At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
medium, flat to slightly wavy with feathering
The coat lies flat or has a gentle wave, with fringes of longer hair on the ears, legs, belly and tail.12
Personality what they are like
A calm, soft-natured spaniel that settles easily into family life. It is placid at home, eager to please its people and especially easygoing with children, while showing plenty of drive in the field.123
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High stamina gundog that needs daily walks plus regular chances to run, search and play; it is happiest with hunting, tracking or other outdoor work.123
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Brush the coat and feathering regularly to keep fringes free of tangles and burrs after outings; check and clean the drop ears routinely.13
Home where they are happiest
Best suited to an active home with access to open countryside or a secure garden and daily outdoor time.23
Company who they like around
Thrives on human companionship and does not like to be left out of family life.2
The story where it all began
Spaniels of the Somme area crossed with English setters, left behind by visiting British hunters, gave rise to a speckled blue-grey line. A breed club formed in 1907 to separate the blue dogs from the Picardy Spaniel, and France recognised the Blue Picardy as its own breed in 1938. It reached Canada in 1987.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its bluish look comes from black and white hairs speckled together rather than a true blue pigment.1
- 2
It was first shown at the Paris dog show in 1904, still grouped with the Picardy Spaniel.2
- 3
A Quebec breeder, Ronald Meunier, brought the breed to Canada in 1987, and Canada now has one of its largest populations outside France.2
- 4
Its speciality is hunting woodcock in marshes and woodland.1
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard No. 106, Group 7 Pointing Dogs, Section 1.2 Continental Pointing Dogs, Spaniel type; definitive acceptance 12 June 1954; working trial required4
- Société Centrale Canine
- Recognised in France as a separate breed in 19381
- Canadian Kennel Club
- Recognised, effective 1 June 19952
- United Kennel Club
- Recognised2
- AKC
- Foundation Stock Service (not fully recognised)2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Blue Picardy Spaniel. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery 2 days
- Bathevery month
- HaircutTrim feathering and feet, or keep a short cutevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard No. 106 Épagneul Bleu de Picardie fci.beused for history, height, coat, colour, temperament, use
- Wikipedia: Blue Picardy Spaniel en.wikipedia.orgused for history dates, recognition, weight, temperament
- Wikipédia (FR): Épagneul bleu de Picardie fr.wikipedia.orgused for lifespan, weight, origin story, character
- FCI nomenclature: Blue Picardy Spaniel fci.beused for FCI group and acceptance date
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.