The Blue Picardy Spaniel: temperament, price, health, and breeders

The Blue Picardy Spaniel is a French variety originating from the Picardy region, in northern France. Close to the Picardy Spaniel, it has over time received the contribution of the English Setter, which helped to fix its silhouette and above all its coat with bluish shades. The Club of the Picardy Spaniel and the Blue Picardy Spaniel was founded in 1907, then the breed was recognized in Europe in 1938.

The Blue Picardy Spaniel is a medium-sized pointing dog, harmonious and well built for work. Its coat is medium-long, flat to slightly wavy, with feathering on the limbs and tail. Its grey-black speckled and spotted coat gives a characteristic bluish impression. The head is well proportioned, the ears are furnished with wavy silky hair and the dark eyes express great gentleness.

At home, the Blue Picardy Spaniel is attached to its owner, calm and generally very pleasant with children. At work, it shows itself willing, enduring, fast and diligent. It is a versatile dog that likes to act in cooperation with humans rather than in total independence.

This dog needs an active life to remain balanced. It tolerates different living environments provided it benefits from long walks, regular stimulation and, ideally, scent work or hunting activities. It barks little, shows little protectiveness and often retains a flexible and stable attitude in everyday life.

Its training must combine consistency, gentleness and a small dose of firmness. Positive reinforcement works very well with this sensitive and willing breed, which likes to please its handler. Recall and control of hunting instincts must be worked on early and regularly.

The acquisition price often remains moderate for a still little-known French hunting dog, but it varies depending on the lineage, the breeder’s reputation and the follow-up offered. You must also take into account routine maintenance, health and equipment costs.

The Blue Picardy Spaniel is overall a hardy dog, with generally robust health when it is well cared for and properly monitored. It is not particularly known for accumulating many serious predispositions, but like many dogs with drooping ears and active outdoors, it deserves regular monitoring.

The Blue Picardy Spaniel needs a balanced, digestible diet adapted to its age, size and activity level. An active dog, it requires a good-quality ration, to be adjusted according to the intensity of physical exertion and the season.

Its coat with bluish highlights is the detail that most clearly distinguishes it from the Picardy Spaniel. A breed still relatively little-known, it is nevertheless appreciated for its versatility in the field, notably in wetlands and marshes. Its recognition in Canada is much more recent than its European recognition.