Breeds / Large
French Spaniel puppies
Gentle, sociable and eager to work, the French Spaniel is a calm mannered pointing gundog that bonds closely with their family.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin France
- Adult weight 22.7 to 27.2 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 50 to 60 lb
- Adult height 55 to 61 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Medium smooth
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 10 to 12 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
About the French Spaniel
The French Spaniel is one of the older continental pointing breeds, a tall, setter like gundog from France used to find and retrieve game across mixed country. This is a medium to large dog with a flat to slightly wavy white coat marked in brown, long feathered ears and an unhurried look about them. French Spaniels are notably soft and sociable, close to their people, easy with other dogs, and they rate at the top of the scale with children.
This is a high energy hunting dog that wants long walks, running, swimming or field work every day, plus training games to occupy the mind. The coat is straightforward, a weekly brush and a bath when needed, with ear checks to keep wax and debris down. Handle them gently, because pressure and shouting shut this breed down completely. They may look calm, but go in knowing how much country work this spaniel actually needs.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a French Spaniel puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Acral mutilation syndrome, an inherited nerve disorder detectable by DNA test
- Hip dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
- Ear infections in the long drop ears, caught by regular ear checks
Your French Spaniel puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a French Spaniel.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 22.7 to 27.2 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 27.2 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
More on the French Spaniel
Previous: French Bulldog · Next: Frenchton
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from French Spaniel breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/french-spaniel/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Alephalpha, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.