A long-legged spaniel with setter characteristics, the Blue Picardy Spaniel is a versatile sporting dog with a reputation for locating and retrieving game under the most adverse conditions. Its singular elegance comes from its typical coat — a silver-grey to grey-black speckled blend that forms a distinctive bluish shade, with or without black patches.
Flexible and gentle with an even temperament, the Blue Picardy is well adapted to family life — placid and never aggressive, athletic, and always ready for a daily walk to work off its energy. Out on a walk, its elegant, characteristic bluish coat will not go unnoticed.
From the Mouth of the Somme
The first French spaniels had their beginnings in the Middle East, when French knights traveled to the Holy Land accompanied by their pointers and hounds, which interbred with Arabian Greyhounds. Over time, the spaniels of France separated into regional types. Picardie, France, was a paradise for hunters of waterfowl, and at the end of the nineteenth century, British hunters and dogs came to hunt in the area's marshes and moors.
When the British quarantine was put into effect, many English hunters boarded their setters on Picardy farms. Consequently, Picardy spaniels were crossed with blue belton English and Gordon Setters — and the Blue Picardy Spaniel was the result. While the first black, blue-grey spaniel was recorded in 1875, it was not until 1904 that the Picardy Spaniel was first shown, at the Paris Canine Exposition. When the Picardy Spaniel and Blue Picardy Spaniel Club was formed in 1907, the two Picardy breeds were categorized separately.
In France, the Blue Picardy was recognized as a separate breed in 1938, and the FCI accepted it definitively in 1954. The first Blue Picardy Spaniel was imported into Canada around 1987, and the breed was recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club effective June 1, 1995. It is not yet fully recognized by the American Kennel Club, though registration services are provided through the AKC's Foundation Stock Service. The breed can be found in its greatest numbers in France and Canada.
Elegant, Balanced, and Well Built
The Blue Picardy Spaniel is a dog of medium proportions — quite low to the ground and well built for the job. Males stand 57 to 62 cm (22 to 24 inches) at the withers; females 55 to 60 cm (21.5 to 23.5 inches), weighing 40 to 45 pounds. The length between shoulder and ischium exceeds the height at the withers by roughly one-tenth.
The coat is medium-length, thick, and flat or slightly wavy, with feathering on the ears, legs, underside, and tail. The distinctive coat is a blue-grey roan with black patches of various sizes — puppies are born mostly white-grey, and the color fills in as they mature. The breed has a long, broad muzzle, thick ears covered in silky hair that end around the tip of the muzzle, and well-muscled fore- and hindquarters.
Docile, Gentle, and Even-Tempered
The Blue Picardy is a docile dog with a calm demeanor — patient, well-mannered, and very adaptable, getting on well with other dogs and animals. Though noted for being both gentle and playful with children, the Blue Picardy will always announce the presence of strangers and is ready to defend its family if the need arises.
The breed is considered to be a quiet one, but it loves to play and is a responsive, obedient breed that thrives on human companionship. It is especially good with children, and its high level of intelligence makes it easy to train — one of the easiest dogs to train, in fact — and it tends to remember its manners at all times.
Exercise and Activity
The Blue Picardy is untiring and able to travel great distances at a steady pace, taking to hunting almost instinctively. It can be used successfully on any upland game or waterfowl and requires regular moderate-to-vigorous exercise every day to maintain its workmanlike build and high level of stamina.
| Dog | Daily exercise | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy | 3–4 short play sessions of 10–15 minutes | Keep walks gentle; avoid hard surfaces while growing |
| Adult | 45–60 minutes total walk or play | Split into two shorter sessions if preferred |
| Senior | 30–40 minutes of gentle walking | Slow the pace and shorten distance with age |
These tireless dogs love it all — running, hunting, swimming, tracking, agility, and fetch. They do not do well in cities or apartments because they need to get out and roam. The Daily Exercise Guide offers ideas for exercising a high-stamina sporting dog.
Training a Blue Picardy Spaniel
The Blue Picardy Spaniel is very intelligent and eager to please, which makes it a breeze to train and an easy-to-train sporting dog that relishes having a job to do. Its boundless energy can be put to good use through training, and the breed excels at dog sports such as agility.
The breed is sensitive and should be trained with kindness and gentle commands — it does not do well with harsh training. Its enthusiastic nature means consistent training provides welcome stimulation. The Dog Training Guide and Puppy Care Guide offer a solid foundation.
Grooming a Blue Picardy Spaniel
The Blue Picardy Spaniel has a medium-length, thick, flat or slightly wavy coat with feathering on the ears, legs, underside, and tail. A weekly session with a brush and comb keeps it presentable, with extra attention to the feathered areas to prevent matting.
| Task | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brushing | 2–3 times a week | Brush in the direction of the coat and check for tangles |
| Bathing | Every 6–8 weeks or as needed | Use a mild dog shampoo |
| Nail trimming | Every 3–4 weeks | Trim when you hear nails clicking on the floor |
| Ear checks | Weekly | Look for wax, redness, or odor |
| Teeth brushing | 2–3 times a week | Dental chews help as a supplement |
Routine care includes nail trimming, ear cleaning, and tooth brushing. The Dog Grooming Guide covers caring for a feathered sporting breed.
