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View 2 More +Ever watched a movie starring a dog and immediately thought to yourself that you wanted a dog just like that? Many of us have, but it can sometimes be a challenge to figure out what kind of dog breed a movie dog is. Take Winn Dixie from the 2005 film Because of Winn Dixie; it’s a beautiful dog, but what breed is Winn Dixie?
If you haven’t watched the film based on the 2001 Newbery Honor book, the story follows a little girl who finds a dog in a grocery store and, with its help, learns about making friends and more. The dogs that played Winn Dixie (yes, there were more than one) were all of a rarer breed from France, known as the Berger Picard. You may not be familiar with the Berger Picard, so keep reading to learn all about it!
The Berger Picard History
The Berger Picard breed is thought to be one of the oldest sheepdog breeds from France. Though dogs that look similar to this breed had been depicted in art for centuries prior, the breed didn’t make its first dog show appearance until 1863. However, these dogs weren’t formally recognized by the French Shepherd Club until 1925. The Berger Picard nearly went extinct during World War I and II, which is why it is so rare today.
How did the breed find its way to the United States? Though there had been attempts to get the breed to catch on going back to the 1970s, it wasn’t until Because of Winn Dixie that the Berger Picard became more widely known.
Berger Picard Traits
If you’re interested in adopting a Berger Picard, you should know a bit more about them to make an informed decision. To start, these dogs can end up weighing 50–70 pounds—making them medium-sized dogs—and can live for up to 14 years. The breeds’ coats can come in a variety of colors, including fawn, blue-gray, and brindle, and are drier and crispier to the touch rather than soft. But those coats don’t shed much and only require minimal grooming!
When it comes to Berger Picard’s personality, you’ll find that these dogs are comedians. They are always ready to perform to make you laugh. They are also able to easily pick up on the moods of their humans and will try their best to improve a bad one. The breed loves to show affection and is always ready to be active. These dogs do particularly well with teenagers but can work out well with smaller children, too. And because of their shepherd instincts, they are always on alert and incredibly protective.
The Berger Picard is also extremely intelligent, making it easier to train, which is something you’ll need to begin doing at an early age. That intelligence also means these pups can become easily bored if not given enough exercise and playtime, which can lead to destructive behavior.
Ideal Berger Picard Living Conditions
When it comes to the best living conditions for the Berger Picard, you’ll find the breed to be quite adaptable. Though highly suited for country living, these dogs can also do well in the city, so long as they get enough exercise. Of course, living in a city means more danger, so you’ll need to ensure your dog is leashed at all times while outside and stays close to you, which this breed prefers doing, so that should be no trouble.
If you do live somewhere with a big yard, ensure you have a fence tall enough that your dog can’t jump over it. The Berger Picard has a fairly high prey drive, so it will chase after almost any smaller thing it sees! And if your dog stays outdoors often, be aware that though they have a thick coat that can keep them warm when the weather gets chilly, they lack the body fat to stay in the cold for long periods.
Conclusion
The Berger Picard is a beautiful dog, but as a rarer breed, you may have issues finding one of your own. If you can locate one, though, you’ll find this dog to be comedic, loving, affectionate, and highly protective, just like Winn Dixie. You’ll also find they don’t need much in the way of grooming, which is always a plus! Just be sure you live somewhere that the Berger Picard will thrive and take care to keep yours safe by keeping yards fenced in and your pup on a leash on walks.
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Featured Image Credit: Characters by 20th Century Studios, The Walt Disney Company. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
