How to Groom a Berger Picard

The Berger Picard, also known as a Picardy shepherd, is a rare dog breed believed to be the oldest French herding dog. Berger Picards are bred for two main colors: fawn and gray, but different shades of these colors are also seen in this breed. The harsh overcoat and the soft undercoat make the Berger Picard easy to groom, but you need to perform regular teeth-brushing, eye and ear cleaning.

Things You'll Need

  • Bristle brush
  • Paper towel or cotton swabs
  • Eye dropper
  • Mineral oil or ear cleaner
  • Dog toothbrush and toothpaste or teeth scraper
  • Nail trimmer
  • Styptic pencil
  • Blunt-nosed scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush your pet using a bristle brush. The coat of Berger Picards is not typically prone to matting, so one brushing per month should suffice. You may however brush your dog more frequently to massage his skin and relax him before you perform other grooming activities.

    • 2

      Wipe off the debris from the dog's eye corners with a paper towel or a cotton swab to prevent the accumulation of bacteria in the eye region.

    • 3

      Remove dirt from your dog's ears to prevent the formation of mites and ear infections. Use an eye dropper and insert a few drops of ear cleaner or mineral oil in an ear. Massage the base of one ear and wipe off the debris. Do the same for the other ear. Perform ear cleaning once per week.

    • 4

      Brush your Berger Picard's teeth daily using a dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Perform circular movements and gently brush below the gum line as well, to remove the accumulated bacteria from this region.

      If your dog doesn't allow you to use a toothbrush, use your fingers to spread the toothpaste on his teeth. To avoid daily brushing, get a teeth scraper, which you only need to use two times per months. This tool scrapes off the plaque and tartar that accumulates.

    • 5

      Trim the nails twice per month using a nail trimmer to prevent nail infections. Long fingernails also affect the dog's walking and posture. Press on the paw to make the nails visible. Trim your dog's nails paying attention not to cut into the quick, which is darker than the rest of the nail in dogs with lighter skin. If the nail is bleeding, this indicates that you cut into the quick. Use a styptic pencil, which stops the bleeding.