French Spaniel
french SPAN-yul
France· Northern and central France
The French Spaniel is a tall, elegant pointing and retrieving gundog, one of the largest of the continental spaniel-type breeds and among the oldest in France.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Large
Exercise needs
2 hours+ per day
Home size suited to
Medium or larger
Grooming frequency
Weekly brush
Coat length
Medium
Sheds
Moderate
Lifespan
12-14 years
Town or country
Country preferred
Garden size needed
Large, secure
Where it comes from
Origins of the French Spaniel
One of the oldest French pointing breeds, descended from medieval bird dogs and refined through the 19th and 20th centuries by the Abbé Fournier, who worked to preserve the type as smaller spaniel breeds gained popularity. Its size and stamina suited the large mixed estates of northern France.
- Region
- Northern and central France
- Climate it was bred for
- Temperate, mixed farmland, woodland and wetland
- Original job
- Pointing and retrieving game over varied countryside
The long read
About the breed
Its working role across large estates demanded a big-going dog with a good nose, a soft mouth for retrieving and enough substance to work all day in cover and water. This shaped an athletic, deep-chested dog with a calm, biddable temperament suited to a variety of quarry.
At home the French Spaniel is gentle and devoted, generally good with children and other dogs, though it needs a great deal of exercise and mental stimulation drawn from its working background; a sedentary lifestyle does not suit it.
Today it remains popular with French hunters and is slowly gaining a following elsewhere in Europe and North America as a versatile family and field companion.
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Friendliness
3/5
How openly the French Spaniel greets people it does not know.
Trainability
3/5
How readily the breed takes to training in an ordinary home.
Energy
3/5
How much daily exercise and stimulation the breed expects.
Barking
3/5
How vocal the breed tends to be day to day.
Grooming
3/5
How much coat work the breed needs to stay comfortable.
Suits a first-time owner
3/5
How forgiving the French Spaniel is for someone taking on their first dog.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Skull
The French Spaniel's skull is judged on balance rather than size — proportionate to the body, with a clean cheek and a stop typical of the breed. Coarseness or an over-refined head are both faulted.
Timeline
History & development
1300s
Early bird dogs
Ancestral pointing spaniels of this type are depicted in French medieval hunting texts.
1850s
Distinct type emerges
The larger French Spaniel type was distinguished from smaller continental spaniels.
1891
Club founded
The Abbé Fournier established a breed club to preserve the type against declining numbers.
1949
FCI recognition
The breed was formally recognised by the FCI.
1990s
Renewed popularity
Numbers recovered in France as hunters valued its versatility over rough and wetland terrain.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Long and deep chested with a level back and well-sprung ribs.
- coat
- Medium length, flat or slightly wavy, with feathering on ears, chest, legs and tail.
- ears
- Set at eye level, long and lightly fringed, lying flat against the head.
- eyes
- Well open, dark amber to brown, giving a soft, intelligent expression.
- head
- Long and refined, with a slightly rounded skull, moderate stop and long square muzzle.
- size
- Dogs 58-61cm, bitches 56-59cm
- colour
- White with brown markings, ranging from liver to chestnut, sometimes ticked.
- temperament
- Gentle, biddable and devoted, energetic and keen when working.
- general appearance
- A large, elegant pointing spaniel with a lean, athletic build and gentle expression.
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
Dogs like this
French Spaniels added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
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Made for the French Spaniel
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own French Spaniel illustration — and one everyday accessory that suits any dog.
The book
Pawpoint: The Complete Dog Breed Book
Every officially recognised breed plus the unofficial ones nobody else documents. 400+ pages, hardback, printed and shipped from the UK.
Own stock — shipped by us
Framed poster
French Spaniel Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our French Spaniel illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
French Spaniel Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the French Spaniel illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
French Spaniel Mug
Ceramic mug with the French Spaniel illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
Treat Pouch
Magnetic-close belt pouch for training sessions.
Fits any dog
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