Feeding a Blue Picardy Spaniel
As a medium-sized, highly active sporting dog, the Blue Picardy Spaniel benefits from a high-performance dog food. They are medium-sized, eating around 2.25 to 2.5 cups per day, divided between two mealtimes — one morning and one evening. Feed measured meals and monitor body condition.
| Life stage | Meals per day | Portion per meal (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy (under 6 months) | 3–4 meals | 1–1.5 cups | Use a large-breed puppy formula |
| Adult | 2 meals | 2–3 cups | Adjust to activity level and body condition |
| Senior (7+ years) | 2 meals | 1.5–2.5 cups | Consider a senior or joint-support formula |
Your veterinarian can recommend the best kind of food for your dog.
Health and Veterinary Care
The Blue Picardy Spaniel is generally healthy, with a lifespan of 12 to 14 years, and is not known to have a predisposition to any genetic diseases — as long as they are properly cared for, they are not usually prone to health problems.
| Check-up | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness exam | Annual | Includes dental and weight check |
| Vaccinations | Annual booster | Follow your veterinarian's schedule |
| Heartworm prevention | Monthly (or as advised) | Year-round in most regions |
| Dental check | Annual cleaning as recommended | Watch for tartar buildup |
| Hip and elbow dysplasia screening | Discuss with your vet | OFA/PennHIP on parents |
| Senior wellness checks | Start from age 6–7 | Early detection of age-related conditions |
As with many floppy-eared sporting breeds, ear care is worth attention. The Signs of a Healthy Pet guide is a useful home checklist.
Home Environment
Blue Picardy Spaniels are excellent dogs for active families. They are not usually aggressive, even though they are hunting dogs by nature, and they get along quite well with most other pets — they are pointers and retrievers rather than attackers. Like most dogs, they should be introduced to smaller pets, like cats, at a young age.
After a long day, the Blue Picardy loves to settle down and cuddle with its family, forming close bonds and loving to be around them. If your family is active and adventurous, you would love a Blue Picardy as a companion — provided you love the outdoors and want a furry friend to share your adventures with. If you're weighing whether a Blue Picardy Spaniel fits your life, the Choosing the Right Pet guide can help you compare honestly.
Common Ownership Challenges
Owning a Blue Picardy Spaniel means committing to a tireless, high-endurance sporting dog. The daily vigorous exercise is non-negotiable — if you are not active, this is not the right dog for you. The breed needs space to roam and is not suited to apartment life. As a rare breed in the United States, finding one can also be a challenge.
Yet for the right owner, the Blue Picardy is a treasure — a sweet, intelligent, trainable, and affectionate companion with an elegant blue-grey coat and a gentle heart. From the marshes of Picardy, where it has hunted for over a century, to modern family homes, this gentle gundog remains a wonderful and loyal friend.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Gentle, docile, and even-tempered
- Excellent with children
- One of the easiest breeds to train
- Eager to please and highly intelligent
- Gets along well with other pets
- Elegant, distinctive blue-grey coat
Disadvantages
- Very high exercise requirements
- Not suited to apartment living
- Rare in the United States
- Needs close human companionship
- Sensitive to harsh training
- Daily vigorous exercise required
Frequently Asked Questions
How big do Blue Picardy Spaniels get? Males stand 22–24 inches; females 21.5–23.5 inches, weighing 40–45 pounds.
How long do Blue Picardy Spaniels live? Typically 12 to 14 years.
Are Blue Picardy Spaniels good family dogs? Yes — they're excellent for active families and especially good with children.
Are Blue Picardy Spaniels easy to train? Yes — they're one of the easiest breeds to train.
Are Blue Picardy Spaniels good with other pets? Yes — they get along well with most pets when introduced early.
Are Blue Picardy Spaniels good guard dogs? They'll announce strangers and defend family if needed.
Are Blue Picardy Spaniels recognized by the AKC? Not yet fully — they're in the AKC's Foundation Stock Service.
Are Blue Picardy Spaniels rare? Yes — found in greatest numbers in France and Canada.
Are Blue Picardy Spaniels related to Picardy Spaniels? Yes — they differ mainly in coat color (blue-grey vs brown).
Are Blue Picardy Spaniels good apartment dogs? No — they need space and plenty of vigorous daily exercise.
Why are Blue Picardy Spaniels called "blue"? Their grey-black speckled coat forms a bluish shade.
What health problems do Blue Picardy Spaniels have? They're generally healthy with no known genetic predispositions.