The Breeder
Who are we?
Our first encounter with the Berger Picard was in 1994 (Juno des Grandes Oreilles was our first Picard). Before that we had owned dogs of various breeds but ever since we had the pleasure of being around a Picard our interest in dogs in general and the Picard breed in particular has grown. In the meantime this has escalated and we are now the proud owners of a number of Picards. We have welcomed the Picard into our home and hearts.
Is the Picard a suitable dog for you?
Most of the owners of Picardy Shepherds will tell you it is a very special breed of dogs. The Picardy Shepherd is not suitable for everybody. You need to develop the feeling to be able to handle the dogs correctly. This requires a great deal of ingenuity and creativity from the handlers side. Generally they are very sensitive dogs, especially in relation to their owner and the owners mood.
They need to be raised in a consistent manner, but not hard-handed. They are very intelligent dogs. Our Nouba for example can open all of the doors in our home (with exception of the ones with turning knobs). The Picard is a dog that is still very close to nature. Our Nouba has had several litters of which all the pups were born without human intervention. She raises the puppies herself and even vomits food for them as soon as she stops nursing.
What is also very special about the breed is that they continuously try to establish eye contact. They usually sense things before you notice them yourself. They are honest dogs. They tend to have a preference for people they know. When confronted with strangers they stay at a distance or simply ignore them. When they are puppies they can be very active. They are very energetic and are always in for play and games. At home they are usually more at ease.
Breeder "Van de Bovendijkse Hoeve"
As far as breeding is concerned, we occasionally have a litter. The pups are raised and socialized in our home. We put a lot of energy in socializing the dogs. For us it is essential to make the start of a very long dog life as good as possible. Because not everybody is suitable to raise a Picard, it is essential to us to get to know the people who have shown us their interest in this breed. As we are very concerned with the well-being of our pups the warranty is not limited to our front door. We encourage you to contact us whenever you have questions or problems. If, for one reason or the other, it would not work out between you and your Picard we will think with the owner of a good solution.
Also we try, together with the new owner, to choose a pup that is suitable for you (in which case we primarily look at the characteristics of the dog) and what you want to do with the dog (working dog, family dog, show dog, etc.). They are bred according to the regulations of the Picard association. This means that they are checked for hipdisplacement and hereditary eye impediments.
You can always contact us to make an appointment to get to know this wonderful breed of dogs.