Epagneul Bleu de Picardie

A native breed of France, the Epagneul Bleu de Picardie is an internationally known pure breed that is a very common breed in France and towns around it. It is almost impossible to find this breed around the world. With few numbers in Canada and hardly any found in the U.S. this breed remains a patriotic breed rooted strongly in the country of its origin, France. This canine derived its name from the location of its origin, Picardie. Also, this breed has a tinge of blue in its coat and therefore inherits the name from Epagneul Picard, a very near relative of this breed. Dogs are considered to be a man’s best friend, but this breed of canine has proved more worthy than many of the other dogs. Its compassionate and inquisitive nature has enabled many trainers to teach them tricks and hence can also be a great show dog.

Ranging between 22 to 24 inches, this purebred dog weighs on an average of 20-22 kg. Having wide set, dark eyes, they have quite a pointed nose and proportioned face. Their legs are long and muscular and appear pretty fit and athletic in nature. Possessing a beautiful coat, they are usually found in grayish brown and dark black shades that almost appear having a blue tinge. With hairy ears that cannot be pricked straight up, the picardie resembles a setter more than a spaniel breed of dog. The puppies are usually born bare white with a hint of gray and only later change to their distinct color.

This dog is of a very pleasant temperament but can get moody at times. Usually quite active and jumpy, they require a daily dosage of regular exercise and walks. Easy going in docile, they get along famously with children and can be kept along with other pets. Due to their calm and sensitive nature, they serve as ideal house pets and can also be trained easily. In many cases, this breed has served as a guard dog that is active and very alert. Also, this dog seems to be a water friendly animal. Many are trained to do tricks in water bodies and can be an excellent swimmer. Easy to train, they can be hunting companions to people who require their special traits and need a dog to assist them. Dogs are considered to be a man’s best friend, but this breed of canine has proved more worthy than many of the other dogs. Its compassionate and inquisitive nature has enabled many trainers to teach them tricks and hence can also be a great show dog.

In the early nineteenth century, it was a very common sight to see west European hunters’ roaming in the Picardy region of France. These ambitious men required a four legged assistant to guide them through the thick jungles and marshy wastelands of France. But sadly, there was a law that had been passed in the United Kingdom, stating that dogs that had accompanied hunters or excavators on these trips cannot be brought back into their land. Due to the emergence of this law and the difficult terrains, most of the men preferred leaving their dogs on Picardy land. This led to a lot of cross breading that is said to be the reason behind the emergence of the Epagnuel Bleu de Picardie.