Épagneul Bleu de Picardie

The Épagneul Bleu de Picardie, or Blue Picardy Spaniel, is a French gundog from the country around the mouth of the River Somme. It took shape around the start of the 20th century from the local Picardy Spaniel and the English Setter, and is known for its blue-gray speckled coat. It is most numerous in France and Canada.

History

At the turn of the 20th century the Somme estuary was considered a paradise for wildfowlers. Because of British quarantine rules, shooters from the United Kingdom boarded their dogs in Picardy instead of taking them home. English Setter blood found its way into the local spaniels, and the Blue Picardy was the result.

A black and blue-gray spaniel was first recorded in 1875. The Picardy Spaniel was first shown in 1904, at the Paris canine exhibition, where it was classed as a French Spaniel. The Picardy Spaniel and Blue Picardy Spaniel Club was formed in 1907 and sorted the two kinds into separate categories, and France recognised the Blue Picardy as a breed of its own in 1938.

The first Blue Picardy in Canada was imported around 1987 by Ronald Meunier of Saint-Julien, Quebec, and the Canadian Kennel Club recognised the breed from 1 June 1995. It is also recognised by the FCI, the Société Centrale Canine and the United Kennel Club. The American Kennel Club does not yet recognise it, but registers it through its Foundation Stock Service.

Appearance

The Blue Picardy stands about 56 to 61 cm (22 to 24 in) at the withers and weighs around 20 kg (43 to 45 lb). The coat is speckled gray and black, which gives a bluish cast, with some black patches. It lies flat or slightly wavy, with feathering on the ears, legs, underside and tail.

The muzzle is long and broad. The thick ears are covered in silky hair and usually reach about to the tip of the muzzle. The chest is of medium size and comes down to the level of the elbows, and both front and hindquarters are well muscled. The tail is normally straight and does not usually extend past the hock.

The breed is very close to the Picardy Spaniel, and their standards are much alike. The plain difference is color: the Picardy is brown, while the Blue Picardy has the black and gray coat that came with the English Setter. The Blue Picardy is also described as the softer of the two.

Temperament

The Blue Picardy is considered a quiet dog, but it has great stamina and needs a lot of exercise. It is playful, responsive and obedient, thrives on human company and is said to be especially good with children.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.