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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+2
Dogs
# The Berger de Savoie: temperament, price, health, and breeders
France
A rustic, vigilant and affectionate Savoyard shepherd, made for space and activity.
Size MediumLife expectancy 12–14 yearsBudget ≈ €107/monthPuppy €800 – €1,500
[Find a breeder 1](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-berger-de-savoie) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=berger-de-savoie)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Very good
Daily exercise needs High
Apartment living Fair
First-time owners Good
Other pets Very good
Tolerance of being alone Fair
Guarding instinct Very good
Strengths and weaknesses
- Robust and hardy: Its rugged build and mountainous history allow it to sustain regular activity.
- Affectionate and close to its own: It maintains a close bond with its owner and its family.
- Vigilant: Its attention to suspicious approaches makes it a natural guardian of property and herds.
- Good activity partner: It enjoys hikes, dog sports, and missions that make it useful.
- High activity needs: Inactivity and boredom are difficult for him to tolerate.
- Not very suitable for apartment living: He needs space and thrives better in an environment close to nature.
- Training sensitivity: A harsh method should be avoided despite the firmness necessary for his learning.
- Likely seasonal shedding: His double coat may require more frequent brushing in spring and autumn.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Active owner: He willingly accompanies long outings, hikes and dog sports.
- Home close to nature: A house with a large fenced garden better meets his need for space.
- Person looking for a useful dog: He likes to be given a guarding, herding or structured activity mission.
- Home with other animals: His background as a herding dog and his sociability encourage good animal harmony.
Not recommended for
- Very sedentary person: His daily need for exercise and stimulation is significant.
- Living in cramped housing: Apartments and confined spaces do not meet his need for freedom well.
- Owner often absent: He demands presence and has difficulty coping with prolonged boredom.
- Coercive training: His sensitivity makes harsh methods particularly unsuitable.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
51 cmBerger de Savoie
- Height at the withers
- 47–55 cm
- Weight
- 20–30 kg
- Coat
- Short or medium-long, double, dense
- FCI group
- Shepherd dog (not recognized by the FCI)
- Origin
- France
- Grooming
- Easy to care for
## Photos and videos
See the Berger de Savoie in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The Berger de Savoie is a breed with very ancient origins, long used for driving and guarding herds of cows in a mountainous environment. Its name is said to have been given by the Swiss architect Marcelle Bruder, who adopted a representative of this canine population in 1947 during a stay in Savoie and later understood that it was not a simple crossbred dog. The name Berger des Alpes appeared later. Its characteristics result mainly from natural selection, human intervention having been limited. The breed is not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The Société du Berger de Savoie, created in 2002, works for its preservation.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
The Berger de Savoie is a medium-lined dog of medium size, muscular and with a solid bone structure without appearing heavy. Its body, longer than it is tall at the withers, fits into a rectangle. Its medium-sized head is well proportioned. Its triangular ears, medium and folded, fall to the sides and rise slightly at their base when it is attentive. Its fairly large eyes can be hazel or blue, sometimes wall-eyed in harlequin subjects. Its topcoat, short or medium-long, harsh, thick, dense and lying flat, is associated with an undercoat. The coat is black and tan or harlequin and tan, with white markings of variable intensity. The tail, set at medium height, is carried in a sickle when the dog is attentive.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
Resistant, hardy and vigilant, the Berger de Savoie brings together the qualities expected of a mountain and herding dog. Very close to its owner and its family, it is affectionate, playful, intelligent and docile. Attentive to suspicious approaches when guarding a property, it also appreciates the company of other animals. It likes to work and to make itself useful.
Affectionate Playful Sociable Protective
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
The Berger de Savoie needs space, freedom, activity and the presence of its owner. It tolerates inactivity and boredom poorly and thrives more near nature, ideally in a house with a large fenced garden. Long and frequent daily outings are necessary for it. It enjoys hikes, dog sports and missions such as guarding a herd or the house. Life in an apartment or in cramped housing suits it little.
Training
## Training and socialization
Intelligent, obedient and motivated by work, the Berger de Savoie is relatively easy to train. Its training must be consistent and show a certain firmness in order to prevent undesirable behaviors, without any brutality because this dog is sensitive.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Berger de Savoie
The price of a Berger de Savoie varies depending on the lineage, the seriousness of the breeding, the screenings and the socialization. The maintenance budget (food, veterinary care, training) often exceeds the purchase price over time.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/berger-de-savoie/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
The Berger de Savoie is a rustic, sturdy and resilient dog, well suited to life in the mountains. Its double coat provides good protection against cold and bad weather, without making it insensitive to extreme weather conditions. No particular predisposition to a disease or an abnormality is reported for the breed.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/berger-de-savoie/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The Berger de Savoie is not known to be difficult in terms of diet. It can be given a traditional or industrial diet provided that it is balanced and suited to its age, its weight, its size and its level of activity.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/berger-de-savoie/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
The Berger de Savoie is also called the Alpine Shepherd. The breed owes its name to Marcelle Bruder, who discovered in 1947 in Savoie a dog that she first thought was a crossbreed before identifying a well-defined canine variety. A dedicated association, the Société du Berger de Savoie, has been working since 2002 to safeguard this canine population not recognized by the FCI.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Berger de Savoie
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Can the Berger de Savoie live in an apartment?
Life in an apartment suits him poorly. This active dog needs space, long daily outings, freedom and presence. A house close to nature with a large fenced garden better matches his needs.
### Is the Berger de Savoie easy to train?
He is relatively easy to train thanks to his intelligence, obedience and taste for work. Consistent training, fairly firm but never harsh, is recommended because of his sensitivity.
### Does the Berger de Savoie get along with children and other animals?
He is described as close to his family and very comfortable with other animals. His compatibility with children and other dogs is rated favorably, provided there is socialization and supervised interactions.
### How much exercise does the Berger de Savoie need?
He needs long and frequent outings every day. Hikes, dog sports and activities that give him a mission suit his working-dog temperament well.
### Is the Berger de Savoie recognized by the FCI?
No. The breed is not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The Société du Berger de Savoie, created in 2002, works to safeguard it.
## Find a Berger de Savoie breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Berger de Savoie breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
### Berger de Savoie breeders by country
[1 breeder of Berger de Savoie in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-berger-de-savoie)
[All breeders of Berger de Savoie in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-berger-de-savoie)
## Ready to welcome a Berger de Savoie?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-berger-de-savoie)
## Discover other breeds
[Picardy Shepherd
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/picardy-shepherd)
[Briard
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/briard)
[Pyrenean Shepherd
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[Cursinu
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