Picardy Spaniel
PIK-ar-dee SPAN-yul
France· Picardy and the Somme, northern France
The Picardy Spaniel is a medium-large pointing spaniel developed for wildfowling and rough shooting across the marshes and woods of northern France.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Large
Exercise needs
1-2 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
Medium or larger
Where it comes from
Origins of the Picardy Spaniel
Developed in the marshy lowlands of the Somme valley, the Picardy Spaniel was shaped by the wet, cold terrain of northern France, where hunters needed a hardy dog willing to work in reeds and water for waterfowl. It is considered one of the founding breeds behind several other French spaniels.
- Region
- Picardy and the Somme, northern France
- Climate it was bred for
- Cool, damp lowland with marsh and woodland
- Original job
- Pointing and retrieving waterfowl and game in marsh and woodland
The long read
About the breed
Its brief demanded resilience to cold water and wet cover, a strong nose and a calm, methodical working style, which produced a hardy, weatherproof dog with a naturally quiet, steady temperament rather than the high drive of some gundog breeds.
In the home the Picardy Spaniel is affectionate, easy-going and good with families, though it still needs regular exercise and enjoys water. It is not a breed that thrives left alone for long periods.
It remains a minority breed even in France, valued chiefly by wildfowlers and enthusiasts of traditional French gundogs, with very limited presence elsewhere.
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 Picardy 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 Picardy 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 Picardy 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
1700s
Marshland origins
Ancestral spaniels worked the wetlands of the Somme valley for wildfowlers.
1800s
Type consolidated
The breed was refined as a distinct type separate from the emerging French and Blue Picardy Spaniels.
1907
Breed club founded
Enthusiasts formed a club to define and promote the breed standard.
1936
FCI recognition
The Picardy Spaniel gained formal recognition from the FCI.
1990s
Conservation efforts
French breed societies worked to maintain numbers as a heritage gundog.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Well proportioned, deep chested with a firm, level back.
- coat
- Dense, flat or slightly wavy, weatherproof, with feathering on the legs and tail.
- ears
- Set fairly high, long and lightly waved, covered in fine hair.
- eyes
- Amber to dark brown, gentle in expression.
- head
- Fairly long with a slightly rounded skull, moderate stop and square-ended muzzle.
- size
- Dogs 55-60cm, bitches 55-60cm
- colour
- Grey speckled with brown (roan), sometimes with tan markings.
- temperament
- Calm, gentle and steady, a methodical rather than fast-paced worker.
- general appearance
- A medium-large, solidly built spaniel with a calm, dignified bearing, well suited to wet, cold conditions.
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
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Picardy Spaniels added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
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Made for the Picardy Spaniel
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Picardy 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
Picardy Spaniel Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Picardy Spaniel illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Picardy Spaniel Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Picardy Spaniel illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Picardy Spaniel Mug
Ceramic mug with the Picardy Spaniel illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
Slicker & Deshedding Brush
Self-cleaning slicker head for coats of every length.
Fits any dog
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