French Spaniel
A tall, gentle French pointing spaniel with a brown-and-white coat, patient at home and steady in the field.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 55–61 cm · Females 53–59 cm
- Weight
- Males 22–27 kg · Females 20–25 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Silky, medium
- Colours
- White, Brown, Roan
- Bred for
- Pointing, Retrieving, Companionship
- Country of origin
- France
- FCI
- Group 7, no. 175 · Pointing dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – High |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 2/5 – Low |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a calm gundog for family life
- enjoy long country walks
- like a moderate-grooming coat
Think twice if you …
- live in a small flat
- want a highly protective dog
- keep birds or poultry
Care
Temperament
Gentle, patient and affectionate; friendly with people and dogs. Calm indoors and keen outdoors.
Exercise
Needs one to two hours of activity a day. Field work, retrieving, swimming and long country walks suit it.
Grooming
Brush weekly, paying attention to feathering and ears. Sheds moderately.
Training
Willing and sensitive; responds well to gentle, consistent, reward-based training.
Health
Hip dysplasia and ear infections are the main known concerns, and a hereditary sensory neuropathy has been described in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip, elbow and eye results of the parents.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The French Spaniel, or Épagneul Français, is one of the oldest continental pointing breeds, descended from the setting dogs used in France for centuries. It declined in the 19th century as English breeds became fashionable, and a priest, Father Fournier, is credited with gathering surviving dogs and saving the breed around 1900.
It is the largest of the French spaniels: sturdy, calm and affectionate. It works methodically in the field and is easy-going at home, usually good with children and other dogs. It needs daily exercise and some opportunity to use its nose.
Did you know?
The breed has a strong following in Quebec, where it is one of the most popular pointing dogs.