When passion turns into COMMITMENT...
The Berger Picards, as a breed and as unique dogs, have taken me on an adventure unlike any other. From the moment I first encountered this truly amazing breed in 2007, to this day, so much has happened. What a roller-coaster! I was humbled when a renowned breeder entrusted me with my first Picard; I was in total admiration when my first litter came into the world; I was over the moon when my first Picard earned her Canadian championshi; I was challenged when I struggled to understand high prey drive; I was amazed to witness true herding instinct. Every day with these surprising dogs was, and still is, a lesson. I was learning from the very best, I was learning from the dogs themselves! And I was not only learning about the Berger Picards, I was also learning about myself; they were pushing my limits.
After being involved with this breed for years, I've come to realize that what started out as the hope of breeding these rare dogs and helping assure the preservation of the breed turned into much more. Bringing people together around a common goal, educating the public, setting high breeding and ownership standards, and offering a national visibility to the breed, were only a few of the journeys the Picards took me on. The Berger Picard has become a life commitment; not a single day goes by without me devoting time to the Picards in many different ways. I wouldn't have it any other way and when I look in the eyes of my Picards I know it's all worth it.
Breeding a litter of Berger Picard puppies has become my very special moment, my long awaited reward in a busy year. It is the time to focus on one of my girls and choose a perfect male that will provide genetic diversity to the breed as well as offering qualities that will complement those of the mother. Then we wait. We observe interactions in the pack, Gaspar's behaviour, and any changes in the habits of the mother to be. Slowly the signs of an ongoing pregnancy appear. The three months we spend preparing puppies to go out in the world are for us all, humans, canines and felines, very sweet moments. This is the time when everything slows down; where we all come closer to observer, nurture, and protect these brand new lives; where we all become educators of the little ones, giving them each, in our own way, the tools to become wonderful Picards like those who preceded them.
After being involved with this breed for years, I've come to realize that what started out as the hope of breeding these rare dogs and helping assure the preservation of the breed turned into much more. Bringing people together around a common goal, educating the public, setting high breeding and ownership standards, and offering a national visibility to the breed, were only a few of the journeys the Picards took me on. The Berger Picard has become a life commitment; not a single day goes by without me devoting time to the Picards in many different ways. I wouldn't have it any other way and when I look in the eyes of my Picards I know it's all worth it.
Breeding a litter of Berger Picard puppies has become my very special moment, my long awaited reward in a busy year. It is the time to focus on one of my girls and choose a perfect male that will provide genetic diversity to the breed as well as offering qualities that will complement those of the mother. Then we wait. We observe interactions in the pack, Gaspar's behaviour, and any changes in the habits of the mother to be. Slowly the signs of an ongoing pregnancy appear. The three months we spend preparing puppies to go out in the world are for us all, humans, canines and felines, very sweet moments. This is the time when everything slows down; where we all come closer to observer, nurture, and protect these brand new lives; where we all become educators of the little ones, giving them each, in our own way, the tools to become wonderful Picards like those who preceded them.
EVERY MOMENT SPENT WITH A pICARD IS A MOMENT OF pure JOY!
Ella Dee always so loyal and focussed
|
|
I have been told that these are a few of the qualities and defaults that represent me the best: loyal, resourceful, energetic, determined, and not very social.... but wait, that sounds a lot like my Picards! Oh well, I guess that's why I have a deep understanding of this breed and insist on respecting the way they are meant to be, without trying to make social butterflies or submissive dogs out of them.
Being true to a breed is accepting it as a whole.
Being true to a breed is accepting it as a whole.
NOBLE PICARD KENNEL
copyright 2022
