Grooming the Berger Picard

By Cindra Grooming Products — USA-Made Professional Grooming Essentials

The Berger Picard is a rustic French herding breed known for its rough coat, expressive face, and natural working-dog appearance. Proper grooming focuses on preserving coat texture, supporting skin health, and maintaining the breed's natural outline without excessive styling.

Coat

The Berger Picard's coat is intentionally rough, dry, and weather-resistant — a functional working coat developed for herding and farm work in harsh outdoor conditions. The breed standard describes a harsh outer coat with a slightly softer undercoat that repels dirt, moisture, and debris. A properly groomed Picard should never appear fluffy, blown-out, or overly styled. Texture is the defining characteristic, and preserving it is the primary goal of grooming.

Character

Berger Picards are intelligent, observant, and deeply loyal to their families. Bred to work independently while still responding to human direction, they have a thoughtful and sometimes humorous personality. They respond best to relaxed, predictable grooming sessions rather than excessive restraint or complex routines.

Recommended Cindra Products

Texturizing Shampoo — cleans without softening coat structure
Reconstructor — for skin and coat recovery
Super Coat — for friction reduction and coat management while brushing
Maxi Care Leave-In Conditioner — for brushing and daily coat maintenance

Common Coat Problems & Solutions

Problem	Cause	Solution
Coat becoming soft or fluffy	Over-conditioning or frequent bathing	Reduce bathing frequency and use Texturizing Shampoo.
Dry skin	Climate or seasonal changes	Use Reconstructor diluted and applied to the skin.
Matting behind ears	Friction zones	Finger-separate early and lightly mist Super Coat.
Dull coat	Environmental buildup	Bathe occasionally with Texturizing Shampoo.
Seasonal shedding	Natural coat cycle	Increase brushing and remove loose coat gradually.

Hands-On Grooming Guide

Routine Brushing

Brush 1–2 times weekly using a pin brush followed by a wide-tooth comb. Focus on friction areas: behind the ears, under the collar, and around the tail base.

Hand Stripping

Some Berger Picards benefit from occasional hand stripping to remove dead outer coat and encourage healthy new growth while maintaining harsh texture.

Bathing

Picards rarely need frequent bathing — their coats naturally repel dirt. Bathe only when necessary using Texturizing Shampoo.

Static Control

In dry climates or during seasonal coat changes, a light mist of Super Coat reduces friction during brushing.

Seasonal Shedding

Berger Picards shed moderately during seasonal coat changes. Increasing brushing in spring and fall removes loose undercoat and maintains healthy skin.