The Picardy Spaniel is a bold, no-nonsense gundog with a strong desire to work on land and in the water.
A Picardy hunts with you. They are very cooperative and will adapt to you and the terrain, ranging out or staying close, depending on what you want. If you are hunting in thick beet fields they will stay closer; if you are on open plains they will reach out. They adapt to the cover and will always hunt with you. — Former breed club president Joël Mailly
Here's a video of a 2 year old Picardy "Léo" (Leroi de Chez Maurice) hunting in Manitoba.
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The usual pace for the breed is a medium gallop. While running, the head is normally held in line with the back but can be slightly higher or lower depending on the terrain. Range is close to medium but, like some of the other French breeds, the work standard allows for individuals of superior performance.
Pointing
The Picardy Spaniel has a lot of point that is said to develop fairly early. Relatively feline in their movement when scenting game, they point standing up and can be quite “stylish” for a Continental breed.
Retrieve
Picardies have a reputation for being soft-mouthed, natural retrievers. The retrieving instinct is said to develop early in most pups. The somewhat stronger character of the breed may also make it a good candidate for higher levels of retriever training where a certain amount of pressure may be required.
Tracking
Unlike most of the other French breeds, there has actually been a certain amount of selection among some Picardy breeders for tracking ability, most notably in Germany and Austria where several have passed HZP and VGP tests.
Water Work
As can be expected of a breed developed in a region renowned for its waterfowl hunting, the Picardy Spaniel is a born water worker. In fact, it may be the best bet among all the French pointing breeds in that regard.
I can’t keep mine out of the water. Hunters in Picardy have always wanted dogs that love the water since they hunt a lot in the marshes. So we select our dogs to be good, strong swimmers and retrievers willing to work in very tough conditions. They are excellent dogs for waterfowlers. — Joël Mailly