Berger Picards are a rare breed and have a very small gene pool. That is why diligent care must be taken to preserve and protect the health of the breed. Responsible owners and breeders test the dogs for known conditions and continue to work together to inform each other of possible issues in the breed. No dog breed is disease free but by working together Berger Picard breeders hope to improve the health and strengthen the lines.
One source that is used in this capacity is the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) database. Eyes, Elbows, Hips, and Heart functioning are generally tested in breeding candidates.
Another source used by many breeders to help develop a more diverse genetic pool is BetterBred. Berger Picards have participated in a full genetic diversity profile and are able to use the information to better determine possible relatedness and inbreeding coefficients in upcoming liters.
