Bullenbeisser vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison

Berger Picard is originated from France but Bullenbeisser is originated from Germany. Both Berger Picard and Bullenbeisser are having almost same height. Both Berger Picard and Bullenbeisser are having almost same weight. Both Berger Picard and Bullenbeisser has almost same life span. Both Berger Picard and Bullenbeisser has almost same litter size. Both Berger Picard and Bullenbeisser requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Molosser dogs
undefined
France
Germany
Height Male:
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
53 - 64 cm
20 - 26 inches
Height Female:
53 - 64 cm
20 - 26 inches
51 - 62 cm
20 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
23 - 32 kg
50 - 71 pounds
25 - 34 kg
55 - 75 pounds
Weight Female:
21 - 31 kg
46 - 69 pounds
23 - 34 kg
50 - 75 pounds
Life Span:
13 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 10
8 - 11
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Picardy Shepherd • Berger de Picard • Bacardi Shepherd • Berger de Picardie Picard
German Bulldog
Colors Available:
grey, grey-black, blue-grey, red-grey, and light or darker fawn brindle
Fawn or Brownish
Coat:
harsh, waterproof, tough, tusseled
short and dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

berger picardIn 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

Known also as the German Bulldog, the Bullenbeisser was a strong dog which is now unfortunately extinct. There were two regional types – the Brabanter- and the Danziger Bullenbeisser.This Molosser-type dog was native to Germany and was bred for different hunting purposes.

Nobody is quite sure what dogs are included in Molossers, but they are essentially large dogs bred to hunting and rescue, tending to have a shorter muzzle. The Bullenbeisser is famous for the role the dog has played in the development of the wonderful dog we have today, the Boxer. In fact, some Bullenbeissers were crossed by the Boxer Kennel Club of Germany with Bulldogs from the UK.

Not much is known about the history of the Bullenbeisser, but the breed also has a history in the lands of the Holy Roman Empire. The dog was at first a type of Mastiff, large and with the typical brachycephalic head, and used for hunting because of their power.

To improve their dogs, many Bullenbeisser breeders began crossing their dogs with English Bulldogs, introducing a white coat to the Bullenbeisser. Other breeds were also crossed with the dog such as the Bull Terrier, but by the end of the 19th century, the traditional Bullenbeisser was slowly dying out. It was in the late 1870s that German breeders, Hopner, Konig and Roberth used the dog to bring about a new breed, which today is known as the Boxer.

Description

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.

The Boxers lineage comes from the Bullenbeisser. The Bullenbeisser was a fierce, courageous dog, noted for its hunting abilities. The dog was developed into the Boxer so that its body become more defined and more streamlined.

Described as a medium to large muscular dog, standing roughly 63cm in height, he would have weighed in the region of 32kg. He had a short coat, brown eyes and short to medium ears which were half erect, half floppy.

Brown to fawn in color, he had a long tail which was later docked to give the dog a more distinctive, attractive look. The dog also got its attractive fawn color from the English Bulldog. Loyal, active and loving, the Bullenbeisser was a true family dog with a close affinity to children.

Characteristics

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.

Information on the extinct Bullenbeisser is limited, but because he was used to bring about the Boxer you can be sure that he would have been fearless, courageous and territorial of his property and of his human family.

The Bullenbeisser would have been a good watch-dog and with the right kind of loving care, a most awesome and loving family companion.

Health Problems

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)

In general, medium to large breeds like the Bullenbeisser have a lifespan of 10, 11 or 12 years. The life expectancy of these dogs relied much on the lifestyle they led and their diets.

The Bullenbeisser had a deep chest and this made dogs like this prone to gastric dilatation and bloat which can be life-threatening and which requires immediate veterinary intervention. The dog with this disease has distension of the abdomen and extreme discomfort, wanting to vomit but being unable to do so.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip Dysplasia is a disease which is more common in larger dogs and is an abnormal formation of the hip socket, resulting in lameness accompanied by painful arthritis.

Caring The 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.

Grooming:

The Bullenbeisser was a mastiff like breed with a short, easy-to-care for coat. He would have required a good brushing down at least twice a week to remove the coat from loose hairs. As an active, outdoor-type dog, he would have had to have his ears checked for dirt and the possibility of infection.

Exercise:

Although the Bullenbeisser was a hunting dog, he no doubt led an active outdoor lifestyle. Dogs such as the Boxer and the Mastiff, which are descendants of this dog are the kind of dogs which will need to be exercised regularly, taken on walks and given lots of running games with a ball.

Diet:

As a medium to larger breed with lots of energy, the Bullenbeisser would have no doubt had home-made food from his master’s table. This food would have included meat and vegetables. As a hunting dog he would have had the chance to get in some raw meat which is imperative for the health of any domesticated dog today.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Berger Picard vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Berger Picard vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Berger Picard vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Berger Picard vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Berger Picard vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Berger Picard vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Berger Picard vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Berger Picard vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Berger Picard vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Berger Picard vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Berger Picard vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Berger Picard vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Berger Picard vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Berger Picard vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Berger Picard vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Berger Picard vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Berger Picard vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Berger Picard vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Berger Picard vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Berger Picard vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Berger Picard vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Berger Picard vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Berger Picard vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Berger Picard vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Berger Picard vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Bullenbeisser vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Bullenbeisser vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Bullenbeisser vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Bullenbeisser vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Bullenbeisser vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Bullenbeisser vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Bullenbeisser vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Bullenbeisser vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Bullenbeisser vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Bullenbeisser vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Bullenbeisser vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Bullenbeisser vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Bullenbeisser vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Bullenbeisser vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Bullenbeisser vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Bullenbeisser vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Bullenbeisser vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Bullenbeisser vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Bullenbeisser vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Bullenbeisser vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Bullenbeisser vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Bullenbeisser vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Bullenbeisser vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Bullenbeisser vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Bullenbeisser vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison