The Blue Picardy Spaniel is descended from French Spaniels crossed with blue belton English Setters and Gordon Setters. In his home country of France, a club was formed in 1921 which also included his cousin the Picardy Spaniel. While heavily related, they are regarded as separate breeds. While the word “spaniel” is in his name, many of the large French “spaniel” breeds are actually pointing dogs – often versatile breeds also used for retrieving and tracking both on land and water. The Blue Picardy is no exception. Blues make fantastic companions to people of all ages, as long as they are given plenty of exercise.
Blues are generally quiet in the home and have an unassuming medium-sized frame that can be easy to keep in a house. That said, this is a versatile hunting dog who needs a good deal of both mental and physical exercise – at least an hour a day! Without being worn out each day with physically/mentally stimulating activities, they can develop bad behaviors and be much harder to keep as a housepet. Ideally, one would be owned by a hunter and/or someone who regularly trains for field trials.
The Blue Picardy Spaniel is easy to train and is usually quick to respond to commands, once taught. Many of this has to do with his highly social nature – he enjoys being in the presence of people, especially when they interact with him! This can either be through a game of fetch, a run on the beach, a cooperative hunting expedition, or by working on obedience commands. This breed has a great work ethic, stable temperament and possesses an agile physical prowess – the perfect combination of traits to compete in high level dog sports if one were so inclined! One might think about competing in flyball, tracking, agility or nose work to work both the body as well as the mind.
Blues do best when living in homes with large yards, as they do have boundless energy and stamina. While gentle-tempered, one cannot be expected to live in cramped quarters without eventually “bouncing off the walls”! They can also live with other dogs (or even cats) if desired, as they generally aren’t dog-aggressive, but it isn’t necessary. Primarily they require plenty of social time with their people, exercise and regular activities/work.
With their striking coats and beautiful appearance, one might think the Blue Picardy would be a popular breed but they are relatively unknown in most of the world. Their numbers are obviously higher in France, with some populations in Canada and even small numbers in the United States. As such they are considered a “well kept secret”, as they are exceptionally loyal and devoted companions and hunting dogs.
The Blue Picardy can make a good watchdog, for while he is usually quiet he will bark when people come to the door. Some also have a bit of a protective streak as well, but it will probably only come out in an actual dangerous situation. Overall this is a loving and friendly dog who often adores people regardless of size or age (assuming he’s had sufficient early socialization). The only thing an owner might want to be wary about is introducing him to the pet bird (or other small pocket pet) – as his hunting instincts might take over!
Blue Picardy Spaniels enjoy attention and hanging out with their people, and many want to get up close even if it means crawling up beside their owner on the couch! Many will carry around a ball just in case one is willing to play an impromptu game of fetch. Younger dogs have more energy and will often require more supervision until they reach the age of two or three, as they can be very curious and will look for adventure wherever they can get it – this may include counter surfing escapades. Make sure to set down house rules and be firm yet fair while enforcing them, being aware that this is a “soft” breed that can get intimidated by extra harsh reprimands. Once mature and over the puppy stage, this is a faithful companion who will undoubtedly bring joy and love (and lots of active adventures!) throughout his life.
