We know where it starts but never know where it will end!
Deva des Mandarines Bleues sleeping on her mama's legs
My Picard adventure started in 2007. In the most unexpected way, I discovered a somewhat scruffy-looking dog with huge upright ears, a big black nose, an intense look and yes, a huge smile: a Berger Picard!!! I felt an instant connection and truly believed I had found the perfect dog for me.The more I learned about this breed the more I was hooked!
Naturally I turned to their country of origin and asked for information from the French breed club and they directed me towards a few breeders. I had been studying Berger Picard pedigrees for some time and had my mind set on a few Picards I wanted to find in the lineage of my new canine companion. I was looking for a dog with a strong temperament and a well balanced structure but above all the sense of initiative we've heard so much about in Picards. Thus began a long series of exchanges with Ms. Catherine Pautot, a passionate Berger Picard breeder in the area of Poitou-Charente, France.
On May 19th, 2008 two puppies born out of CH Tézé des Mandarines Bleues and CH Verlaine de la Tour Philippe, one male and one female. When I heard the news I was happy and sad at the same time. Sad because I was sure I wouldn't get the puppy I was hoping for as I knew this was Tézé's last breeding and Catherine would want to keep the little female. Happy because that the little female we both were hoping for was there to continue this nice line of Picards. And then it happened! Catherine wrote saying that she would like to see Tézé and Verlaine's puppy come to Canada and become the foundation bitch of my breeding program. Needless to say I was ecstatic!
It was love at first sight and the longest two months of my life. As long as I live I will remember the journey to meet her and those first minutes where we just sat there observing each other; then she came to me and we became an inseparable team. We traveled through France for a week before heading home and when I got on that plane I knew this was the beginning of something very special!
Naturally I turned to their country of origin and asked for information from the French breed club and they directed me towards a few breeders. I had been studying Berger Picard pedigrees for some time and had my mind set on a few Picards I wanted to find in the lineage of my new canine companion. I was looking for a dog with a strong temperament and a well balanced structure but above all the sense of initiative we've heard so much about in Picards. Thus began a long series of exchanges with Ms. Catherine Pautot, a passionate Berger Picard breeder in the area of Poitou-Charente, France.
On May 19th, 2008 two puppies born out of CH Tézé des Mandarines Bleues and CH Verlaine de la Tour Philippe, one male and one female. When I heard the news I was happy and sad at the same time. Sad because I was sure I wouldn't get the puppy I was hoping for as I knew this was Tézé's last breeding and Catherine would want to keep the little female. Happy because that the little female we both were hoping for was there to continue this nice line of Picards. And then it happened! Catherine wrote saying that she would like to see Tézé and Verlaine's puppy come to Canada and become the foundation bitch of my breeding program. Needless to say I was ecstatic!
It was love at first sight and the longest two months of my life. As long as I live I will remember the journey to meet her and those first minutes where we just sat there observing each other; then she came to me and we became an inseparable team. We traveled through France for a week before heading home and when I got on that plane I knew this was the beginning of something very special!
Deva des mandarines bleues May 19th 2008 - june 3rd 2020
nEVER FORGOTTEN
Deva was my first Berger Picard and she taught me so much: I learned not to take myself too seriously especially when training dogs. Her sense of humour brought me back to the essential more than once. For a Picard she is a very laid back dog, although she has a very strong temperament. She is a happy go lucky dog most of the time but when she decides she will not do something, then she becomes the most determined, not to say stubborn dog I've ever met. I will always remember when we were practicing herding and the instructor kept slamming the rattle paddle in front of her face to discourage her from getting too close to the sheep. Deva just stopped, looked at her, turned around and went to the end of the field, lay down in the shade and wouldn't budge from there. I had to laugh to myself as I could just imagine her thinking, "If you don't like the way I'm gathering the sheep go and get them yourself". Typical Picard behaviour! These dogs require respect and calm leadership to collaborate in the most efficient way, and some leeway to express their creativity. I still laugh when I think of her at the end of that field lying flat on her belly in the most relaxed Picard stretch.
