Winn Dixie is the dog character in the famous comedy family drama film “Because of Winn-Dixie” produced in 2005 in America. The film was actually based on the novel with the same name written by Kate DiCamillo. What kind of dog is Winn Dixie in the book and movie?
Winn Dixie is of the Picardy Shepherds dog breed in the book. This is clearly depicted on the book cover. Because of this familiarity with the readers, Winn Dixie is also of the Picardy Shepherds dog breed in the film. In total 4 picardy shepherd dogs played the role of Winn-Dixie including Scott and Lyco. And they were all from France as there were none of this breed of dog in US at that time.
The Picardy Shepherd also known as Berger Picard is a herding dog that originated from Picardy in France. This dog breed almost went extinct after the 2 World Wars and is considered as a rare breed today. An elegant-looking, medium-sized dog with a tousled appearance, the Berger Picard is well-muscled and moderately large. They have erect, high-set ears whose bases are quite wide. They have thick eyebrows, but do not cover their dark, frank eyes. Smiles are characteristic of them. Their natural tails extend to the hock and its tail tip has a slight J-curve. Their weatherproof coats are harsh to the touch. They are not too long and have a very minimal undercoat. The two most common coat colors are fawn and brindle.
This breed is known for its lively, intelligent personality, and for its sensitive, assertive nature, which responds well to obedience training. They are generally easygoing and mellow towards people, but they can be reserved with strangers. The first 2 years of their lives are a time when they need a lot of socialization. The picard is energetic and hardworking, alert, and does not bark excessively. This breed is notoriously picky when it comes to food.
In addition to their excellent sense of humor, they make great companions, and they are still used to effectively herd sheep and cattle both in their native lands and elsewhere. A Picard needs human companionship, as do many other herding breeds. Due to their ability to be demonstrative and enthusiastic towards their owners and other animals, positive socialization and obedience training are important.
The story is set in a small town, Naomi in Florida. There, Opal Buloni at the age of 10 moved over with his preacher father. It was in a Winn-Dixie supermarket where Opal met the dog Winn Dixie who was creating havoc in the supermarket. As Opal didn’t want to see the store manager send the dog to a shelter, she stepped forward and claimed that that was her dog. It was also then she named this dog as Winn Dixie.
Winn Dixie was very friendly and everyone who encountered the dog all liked it. This dog also helped Opal to renew her relationship with her dad whom she blamed for losing her mother.
There were 2 occasions when Opal nearly lost Winn Dixie forever. One day, Opal’s trailer park landlord wants the dog to be gone. Her dad then sent the dog to the animal shelter but brought back the dog after Opal’s pleas. During a thunderstorm, the dog ran away as it was frightened of thunderstorms. And Opal couldn’t find the dog. However, it returned subsequently.
The movie certainly highlighted the traits of a Picard in Winn Dixie. The easy going nature in a Picard was shown in Winn Dixie who makes friends easily and were well-liked by everyone it encountered in the movie. However, it doesn’t mattter what type of dog is Winn Dixie. In our hearts, Dixie has left a deep spot and surely, many will like this dog no matter what.