Blue Picardy Spaniel
Other names: Bleu Picard, Épagneul Bleu de Picardie
The Blue Picardy Spaniel was developed in France during the early 20th century. She descends from the Picardy Spaniel and English Setter. Like her close relatives, the Blue Picardy Spaniel is a highly energetic dog that needs around two hours of exercise each day. This versatile hunting dog can also make a great family pet, although they’re extremely rare outside of France and Northern Canada.
Key facts about the Blue Picardy Spaniel
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Origins and history
In the early 20th century, the area around the mouth of the river Somme was a popular hunting spot for French and British game hunters, but the British hunting parties were required by law to quarantine their dogs in the Picardy area. These English setters were cross-bred with french hunting dogs, and the Blue Picardy Spaniel was born. It was recognised as a separate breed in 1938 and is still a popular working dog in France and the French-speaking areas of Canada.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 7 - Pointing Dogs
Section
Section 1 : Continental Pointing Dogs
Physical characteristics of the Blue Picardy Spaniel
Adult size
Female : Between 22 and 27 in
Male : Between 22 and 24 in
Weight
Female : Between 33 and 40 lb
Male : Between 33 and 40 lb
Coat colour
Speckled blackish gray. The general appearance is that of a bluish dog, with black spots.
Type of coat
Medium length. Single layered. Flat or wavy.
Eye colour
Dark.
Description
The Blue Picardy Spaniel has a low, athletic frame, and is well built for work. This is a well-proportioned dog with a rich, silky coat. Her proud and alert posture reflects her personality and physical capabilities. She has a relatively broad, oval skull, and calm, expressive eyes. Like most other spaniels, the Blue Picardy has long floppy ears.
Good to know
The Blue Picardy Spaniel isn’t actually blue, although her grey coat takes on a “bluish” hue under certain kinds of lighting.
Around a 1,000 Blue Picardy Puppies are born in France every year. They’re also popular in Canada but virtually unheard of everywhere else.
Her exercise demands can’t be underestimated. She needs at least two hours of intense physical activity every single day.
Temperament
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Affectionate
This kind, soft-natured dog loves showing and receiving lots of affection.
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Playful
High-energy working dogs like the Picardy Blue love to play, and it’s really important for their early development and long-term health.
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Calm
As long as her needs are met, she will be calm and relaxed at home. She adapts very well to family life.
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Intelligent
Like most working dogs, the Blue Picardy is a quick learner with a natural desire to impress the pack leader. She is capable of understanding complex commands and rarely forgets a new “trick.”
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Hunter
These dogs are natural born trackers and retrievers. She has an exceptionally high-prey drive, and particularly likes hunting in wet terrain.
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Fearful / wary of strangers
Picardy Spaniels are social dogs that thrive off human company. They’re also very curious and keen to make as many human friends as possible.
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Independent
She loves her master, and will stick to them like glue.
Behaviour of the Blue Picardy Spaniel
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Tolerates solitude
These dogs are not suited to long periods of solitude. They form very strong bonds with their owners and will soon develop mental health issues if they’re not getting enough companionship.
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Easy to train / obedience
The Blue Picardy is a naturally obedient breed that responds really well to the right training methods. Sessions should be short, fun, and challenging.
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Barking
Generally pretty quiet. No specific issues with excessive barking.
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Tendency to run away
Keep a close eye on her during long walks off the leash and secure all outdoor areas. There is a chance she could run away.
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Destructive
Since she doesn’t like being lonely, she can do silly things if she is left too long without distractions.
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Greedy / Gluttony
Blue Picardys can be quite greedy; they’ll eat as much as you let them! So go easy on the doggy treats.
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Guard dog
Her great kindness and affection mean she is a pretty hapless guardian. She will ask for cuddles from any home intruder.
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First dog
The Blue Picardy Spaniel is easy to train and its gentle and obedient nature is a great match for the first-time dog owner.
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Is the Blue Picardy Spaniel right for you?
take the testLifestyle
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Blue Picardy Spaniel in a flat
She can adapt to life in a flat, as long as she gets plenty of walking time outdoors every day.
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Need for exercise / Sporty
These dogs need up to two hours of exercise each day. And they need lots of time off the leash. Ideally, they need to be exercised in large parks or the countryside.
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Travelling / easy to transport
Blue Picardy Spaniels make really good travel companions, although it’s a good idea to take her for a really big walk before any long journeys. As the saying goes, a tired dog is a well-behaved dog.
Compatibility
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Blue Picardy Spaniel and cats
These dogs were bred to track and chase furry creatures; they’re very likely to see any cats as potential prey unless they have grown up together.
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Blue Picardy Spaniel and dogs
The Blue Picardy Spaniel is a social animal that gets on really well with other dogs. These natural pack dogs quickly establish a hierarchy and rarely resort to aggressive or confrontational behaviour. Early socialisation is important to develop canine codes.
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Blue Picardy Spaniel and children
The playful Blue Picardy Spaniel is especially good with children, making her a great family pet.
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Blue Picardy Spaniel and the elderly
Personality wise, these dogs are well suited to elderly owners. However, some senior citizens may struggle with the Blue Picardy’s exercise demands.
Price
We do not have enough data to set an average price, but you can expect to pay upwards of £800 for a well-bred puppy. Looking after a dog of this size typically costs between £70 to £100 a month, including food, medical/insurance, and incidental expenses.
Grooming
Her long, silky coat requires a weekly brush to avoid knots. She should also be checked over after any hunts or forest walks.
Nutrition of the Blue Picardy Spaniel
2-3 cups of high-quality dog food every day. Either industrial or raw food are fine: it does not matter for this dog as long as the products are of good quality and that they answer her needs, in particular according to her daily expenditure.
Health of the Blue Picardy Spaniel
Life expectancy
The Blue Picardy Spaniel is a well-bred and very healthy animal with an average lifespan of 13 years.
Strong / robust
Working dogs tend to be strong and robust, and the Blue Picardy Spaniel is no exception.
Withstand heat
Picardy Spaniels have no problems dealing with warmer weather, although it’s best to avoid exercising them during the hottest parts of the day. They can get overexcited which may lead to heat exhaustion.
Withstand cold
These hardy dogs are well equipped for the cold weather. They have dense, insulating coats designed to keep them warm, and can safely dive in ice to recover game.
Tendency to put on weight
She is very greedy, and the risk of weight gain is significant. Maintaining a healthy body weight is crucial for any dog’s long-term health.
Common illnesses
- Ear infections
- Arthritis
- Obesity
- Hunting injuries