The Picardy Blue Spaniel is a breed originating from the Picardy region of France, where it was bred for hunting. They have a distinctive blue-gray coat with mottled markings. Likewise, their ears are droopy and their eyes are expressive. They are affectionate, loyal dogs with a strong hunting instinct.
General details
The Picardy Blue Spaniel breed has a medium size and an athletic build. Its weight is around 20.5 kilograms and its height ranges between 56 and 61 centimeters. In addition, its life expectancy is 12 to 14 years. The breed is included in Group 7 of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), which groups show dogs.
Breed history in brief
The Picardy Blue Spaniel breed originated in France, specifically in the region of Picardy, in the north of the country. It was developed at the end of the 19th century by crossing French Spaniels with English blue Belton Setters and Gordon Setters, for hunting waterfowl.
The Picardy Blue Spaniel, despite having spread throughout France and other countries in Europe, remains a rare breed and in the past faced the risk of extinction after World War II. However, thanks to the efforts and dedication of committed breeders, extinction was avoided. Today, these dogs continue to be used for hunting, but are also appreciated as family companions.
Breed characteristics
The Picardy Blue Spaniel is characterized by a stocky, athletic build, with a moderately long back and loin and a slightly sloping croup. Their dark eyes are large and expressive, while their ears are thick, drooping and reach the end of the muzzle. Their tails are often docked and their legs have a characteristic webbing, which gives them exceptional swimming ability.
The coat may be smooth or slightly wavy, with feathering on the legs and tail. The coloration of the coat is black with gray mottling, which overall gives it a bluish appearance with black spots.
The friendly and affectionate temperament is one of the qualities of the Picardy Blue Spaniel. In addition, they are intelligent dogs, easy to train and with a strong prey instinct, so it is important to socialize them properly with other animals. These dogs have a great loyalty to their owners and establish very strong bonds with them. They are also patient, polite and very adaptable.
Common health problems
Information on the most common diseases in the Picardy Blue Spaniel breed is very limited. Even so, it is likely that it is predisposed to suffer from some of the most common disorders in dogs such as hip or elbow dysplasia, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, arthritis, glaucoma or volvulus-gastric dilatation.
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