Blue Picardy Spaniel

Get to Know Blue Picardy Spaniels

• Distinctive Blue Coat: The breed’s unique “blue” coloration isn’t actually blue. It’s a blend of black and grey ticking across the coat, giving it a smoky steel-blue appearance that sets it apart from all other spaniels.
• Dual-Purpose Excellence: Unlike many gundogs specialized for one terrain, the Blue Picardy Spaniel excels in both wetlands and fields. They’re equally skilled at flushing and retrieving game on land or water.
• Uncommon Outside France: Despite their exceptional hunting ability and gentle nature, they remain one of the rarest spaniel breeds worldwide, with most purebred lines still concentrated in northern France and parts of Canada.
• Calm House Companions: Although bred for sport, they’re remarkably relaxed and affectionate indoors, making them easier house dogs than many other high-drive sporting breeds.
• A “Bridge Breed” Between Setters and Spaniels: Genetically and behaviorally, the Blue Picardy Spaniel occupies a unique place between the Setter and Spaniel groups, graceful and methodical in the field, yet people-oriented and eager to please at home.

Breed History

The Blue Picardy Spaniel originated in the Picardy region of northern France, near the mouth of the Somme River, in the early 20th century. The breed developed when English Setters and Picardy Spaniels interbred, an outcome of British hunters traveling to France and leaving their dogs behind during quarantine restrictions after World War I. This cross produced a dog with the grace and endurance of the Setter and the versatility and resilience of the French Spaniel. The result was a powerful yet elegant gun dog known for its distinctive blue-grey speckled coat and calm, even temperament. Today, the Blue Picardy Spaniel remains prized in France and Canada as both a skilled upland hunter and a devoted family companion.

Personality and Behaviour

• Gentle & Family-Oriented: Blue Picardys are affectionate and bond deeply with their families, thriving on companionship and inclusion in daily life.
• Calm but Energetic Outdoors: Indoors, they’re composed and affectionate; outdoors, they transform into focused, tireless hunters who love activity.
• Sociable with Other Dogs: They tend to get along well with other dogs and are generally friendly toward strangers when properly socialized.

Care

• Exercise: High; these dogs need daily outlets for both physical energy and scent work to remain happy and well-behaved.
• Training: They learn quickly and respond best to gentle, consistent training. Harsh corrections can dampen their enthusiasm.
• Grooming: Brush their coat two to three times a week, paying attention to feathering on legs and ears. Regular ear cleaning helps prevent infections common to floppy-eared breeds.