can have hip dysplasia, though it is not nearly as prevalent as it is in larger breeds. Eye infections can present in puppies more than adults and hereditary eye issues such as PRA and RD are all too common. (Progressive Retina Atrophy and Retinal Dysplasia)

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

miniature poodle dogs - caringIf you opt to keep your Miniature Poodle’s coat long, it will actually require regular brushing – every day in fact, if you want to avoid matting and tangling. Most people don’t like the work this involves and they have their Poodle’s hair cut short all over, then he only needs a brush once or twice a week. Your Miniature Poodle just loves the time you spend with him grooming him. It’s your time to feel for any unusual lumps and to also check for fleas and ticks. Some people take their pet to the doggy parlor to have the coat clipped.

The dog’s nails should also be trimmed regularly, and their ears also need to be checked for wax buildup and debris which can lead to an ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked over too because dental disease won’t only lead to loss of teeth but it could be toxic for important body organs too.

Wipe around your pet’s eyes as tear stains can form under the eyes.

Make sure to feed your pet a top quality diet full of vitamins and minerals. Get to know the foods which can be toxic for your pet and cause stomach upsets. Dogs appreciate simplicity and consistency with their diets, and apart from dry kibble, home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables can be excellent for your pet.

Feeding

berger picard dogs - caringThis is an athletic and active breed with a lot of energy. They need a high-quality food that is full of nutrients and not empty calories. Don’t overfeed him as some will have a tendency to become obese. They should be fed twice a day in equal proportions. Treats are good when training but don’t overdo it.

Health issues

Since the Berger Picard has not been overbred, there are not a lot of genetic disorders in the breed. They do have some

  1. Hip Dysplasia
  2. Eye Infections
  3. Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  4. Retinal Dysplasia

You should have your puppy certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and then the Canine Eye Research Foundation that they do not have these issues and if they do, resolve them. The results of these tests should be published in the OFA registry. This breed is also a participant in the Canine Health Information Center. This means their eyes and hips have been checked and the results published. Their blood is being stored for DNA purposes and one of the following have been evaluated: heart, elbows or thyroid. There is an OFA Berger Picard health survey whose results are available to anyone who asks. This does not track individual dogs but the breed as a whole.

Exercise and games

This is a breed that needs a lot of exercise. She likes to swim, take long walks, take runs with you on your bike. They love to jog with you as well. Agility, obedience and any other type of competition will appeal to your Picard. However, don’t expect them to excel at competition because they are not consistent performers. But if they don’t get enough exercise and fun they will become very destructive. Barn hunt and non-competitive herding activities are perfect for the Picard.

Basic Information

Group:
Non sporting dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Germany
France
Height Male:
28 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
Height Female:
28 - 38 cm
11 - 15 inches
53 - 64 cm
20 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 8 kg
15 - 18 pounds
23 - 32 kg
50 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
7 - 8 kg
15 - 18 pounds
21 - 31 kg
46 - 69 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
13 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 10
Size:
Small dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Mini Poo, Barbone, Caniche
Picardy Shepherd • Berger de Picard • Bacardi Shepherd • Berger de Picardie Picard
Colors Available:
Cream, black, silver, beige, brown or apricot
grey, grey-black, blue-grey, red-grey, and light or darker fawn brindle
Coat:
Curly, springy and dense
harsh, waterproof, tough, tusseled
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Miniature Poodle vs Lhasa Apso - Breed Comparison
  2. Tibetan Spaniel vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  3. Pomeranian vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  4. Pug vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  5. Miniature Schnauzer vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  6. Papillon vs Miniature Poodle - Breed Comparison
  7. Miniature Poodle vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  8. Miniature Poodle vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Miniature Poodle vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  10. Miniature Poodle vs Maltipoo - Breed Comparison
  11. Miniature Poodle vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  12. Miniature Poodle vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  13. Miniature Poodle vs Dachshund - Breed Comparison
  14. Miniature Poodle vs Jack Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Miniature Poodle vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  16. Miniature Poodle vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Miniature Poodle vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  18. Miniature Poodle vs Corgi - Breed Comparison
  19. Miniature Poodle vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  20. Miniature Poodle vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison
  21. Miniature Poodle vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Miniature Poodle vs Miniature Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  23. Miniature Poodle vs Japanese Chin - Breed Comparison
  24. Miniature Poodle vs Miniature English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  25. Miniature Poodle vs Miniature Dachshund - Breed Comparison
  26. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  27. Collie vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  28. Dutch Shepherd vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  29. Blue Healer vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  30. English Shepherd vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  31. Catahoula Cur vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  32. Catalan Sheepdog vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  33. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  34. Bergamasco vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  35. Berger Picard vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  36. Berger Picard vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  37. Berger Picard vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  38. Berger Picard vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  39. Berger Picard vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  40. Berger Picard vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  41. Berger Picard vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  42. Berger Picard vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  43. Berger Picard vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) - Breed Comparison
  44. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  45. Queensland Heeler vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  46. German Coolie vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  47. Bohemian Shepherd vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  48. Croatian Sheepdog vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  49. Red Heeler vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  50. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds