The Berger Picard is a really interesting and very old breed of French herding dog, nearly wiped from the face of the earth by the trench warfare in the Somme!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berger_Picard

Cool dog Bill.

Here's another that seems to be not too common.
A tear jerker story:

Shipperke: Supposedly a Belgian Ship Captains
watch dog. Friendliest dog I've ever seen.
She greets everyone the same, wagging tail and
a brief light bark "hello".

Friend of a g/f had her as a pup for 6-7yrs.
Art had bad infection. Everytime I'd drive to
his place Midnight would come running to the car
to greet me. When Art went to the hosp. about
every other week for a week I'd bring her home
to make sure she was ok. To be honest, SHE
adopted ME.

I took Art to the hosp. Next day went to see him
and he said: "George, I think I'm going to die
this time, I only have one worry" "what's that Art?"
"who's going to take care of my dog?
Everytime I come in here you take her home,
she seems to love you"
"Art, I'd love to have your
dog, your worries about that are over".
Art died the next morning. Midnight was 13 this
last March. She's in the way a lot, sleeps next
to my chair, in the doorway of the bedroom etc.
I can't even go pee without her moving to the
doorway nearest the head. Almost never barks
unless someone knocks and I don't hear it.
Even the mail man loves her.

George