Working STANDARD

From a 2004 manual published by the SCC (French Kennel Club). Translation C. Koshyk. French standard de travail is here.

A Picardy Spaniel must hunt with passion, demonstrating a strong desire to find game. 
THE GALOP is strong, sustained yet subtle with a slight rocking motion. 
HEAD CARRIAGE: The head is held even with the backline or slightly lower and must adapt to the terrain.
FIELD SEARCH is a quartering pattern that must remain that of a continental breed. Some ground scenting is tolerated. While working the scent cone the dog's actions are forceful and direct.
POINTING is in an upright position or slightly crouched. A completely immobile tail is not required.

Individuals that display performances above and beyond that standards described above should not be penalized as long as their style remains that of a continental breed. 

 

Conformation Standard

25.09.1998/EN FCI-Standard N° 108 PICARDY SPANIEL (Epagneul picard) 
TRANSLATION : Mrs Kincaid.
ORIGIN : France.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD : 30.10.1964. UTILIZATION : Pointing dog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION : Group 7 Pointing Dogs. Section 1.2 Continental Pointing Dogs, Spaniel type. With working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : A strong, broadbacked dog, well boned with strong limbs; gentle expression; head carriage gay and striking. Very well constructed forequarters. HEAD CRANIAL REGION : Skull : Wide and rounded, prominent occiput; parietals flat. Stop : Sloping to the muzzle, not at right angle.
FACIAL REGION : Nose : Brown, medium sized, nicely rounded. Muzzle : Long, sufficiently wide, tapering from the set on at the skull to the nose; very slightly arched in the middle part. Lips : Of medium thickness, slightly let down, not hanging. Eyes : Dark amber in colour, well opened; expression frank and friendly. Ears : Set on rather low, framing the skull with beautiful wavy, silky hair.
NECK : Well let into the shoulders, muscular. 
BODY : Haunch bones slightly lower than the withers. Loin : Straight, not too long, wide and full. Croup : Very slightly sloping, rounded. Chest : Deep, sufficiently wide, reaching well down to elbow level. Flanks : Flat, yet deep, though with a slight tuck-up. TAIL : Set-on not too high. Hanging down in two slight curves, convex and concave. Not too long, furnished with lovely silky feathering.
LIMBS FOREQUARTERS : General appearance : Forelegs straight, well muscled, feathered. Shoulders : Shoulder-blade rather long, somewhat upright, sufficiently muscled. Upper arm : Well muscled. Elbow : Well set.
HINDQUARTERS : General appearance : Hind legs well feathered down to the hock. Haunches : Prominent, reaching to the level of the back and loins. Upper thighs : Straight, long, broad, well muscled. Hocks : Slightly bent. Rear pastern : Straight.
FEET : Round, large, tight, with a little feathering between the toes. SKIN : Rather fine and supple. COAT HAIR : Dense and not too silky; fine on head, slightly wavy on the body. 
COLOUR : Grey mottling with brown patches on different pads of the body and root of tail. Most often marked with tan on head and limbs. 
SIZE : Height at the withers : 55 to 60 cm. A tolerance up to 62 cm is accepted for males. 
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

  • Head pear-shaped, too narrow.
  • Skull too square, too narrow, too short.
  • Stop at right angle.
  • Nose black, pointed, pinched; split nose.
  • Muzzle too short, too curved. 
  • Lips too thick, too short.
  • Eyes too light, too deep set, level with the skull; slit eyes; vicious look.
  • Ears narrow, short, set on too high, too curly or lack of silky hair.
  • Neck too long, too thin, too short.
  • Back too long, sunken.
  • Loin too long, too narrow, too weak.
  • Croup too sloping.
  • Chest too narrow, not deep enough.
  • Flanks too full, too deep, with excessive tuck-up.
  • Tail carried in sabre-fashion, too long, too curled, set-on too high or too low.
  • Forelegs without feathering, fine, tied at elbows or out at elbows.
  • Shoulder blade short, too upright or too oblique, sloping too much backwards.
  • Upper arm with weak bone.
  • Pastern joint knuckling over.
  • Haunches too low, too high, too close together.
  • Upper thighs narrow, lack of feathering.
  • Hocks too bent or cow-hocked.
  • Feet narrow, flat or splayed.
  • Skin too thick.
  • Hair fine, silky, curly, or too short.
  • Too much brown colour, patched with white or black.

ISQUALIFYING FAULTS:

  • Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
  • Any dog clearly showing physical of behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified. N.B.:
  • Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
  • Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.