Ella Dee de la Vallée d'ottawa
January 14th 2009 - March 21st 2020
NEVER FORGOTTEN
Ella Dee is very close to my ideal Berger Picard! She is all I've read about Picards and attracted me to them. She is a dog of contrast; able to be a fierce guard dog and at the same time the softest puppy sitter; a tireless working dog as much as the most sensitive companion. She is a lot like the rustic Picards with a short and very harsh coat. She came to us with big shoes to fill. We had just lost our Great Dane Cassie, Deva as much as me was having trouble adjusting to that emptiness. She became Deva's best friend and my most rewarding Picard challenge. It took me a while to understand what were the triggers for this intense dog and how I could help her channel her energy. She had such a desire to work and natural herding abilities. At eight months old she had the strength of character and ability to round up cattle and hold them in the corner of the field all by herself. She is absolutely fearless and imposes respect, but at the same time she is extremely sensitive and gentle. We call her "the general" as she makes sure no fights erupt in the pack. She is Deva's right arm in keeping peace and harmony among the six dogs and two cats of the house. My biggest regret as a breeder is not having offspring from her, I'm sure she would have been an amazing Mom and would have produced exceptional Picards.
CAN Ch, FCC Ch, ukc ch Fancy free phoebe noble picard GCN July 05th, 2010
Crazy Phoebe as we call her! Phoebe is the least Picard-like of all my Picards. Picards aren't supposed to be social butterflies yet she thrives on attention and will literally talk anyone into giving it to her. She completely skipped reading the "aloof" part of the breed standard, not too inclined to work either... Searching for treats is a game we play almost every morning while I have my coffee. I hide treats all over the house and then call the dogs in and tell them to search. To this day she still follows Deva or Ella around, letting them find the treat, and they still treat her like a puppy and let her take some. She does the same thing with the stick, she lets Ella find it in the bush; and takes it from her to give it to me.... She's pretty good at finding the easy way out of work; that is where she shows her true Picard qualities, smart and resourceful. Her extravert disposition brought her to conformation rings where she earned many titles. She is to this day the only Canadian female Berger Picard who holds three championship titles; she her earned her CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) championship title, then her FCC (Fedération Canine Canadienne) title and her UKC (United Kennel Club) title. She retired from showing in 2017 but still enjoys the crowds. At nine years old she still acts like a puppy and is always happy! She is the dog to go to if you need cheering up; she has a real Joie de Vivre!
gaspar de l'abbaye des sources bleues February 22nd 2011 - july 7th, 2020
NEVER FORGOTTEN
The Berger Picard being such a rare breed, one of the most difficult tasks a breeder is faced with is finding the most suitable male. When I set out on this adventure my plan was to have only females, and lease the services of the most compatible stud dog for each one of my bitches. Which I did until I met GrCh Caesar de la Vallée de Crève Coeur; he was a stunning Picard. I was truly honoured when his owner Patrick Rogez agreed to send me his precious semen from France to inseminate Deva. But he did much more than send me semen; he offered to give me the first choice on the litter Caesar had just sired with the beautiful Diva des Garous d'Ébène, an offer I could not resist... A little l'Abbaye des Sources Bleues puppy would join the pack!
I had always been hesitant about welcoming an intact male in a household with four girls, now five. Gaspar proved me wrong; even when the girls are in heat he remains respectful. He has always been such an easy dog. With his keen sense of smell able to the perfect breeding time, he has become my reference. Gaspar is a very impressive dog when you don't know him, but in fact he is the most gentle and cuddly Picard I have met. He is now a granddaddy and it is amazing to see how much of his great looks he passes on to his offspring, just like his father before him. In the Picard community people know what the "Caesar" head looks like and we recognize it four and five generations down. Proud and Noble, those genes don't lie!
I had always been hesitant about welcoming an intact male in a household with four girls, now five. Gaspar proved me wrong; even when the girls are in heat he remains respectful. He has always been such an easy dog. With his keen sense of smell able to the perfect breeding time, he has become my reference. Gaspar is a very impressive dog when you don't know him, but in fact he is the most gentle and cuddly Picard I have met. He is now a granddaddy and it is amazing to see how much of his great looks he passes on to his offspring, just like his father before him. In the Picard community people know what the "Caesar" head looks like and we recognize it four and five generations down. Proud and Noble, those genes don't lie!
G'ziva -grignotte- du noble picard May 25th 2011
When little Ziva came along she was fulfilling one of my dreams. I knew I had brindle puppies on the way as this was a very special breeding with World Champion Caesar de la Vallée de Crève Coeur, a stunning brindle French stud, but I hoped for at least one girl to complete my furry family. And there she was with her little sister Gypsy. I like a dog with a strong and spirited temperament, and the choice between the two became rapidly obvious. Ziva does everything as if there were no tomorrow; she is spunky, vibrant and energetic. Living with Ziva is like drinking champagne at 09:00 in the morning; not always respectful of conventions but always up for a party.
