German Wirehaired Pointer vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison

German Wirehaired Pointer vs Berger Picard - Breed ComparisonBerger Picard is originated from France but German Wirehaired Pointer is originated from Germany. Both Berger Picard and German Wirehaired Pointer are having almost same height. Both Berger Picard and German Wirehaired Pointer are of same weight. Both Berger Picard and German Wirehaired Pointer has almost same life span. Both Berger Picard and German Wirehaired Pointer has same litter size. Berger Picard requires Low Maintenance. But German Wirehaired Pointer requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Sporting dog
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France
Germany
Height Male:
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
Height Female:
53 - 64 cm
20 - 26 inches
57 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
23 - 32 kg
50 - 71 pounds
27 - 32 kg
59 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
21 - 31 kg
46 - 69 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
13 - 14 Years
10 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 10
6 - 10
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Picardy Shepherd • Berger de Picard • Bacardi Shepherd • Berger de Picardie Picard
Deutsch Drahthaar, Drahthaar
Colors Available:
grey, grey-black, blue-grey, red-grey, and light or darker fawn brindle
black flecked , Liver and white
Coat:
harsh, waterproof, tough, tusseled
Straight, wiry, harsh
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate 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

german wirehaired pointerMedium to large sized, the German Wirehaired Pointer is a griffon type dog breed hailing from Germany and developed for hunting purposes in the 19th century.

Known as the Drahthaar in Germany, the dog is a mix of griffon, Deutscher Stichelhaar, German Shorthaired Pointer, Deutscher Kurzhaar as well as the Pudelpointer.

He was imported into the United States in the 1920s, and it was in 1953 that the German Drahthaar Club of America was formed.

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.

german wirehaired pointer puppy - descriptionWell muscled, this is a medium to large sized dog standing at between 57 and 68cm in height and weighing between 27 and 32kg.

He has a weather resistant wiry coat which is of medium length and which is wiry and harsh. Coat color is liver and white as well as black flecked.The undercoat provides insulation against the cold.

He has quite a bit of facial hair in terms of eyebrows, beard and whiskers.He has webbed feet, typical of German Pointers. His tail is docked to about two-fifths of its natural length, but these days it is often left long.

Temperament:

Lively, playful, affectionate and intelligent, the German Wirehaired Pointer is easy to teach. He becomes wonderfully obedient with training and socialization and responds well to instructions to sit, come and stay.

He is an active dog and likes to be involved in the activities that his human family are involved in. He becomes bored and frustrated when he doesn’t get the exercise and attention he craves.

He isn’t suited to life in the city where the premises are small as he needs plenty of vigorous exercise every day. They do well in the country where they have plenty of place to run and where their hunting skills come into action.

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.

german wirehaired pointer dog - characteristicsGerman Wirehaired Pointers make awesome pets as they’re lively, playful, social and loving. They particularly suit living in a home where the people are active, outdoor types.

They make superb jogging- or cycling companions and will thrive on sharing these activities with a family member. He is a dog who has a need to be loved and included in all that his family gets up to. He wants lots of pats and stroking to show him that you care.

Give him the love and care he craves and you’re guaranteed to have the most wonderful loving pet.

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)

german wirehaired pointer puppies - health problemsGerman Wirehairs are generally healthy, and when you look after them well they can reach 12, 13 or 14 years of age. Also, if both German Wirehaired Pointer parents have certificates proving they were tested and cleared of hip dysplasia, hereditary eye diseases and blood-clotting disease, then your pet will have less risk of developing these conditions.

Your pet isn’t likely to get sick, but like all breeds of dogs, they're prone to certain diseases and conditions. Hip Dysplasia is something that can be noticed when your pet is still a puppy.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a heritable condition where the thigh bone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Your dog can battle with pain so that he no longer wants to play, he battles to get up after lying down and he may even begin to show signs of lameness. Arthritis can develop too.

Cataracts:

You’ll notice cloudiness on the eye lens that can grow over time. Not all cataracts impair vision, although there are some instances where vision loss is experienced. Cataracts can sometimes be surgically removed with good results.

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.

german wirehaired pointer dogs - caringYour German Wirehaired Pointer isn’t a heavy shedder so brushing his coat twice a week will be ideal for him to rid the coat of loose hairs.

Diet:

Your German Wirehaired Pointer is an active dog and this has to be taken into account when looking at diet. He will require a diet with quality protein. You’ve also got to look at things such as whether your dog is neutered or spayed as they require less calories. On the other hand there are dogs that will require more calories because of their activity levels.

Make sure your German Wirehaired Pointer eats a top quality dog food. Add in some homemade food such as cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat. You have to constantly remember that your dog’s health depends on the nutrition you provide.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Berger Picard vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  5. Berger Picard vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Berger Picard vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  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
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  17. Berger Picard vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Berger Picard vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
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  26. German Wirehaired Pointer vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  28. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. German Wirehaired Pointer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. German Wirehaired Pointer vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. German Wirehaired Pointer vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. German Wirehaired Pointer vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison