Ears are an important part of Berger Picard type (pronounced “bare ZHAY pee CARR”). Naturally upright, the ears may droop while a Picard puppy is teething because of overused jaw muscles, but they typically regain their erect appearance once the permanent teeth are in. At that point, the moderately large ears (4-5 inches) are wide at the base, taper to a slightly rounded tip, and should be placed fairly high on the skull and carried at 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock positions at a perpendicular or slightly turned out position. It’s a head with ears held naturally erect that gives this terrific breed its intelligent and alert expression, but ears that aren’t erect, standing tall, or that are tipped forward are to be severely faulted in a conformation ring.

“Jean Luc” by Patty Dunlap is available as a print, poster, and greeting card here