Picardy Spaniel

The Picardy Spaniel is a French gundog and is thought to be one of the two oldest continental spaniel breeds. It is related to the Blue Picardy Spaniel and resembles it in many ways, but is the older of the two.

History

The Picardy Spaniel and the French Spaniel are believed to descend from the Chien d’Oysel described in the writings of Gaston Phoebus. Hunting was a favorite sport of the French nobility, and the French type of spaniel became the preferred hunting dog of French royalty. It appears in paintings by Alexandre-François Desportes and Jean-Baptiste Oudry.

After the French Revolution hunting was no longer limited to the nobility, and the breed grew more popular still. It was found across France but was most numerous in the northwest, where its weather-resistant coat suited the woods and swamps. In the 19th century British hunters began crossing the Channel to shoot there, bringing their own dogs. French hunters switched to the English breeds, which was a heavy blow to the Picardy Spaniel. English Setter blood introduced into the local spaniels at that time produced the Blue Picardy Spaniel.

The Epagneul Picard Club was formed in 1921. It merged with the Blue Picardy Spaniel club in 1937 and with the Pont-Audemer club in 1980. The FCI, the United Kennel Club and several smaller registries recognise the breed, all using the FCI standard. The Canadian Kennel Club does not.

Appearance

A typical Picardy Spaniel stands 56–61 cm at the withers and weighs 20–25 kg. That makes it slightly smaller than an English Setter and larger than most other spaniels. The body is square and muscular. The head is oval, with a long muzzle and long ears set fairly low. The coat is chocolate, chestnut brown and white, with sandy markings on the head and white or gray spots on the legs. The hair is abundant and slightly wavy, which lets the dog work in dense cover and in water.

Temperament

This is a docile dog that bonds closely with its owner and likes playing with children. It is described as gentle, sociable and laid-back, and fairly easy to train. In France it hunts pheasant in woodland and snipe in the marshes, and it is also used on duck, hare and rabbit. It works especially well in marshes, goes into water without hesitation and can retrieve when asked. It is content with a small amount of space and could live in a city, though it loves open country.

Care and health

The breed has no known hereditary health problems and lives about 14 years on average. Like other dogs with long hanging ears, it is prone to ear infections. It may also become overweight if overfed.

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