Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Background
The Picardy Shepherd is one of the oldest French herding breeds, originating from the Picardy region in northern France. Dogs of this type were used for herding and guarding livestock as early as the Middle Ages, distinguished by endurance, independence, and the ability to make decisions at a distance from the shepherd. The breed developed naturally, without narrow selective breeding, which preserved its strong constitution, stable character, and adaptability to various climates. In the 19th century, the Picardy Shepherd began to be systematized, but two world wars brought the breed to the brink of extinction. Only through the efforts of enthusiasts was it restored and recognized as both a working and family dog.
General Appearance
The Picardy Shepherd is a medium-to-large dog, strong, dry, and harmoniously built, with pronounced functionality. The body is slightly elongated, the musculature well developed but not coarse. The harsh, long coat gives the silhouette its characteristic texture. The head is elongated and expressive, with an alert, attentive expression. The limbs are straight and strong, allowing the dog to change direction quickly and work for long periods. The tail is long and carried down when at rest. Overall appearance demonstrates a combination of strength, flexibility, and working endurance. The dog should appear energetic, active, and collected, preserving breed balance.
Important Proportions
The proportions of the Picardy Shepherd highlight its purpose as a hardy herding dog. The body length slightly exceeds the height at the withers, creating a lightly elongated form and stability in movement. Chest depth is about half the height of the dog, providing lung capacity and endurance. The length of the head relates harmoniously to the body, and should not be too heavy or too refined. The limbs are proportional to the body, and correct angulation ensures speed, agility, and the ability to make sharp turns. The tail reaches the hock. All proportions should support an active working type capable of long herding activity.
Behavior and Character
The Picardy Shepherd is an energetic, attentive, and independent dog with a strong working instinct. It is characterized by a stable psyche, high trainability, and the ability to make quick decisions at a distance from the owner. This breed is known for alertness, courage, and readiness to cooperate, while retaining a measure of independence needed for herding work. In the family, the Picardy Shepherd is affectionate, friendly, and attentive, good with children and other animals. It requires regular physical exercise, mental stimulation, and a clear system of training. Excessive shyness, aggressiveness, or nervousness are considered serious faults.
Head
The head of the Picardy Shepherd is elongated, dry, proportional to the body, with clear lines and an expressive breed type. The skull is moderately wide, slightly rounded, with a gently defined stop. The muzzle is fairly long and straight, tapering gradually toward the nose while maintaining depth and strong jaws. The lips are dry, close-fitting, not pendulous. The cheeks are moderately developed, not heavy. The jaws are strong, with a scissor bite. The lines of the head should be harmonious, without coarseness or excessive refinement. The overall appearance of the head emphasizes attentiveness, lively temperament, and the working nature of the breed.
Facial Region
The facial region of the Picardy Shepherd is expressive and dry, with a well-defined muzzle. The nose is large, black or well pigmented, with wide nostrils. The bridge of the nose is straight; the lips are thin and tight. The muzzle is deep and sufficiently long to ensure correct grip and functional working ability. The jaws are powerful, even, without distortion. The stop is smooth and moderately expressed. The skin on the muzzle is tight and free of wrinkles. Expression is confident and attentive, reflecting herding temperament. Excessive coarseness, weak jaws, shortened muzzle, or lack of symmetry are undesirable.
Eyes
The eyes of the Picardy Shepherd are medium-sized, oval, and set slightly obliquely, giving the dog a lively, attentive, and gentle expression. Eye color ranges from dark amber to hazel and should appear harmonious and warm. The eyelids are dry, tight-fitting, without sagging or irritation. The eye rims are dark, enhancing expression. The eyes should reflect the lively temperament, alertness, and calm confidence typical of a working herding breed. Too light, round, or protruding eyes, as well as signs of strabismus or unstable, nervous expression, violate breed type and are considered serious deviations.
Ears
The ears of the Picardy Shepherd are set high, erect, large, triangular, with slightly rounded tips. They are covered with harsh hair, emphasizing their characteristic silhouette. The ears must be mobile, reacting to sounds and environmental changes while maintaining an alert and attentive expression. The set of the ears should emphasize the correct head lines and create the typical breed shape. Too low-set, overly large, or weak ears that fail to stand erect are undesirable. Incorrect ear set disrupts head balance and is considered a significant fault.
Neck
The neck of the Picardy Shepherd is of medium length, dry, strong, and flexible, flowing smoothly into the withers. The musculature is well developed but not coarse, providing the dog with ease and agility while working. The upper line of the neck is slightly arched, emphasizing a noble and confident appearance. The skin is close-fitting, without folds or dewlap. The neck should not be short or heavy, as such structure reduces mobility and disrupts balance. A properly formed neck helps the dog endure long work, maintain stability, and respond quickly to herd movement.
Body
The body of the Picardy Shepherd is strong and slightly elongated, emphasizing endurance and working functionality. The topline is straight and stable, without dipping. The withers are moderately pronounced and transition smoothly into a strong, elastic back. The loin is short and muscular, ensuring correct transmission of drive from the hindquarters. The chest is deep and long, with well-arched ribs providing lung capacity. The abdomen is moderately tucked up. The croup is broad and slightly sloping, providing smooth movement. The body should give an impression of harmony, strength, and mobility while maintaining breed dryness and working character.
