Picardy Spaniel
An old French gundog with a speckled brown coat, gentle and calm at home, sturdy and keen in wetland and woodland.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 55–62 cm · Females 55–60 cm
- Weight
- Males 20–25 kg · Females 19–24 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Wavy, medium
- Colours
- Brown, White, Roan, Tan
- Bred for
- Pointing, Retrieving, Water work
- Country of origin
- France
- FCI
- Group 7, no. 108 · 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, gentle gundog
- live near water or countryside
- enjoy long daily walks
Think twice if you …
- want a breed that is easy to find
- live in a small flat
- keep poultry or pet birds
Care
Temperament
Gentle, calm and affectionate, friendly to visitors and usually easy with dogs. Keen and persistent when working.
Exercise
Needs one to two hours a day, ideally with off-lead time and swimming. Field work, retrieving and long walks suit it.
Grooming
Weekly brushing of the slightly wavy coat; check ears regularly. Sheds moderately.
Training
Willing and fairly easy to train with gentle, positive methods.
Health
A robust breed; hip dysplasia and ear infections are the issues most often seen. Ask the breeder for hip and eye results of the parents.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Picardy Spaniel is one of the oldest French spaniel types, long used in the Somme region of northern France on waterfowl, woodcock and rabbit. It was officially recognised as a breed in the early 20th century, and the Blue Picardy Spaniel was later developed from it.
It is a calm, kindly dog that gets along well with families and other dogs. It enjoys water and rough ground and needs daily exercise, but it is not hyperactive in the house. It remains uncommon outside France.
Did you know?
For generations it was the dog of wildfowlers in the marshes around the Somme estuary.