Picardy Spaniel
About the Picardy Spaniel
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 22-24" |
| Weight | 44-55 lbs |
| Coat Type | Long |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $800-$1,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,200/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Picardy Spaniels may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- First-Time Owners
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Picardy Spaniel
The story behind the Picardy Spaniel
Northern France, and specifically the marshy country of Picardy and the Somme, produced spaniel-type gundogs long before formal breeds existed, and these dogs are counted among the older continental pointing spaniels. They worked mixed ground for local hunters, pointing and retrieving in wetlands where cold water and heavy cover were routine. English gundogs became fashionable in France during the nineteenth century, and the older French spaniels were pushed toward the margins; a distinct blue-grey mottled type from Picardy was separated from other French spaniels around that period and given its own standard. A related variety, the Blue Picardy, developed later from similar stock. Numbers dropped severely through the twentieth century's wars. French breed clubs sustained the type, and today it is recognised internationally but remains scarce, kept mainly by hunters in France with only scattered representation elsewhere.
Originally bred for: Pointing gundog, marshland retriever, wildfowl hunter. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Picardy Spaniel
A complete diet with moderate fat supports a working-built spaniel; dogs doing regular fieldwork in cold or wet conditions often need seasonally increased portions. Feed to a defined waist, since inactive pets of this type put on weight under the feathering without it being obvious.
Watch for: No characteristic food intolerance is associated with the breed. Recurrent ear inflammation in pendulous-eared spaniels is usually related to moisture from swimming, though food allergy is one possibility a vet may investigate if problems persist despite good ear care.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Picardy Spaniel
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.