Blue Picardy Spaniel
{{Infobox Dogbreed
|name= Blue Picardy Spaniel
|image= Epagneul bleu de picardie 868.jpg
|image_caption= A Blue Picardy Spaniel
|altname= Épagneul Bleu de Picardie
|nickname= Bleu Picard
|country= France
| kc_name = Société Centrale Canine
| kc_std = https://www.centrale-canine.fr/le-chien-de-race/epagneul-bleu-de-picardie
|fcistd= http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/106g07-en.pdf
|note=
|}}
The Blue Picardy Spaniel (or Épagneul Bleu de Picardie) is a breed of Spaniel originating in France, from the area around the mouth of the River Somme, around the start of the 20th century. It is descended from Picardy Spaniels and English Setters, and is described as a quiet breed that requires much exercise due to its stamina. It is especially good with children. Similar to the Picardy Spaniel, it has a distinctive coloured coat. Recognised by only a handful of kennel associations, the breed is predominantly known in France and Canada.
Description
= Appearance =
A Blue Picardy Spaniel on average is around {{convert|22|-|24|in|cm}} high at the withers and weighs {{convert|43|-|45|lb|kg}}.{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds|last=Cunliffe|first=Juliette|publisher=Parragon|year=1999|isbn=978-0-7525-8018-0|page=262}} Its coat is speckled grey black forming a bluish shade, with some black patches.{{cite web |url= http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/106g07-en.pdf |title= FCI-Standard No 106 / 07. 09. 1998 / GB |date=1998-09-07 |work= fci.be | publisher= Fédération Cynologique Internationale |access-date=2010-01-08 }} The coat is flat or a little wavy with feathering on the ears, legs, underside and tail. It has strong muscled legs.
It has a long broad muzzle, with thick ears covered in silky hair that usually end around the tip of the muzzle. Its chest is of medium size that descends down to the same level as the elbows. Both the forequarters and the hindquarters are well muscled. Its tail typically does not extend beyond the hock and is normally straight.
The breed has many similarities with the Picardy Spaniel due to the two breeds' recent history. The Blue Spaniel is described as being softer, as well as the obvious difference in coat color. The Picardy has a brown coat, whereas the Blue Picardy has a black and grey coat, which was brought into the breed by the introduction of English Setter blood. Similar in the modern era due to the close similarities of the two different breed standards.{{cn|date=February 2024}}
= Temperament =
History
File:Epagneul bleu de picardie głowa 098.jpg
At the turn of the 20th century the area around the mouth of the River Somme was considered a paradise for hunters interested in wildfowl. Because of quarantine restrictions in the United Kingdom, British shooters would board their dogs in the Picardy area, near the mouth of the Somme. This caused the infusion of English Setter blood into the local Spaniel population and developed the Blue Picardy Spaniel.{{cn|date=February 2024}}
While the first black, blue-grey Spaniel was recorded in 1875, it was not until 1904 when the Picardy Spaniel was first shown. This Spaniel was officially classified as a French Spaniel, and was shown at the Paris Canine Exposition. When the Picard Spaniel and Blue Picardy Spaniel Club was formed in 1907, the two different breeds of Picardy Spaniel were categorised.{{bettersourceneeded|date=February 2024|reason=Site isn't a RS but does mention references}}
In France, the Blue Picardy was recognised as a separate breed in 1938.{{cite web |url=http://www.bluepicardy.com/spaniel/bps_hist.htm |title=A Brief History of the Blue Picardy Spaniel |publisher=Alex Cyrill Sporting Dogs |access-date=2010-01-08 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090307212207/http://www.bluepicardy.com/spaniel/bps_hist.htm |archive-date=2009-03-07 |url-status=dead }}{{bettersourceneeded|date=February 2024}} The first person to import the Blue Picardy Spaniel into Canada was Ronald Meunier of Saint-Julien, Quebec, around 1987, and the breed was then recognised by the Canadian Kennel Club effective 1 June 1995.{{cn|date=February 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Epagneul bleu de Picardie}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110207221242/http://club-epi-ebp-epa.com/ Espagneuls Picards, Bleus de Picardie & Pont Audemer Club (In French)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090919070123/http://www.epagneulbleudepicardie.nl/cms/ Nederlandse Vereniging Epagneul Bleu de Picardie (In Dutch)]
{{Gundogs}}
{{French dogs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue Picardy Spaniel}}