Overview
The Picardy Spaniel is one of the older French gundogs, developed in the marshes of northern France to hunt duck and snipe in cold, wet conditions. It is taller and heavier than a Springer, with a thick wavy coat in grey roan and brown, and a quiet, steady temperament.
Picardies are uncommon in Britain, but the few you will walk behave as the type suggests: biddable, soft natured, keen on water, and far more active outdoors than their relaxed manner at home implies.
Exercise and walking needs
Most adults need about ninety minutes a day, with a good chunk of that off lead or on a long line in cover. A pavement circuit leaves a Picardy under-used; fields, marsh edges and woodland are where it comes alive.
They have real stamina but are not frantic. A steady, nose-down walk with a few retrieves suits them better than ball-chasing sprints.
On the walk
- Recall: Usually reliable for a gundog, bird scent excepted. Reinforce with food and call the dog back for no reason now and then, so recall never means the end.
- Pulling: Moderate. They are big enough to shift you if they lunge at a duck, so use a harness and keep the lead short near ponds.
- Other dogs: Placid and sociable. They suit a mixed group walk well and rarely start anything.
- Water: Bred for it and drawn to it. Cold water does not put them off; watch canal locks and fast rivers.
Tips for professional walkers
- Plan routes with varied cover. The nose is the whole point for this dog.
- Carry a dummy or soft toy for a few retrieves; it is the fastest way to tire a gundog.
- Dry the ears after any swim. Heavy spaniel ears stay damp inside.
- If recall is untested, let the dog range on a long line rather than holding it at heel for an hour.
What to ask the owner
- Is the dog allowed in water, and how far will it swim out if a bird lifts?
- Any ear trouble after wet walks, and how do they want them dried?
- Has the dog been worked or trained to the whistle? If so, which commands?