Tail
The tail of the Picardy Shepherd is long, reaching the hock, set moderately low. At rest, it is carried down, sometimes with a slight curve at the end. In motion, the tail rises naturally but should not curl or be carried too high. The tail is thickly covered with harsh hair, contributing to the breed’s rugged silhouette. Incorrect set, kinks, overly short, or excessively high carriage are faults. A proper tail contributes to balance during movement, especially when turning or changing direction during herding work.
Description of Limbs
Forequarters
The forequarters of the Picardy Shepherd are straight, dry, well muscled, with strong bone. The shoulder blades are long, sloping, close-fitting, forming a correct angle with the upper arm and ensuring free movement and a wide stride. The elbows are directed strictly backward, not turned in or out. The forearms are straight, long, and stable. The wrists are strong, not soft. The pasterns are slightly sloping and elastic. The feet are round or oval, with tight pads and well-arched toes. The forequarters must ensure speed, agility, and stability on varied terrain.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters of the Picardy Shepherd are powerful, well developed, with pronounced musculature providing strong drive and endurance. The thighs are long, broad, and muscular. The lower legs are dry, correctly angled, forming harmonious joints. The hocks are strong, moderately low set, ensuring agility and stability. The hind pasterns are straight and vertical, without weakness. The hind feet are oval, compact, with strong pads and well-arched toes. The hindquarters must provide power, drive, and precise movement essential for herding tasks.
Gait and Movement
The gait of the Picardy Shepherd is free, light, and springy, reflecting its working nature. At the trot, movement is straight and confident, with good reach in the front and strong propulsion in the rear. The topline remains stable without sway. The dog must demonstrate excellent coordination, balance, and the ability to change direction quickly—important for herding work. Movements are economical, light, yet energetic. Stiffness, cow hocks, toeing in or out, short steps, weak joints, or lack of coordination are unacceptable. Proper movement emphasizes the breed’s physical development and natural agility.
Coat
The coat of the Picardy Shepherd is harsh, long, slightly wavy but not curly. It protects the dog from moisture, wind, and harsh conditions. The coat covers the body evenly, being longer on the neck, body, and thighs. The outer coat is coarse and dense, forming the characteristic texture. The undercoat is moderate, depending on season may be fuller or lighter. The muzzle has slight “eyebrows” and whiskers, enhancing breed expression. Too soft, short, curly coat or lack of undercoat are faults, as they reduce protection and violate the breed standard.
Permissible Colors
Permissible colors of the Picardy Shepherd include various natural shades of gray and fawn typical for the breed. Most common are light gray, dark gray, charcoal gray, fawn, and mixed agouti variants. The coat may have slight tonal variations, creating a rugged visual effect that emphasizes texture. Small white markings on the chest or feet are allowed if they do not disrupt overall color balance. Unacceptable colors include overly bright, artificial, merle, or excessively dark shades, as well as large irregular patches. Color must emphasize the natural working type and reflect historical origin.
Size
The Picardy Shepherd is a medium-to-large breed with balanced proportions and working mobility. Height at the withers for males is typically 60–65 cm, and for females 55–60 cm. Weight ranges from 23 to 32 kg depending on bone structure and musculature. The dog should appear strong, dry, and functional, without heaviness or excessive lightness. Chest depth reaches the elbow; body length slightly exceeds height. All size parameters should highlight the working type, endurance, agility, and ability to perform long herding tasks. Strong deviations from these measurements are undesirable.
Faults
Faults of the Picardy Shepherd include any deviations that impair functionality, harmony of structure, or breed type. Weak bone, poor musculature, excessive coarseness, narrow chest, or incorrect proportions are significant faults. Important faults include too soft or short coat, lack of undercoat, incorrect ear set, light eyes, or excessive coarseness of the head. Movement faults include stiffness, cow hocks, toeing in or out, weak joints, or uneven topline. Behavioral faults include shyness, nervousness, low trainability, or lack of herding instinct. Minor deviations are allowed if they do not distort type.
Disqualifications
Disqualifying faults of the Picardy Shepherd include serious deviations that completely violate breed type or behavior. Human aggression, panic fear, severe nervousness, or lack of control are unacceptable. Dogs with incorrect bite, absence of several main teeth, major skull or limb deformities leading to abnormal movement are disqualified. Completely white color, large irregular patches, depigmentation of nose or eye rims, or non-typical coat colors are not allowed. Serious coat defects, lack of undercoat, alopecia, congenital abnormalities, and marked coordination problems also exclude a dog from breeding.
Important Notes
When evaluating the Picardy Shepherd, its working origin and natural functionality must be considered. The breed was originally developed as a versatile herding dog, so slight ruggedness of the coat is acceptable as long as protective qualities remain. Young dogs may temporarily appear less harmonious due to growth and muscle development. Special attention is given to stable temperament, alertness, and the ability to make independent decisions. A strong herding instinct is essential. Excessively decorative appearance, weak character, loss of working qualities, or excessive aggression contradict true breed type.
Conclusion
The Picardy Shepherd is a harmonious, intelligent, and enduring herding breed, retaining natural instincts, stable character, and expressive appearance. In the ICCF system, only dogs possessing official ICCF documents confirming origin, identification, and compliance with the standard are allowed for shows and breeding. The main goals of breeding are preservation of working qualities, balanced temperament, strong structure, and typical harsh coat. A correct representative of the breed must demonstrate confidence, manageability, and the ability for prolonged herding work. The Picardy Shepherd remains a devoted partner and an effective working dog.