She learns fast, loves to bend rules and invent new ones; her energy is passionate and enthusiastic; she always has a smile but can also be serious and focused when it comes time to work. The one thing she takes very seriously is family. She is extremely compassionate; she stayed by our old cat's side right to the end when he had cancer. Nothing can distract her when she is out front on guard duties; when we don't know where Ziva is, the first place we look is on the first step of the front porch and there she is making sure we are safe. She is also an extremely good mama, with just the right dose of craziness to play with the pups and seriousness to be a great educator. She might not be the type of dog for everyone but she certainly is the dream dog for someone who wants a dog with personality and drive. She gave us three beautiful litters and I hope her line will continue through her offspring.
She learns fast, loves to bend rules and invent new ones; her energy is passionate and enthusiastic; she always has a smile but can also be serious and focused when it comes time to work. The one thing she takes very seriously is family. She is extremely compassionate; she stayed by our old cat's side right to the end when he had cancer. Nothing can distract her when she is out front on guard duties; when we don't know where Ziva is, the first place we look is on the first step of the front porch and there she is making sure we are safe. She is also an extremely good mama, with just the right dose of craziness to play with the pups and seriousness to be a great educator. She might not be the type of dog for everyone but she certainly is the dream dog for someone who wants a dog with personality and drive. She gave us three beautiful litters and I hope her line will continue through her offspring.
Guillaume du noble picard
May 25th 2011
When Deva had this very special litter with Caesar de la Vallée de Crève Coeur, one male puppy really stood out, he had great structure and the beautiful wide forehead I just love in Picards. You never can be absolutely sure how a puppy will turn out but this one was certainly a keeper... I had decided to keep a female from this litter and I was just back from picking up baby Gaspar in France. Having two puppies at the same time was already a crazy project so I certainly couldn't handle a third one. Luckily the perfect couple came along, wanting a beautiful boy as a companion dog but with the will to promote the breed and show him. Off went Gui to Seattle with Janice and Bob where he became the amazing dog inside and out I had suspected he would be. He kept his line going by fathering great puppies who grew up to become champions.
can ch, FCC ch just shine jajaBoo noble picard GCN rati october 30th 2014
JajaBoo started out in life as "Je T'aime JajaBoo Noble Picard". At 10 weeks old she left for the USA but just could not adapt to her new family, as loving as they were. She came back three weeks later; there was something special about this little dog, as if we had such a tight heart to heart bond that there was just no letting go. She is out of Gaspar and Deva, and it appears her destiny is to stay here with Mom and Dad, and our family would not be complete without her. When she came back I changed her name to Just Shine JajaBoo as that was my wish for her; I just wanted her to shine bright, be happy and worry free, and that is exactly what she did. At three months old she started showing; enjoyed all the attention and made many judges laugh; at ten months old she already had a championship title and a Good Canine Neighbour certification. We tried all kinds of activities. She loves rally-o and agility and has a great nose for scent detection, but finally, I think her favorite activity is just hanging out with me. She is my shadow dog; I could not dream of sweeter, more loyal and devoted companion. She had her first litter in 2018 with Noble Jules de l'Avocat de la Tour and turned out to be a great mom.
Noble Picard's take a number naeda itd, rI, RATN, SDIN
April 17th 2017
Naeda is one of the luckiest dogs I know. At barely two years old she has done so many things and has performed so brilliantly, picking up plenty of ribbons and awards along the way. Here are a few of the disciplines in which she has taken part and succeeded; herding, barn hunt, scent detection, formal obedience, rally-obedience, agility, dock-diving and dog tricks. She also made a few appearances in conformation, but honestly, for now she would much rather work in more active fields. Naeda is out of Ziva Noble Picard and GrCh MyEdan de la Vallée d'Ottawa. She has her mother's spunk and her father's elegance. Naeda has the good fortune to live in an active family with two canine companions. When she is not out learning new skills she is either meeting up with Picard friends or hiking with her devoted human. A great ambassador for the breed!
Opéra rock d'Aglaé noble Picard
&
OVATION POUR FLORA NOBLE PICARD
november 17th, 2018
Aglaé and Flora are part of my hopes for the future. For now they are learning about the big wide world out there, growing up nicely and being loved in their respective families. Berger Picards are like fine wine; you have to let them mature to get the full spectrum of their qualities. Skillful guidance will help them blossom and show their true nature much more than intense training which tends to be frustrating for a Picard. Time, patience and love are the key ingredients in raising a well balanced Berger Picard. Flora took her first steps in the conformation ring and her sister Aglaé won the best female expression at our national specialty; two little females we should be watching out for in the coming years!
pedigree's and health testing
The pedigree of all Noble Picard breeding stock can be found in the Pawpeds database and the results of their health tests are kept in the public Orthopedic Foundation for Animals registry and are available to anyone who wishes to consult them. www.pawpeds.com - www.OFA.org
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