Two breeds bear Picardy’s name, and the FCI standard says colour is their main distinction. The Picardy Spaniel (Epagneul Picard) is the brown one: grey mottled with dark brown patches, usually tan on head and legs. In France, this blend of brown, tan and white has its own name: autumn leaves.
| FCI | Group 7 (Pointing Dogs), Section 1.2 Continental Pointing Dogs, Spaniel type, Standard No. 108, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France |
| Size (height at the withers) | Males 57 to 62 cm, females 55 to 60 cm; 2 cm above or below allowed but undesirable |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | dense and not too silky, fine on head, slightly wavy on body, often with undercoat; wavy, silky hair on ears, feathered legs and tail |
| Colours in the standard | grey mottled with dark brown patches on body and root of tail, usually tan on head and legs (brown roan with tan and white, traditionally “autumn leaves”); white or black patches disqualify |
A hunting dog that stayed at home
The standard begins by explaining how Picardy’s varied landscape led local hunters to seek a strong, versatile and generous dog. This old breed was worked mainly in its home region and therefore never spread far beyond it. Hunters are now rediscovering it, especially for small game. The FCI has definitively recognised it since December 1954; no German standard exists. Meet its blue-grey relative in the Blue Picardy Spaniel entry.
Steady on game, gentle at home
The standard describes it at work as firm and happy on point, with a nose that gives game no chance. At home, it should be adaptable, gentle and balanced, fitting well into family life. It is described as a true friend to children, joining their games without bowling them over. Training is still your responsibility.
An athlete needs to get out daily
The standard calls it a sporting dog needing daily exercise to release its energy. Allow two hours or more, plus tasks for its nose: search games, dummy work and retrieving, ideally from water too. Bred to find game, it needs reliable recall among its first training goals; in wildlife-rich areas, a long line remains your friend.
Silky ears, hairy paws
The slightly wavy hair is straightforward, but feathering on legs, tail and ears mats without brushing. Combing through twice weekly usually suffices. Its long, thick ears reach the nose tip when drawn forwards: look inside after walks and remove grass awns.
What is known about its health
Very little, honestly. We found no study with reliable lifespan or disease figures for this breed; McMillan and colleagues’ British analysis lists it but does not analyse it (McMillan et al. 2024). The standard excludes undershot and overshot bites and substantial tooth gaps from breeding. With such a small population, ask how closely related the parents are and which hip and eye results are available.
A good home for it
With small-game hunters, but also active families offering daily exercise and scent work.
Less happy
As a purely indoor dog with short walks, with people away for many hours, or with anyone expecting a spaniel to be a small lapdog.
Before seeking a breeder, the breed quiz gives an honest assessment; our book offers more detail: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the early days with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Its autumn-leaf coat looks striking on a magazine cover on canvas , with more ideas among our dog portraits.
Further reading
- Cocker Spaniel: cheerful, nose-led and prone to ear trouble
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
- Housetraining your puppy: a plan for the first 4 weeks
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 108 Epagneul Picard (Picardy Spaniel) (fci.be, English version dated 24.08.2023, valid standard published 08.06.2023; no German version published); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024.
The links to our books are affiliate links. Buying through them supports us at no extra cost to you.
