French Spaniel
- Medium
- Foundation Stock Service
The French Spaniel, or Epagneul Français, is a medium-sized dog that is intelligent, sociable, and gentle. Easy to train and eager to work, it stands 21.5 to 24 inches and needs daily activity and regular company.
- Height
- 21.5 to 24
- inches at the shoulder
- Weight
- 50 to 60
- pounds, adult
- Life expectancy
- 10 to 12
- years, median 11
- Senior from
- 8.2
- years, about
Senior starts in the last quarter of a breed's expected lifespan, following the 2019 AAHA canine life stage guidelines. Individual dogs vary.
About the breed
- Temperament
- Intelligent, sociable, gentle
- Coat
- Smooth, medium
- Origin
- France
The French Spaniel, known as the Epagneul Français in its native France, is a medium-sized dog. It stands about 21.5 to 24 inches tall and weighs roughly 50 to 60 pounds, with a typical lifespan of 10 to 12 years.
Elegant, muscled, and of medium proportions, the breed has a balanced build that gives it the energy and toughness it needs for its work. Its smooth, medium-length coat suits an active outdoor life.
French Spaniels are intelligent, sociable, gentle, and willing to work. Their people-oriented temperament suits active households.
Temperament and needs
Scored 1 to 5 for the breed overall. Individual dogs vary.
- Affectionate with family5 out of 5
- Good with young children5 out of 5
- Good with other dogs5 out of 5
- Openness to strangers5 out of 5
- Playfulness4 out of 5
- Watchdog and protective nature3 out of 5
- Adaptability5 out of 5
- Trainability5 out of 5
- Energy level4 out of 5
- Mental stimulation needs5 out of 5
- Barking level3 out of 5
- Shedding3 out of 5
- Grooming frequency1 out of 5
- Drooling2 out of 5
Care
The routines that matter most for this breed. Open one at a time.
Nutrition
Feed your French Spaniel a formula suited to its digestive needs at each stage of life. Many dog food companies make breed-specific formulas sized for small, medium, large, and extra-large breeds, and the French Spaniel falls in the medium range.
What you feed is an individual choice. Ask a veterinarian or breeder to help set meal frequency for a puppy and choose an adult diet for an active dog.
Keep clean, fresh water available at all times.
Grooming
The French Spaniel's coat is easy to maintain. Weekly grooming and an occasional bath keep the coat clean.
The strong, fast-growing nails need regular trimming with a clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting, and cracking. Check the ears regularly to clear any buildup of wax and debris.
Brush the teeth regularly.
Exercise
The French Spaniel is an energetic breed that needs daily activity. Daily exercise can include backyard play, several walks, swimming, hiking, or retrieving balls and flying discs.
Indoor games help on bad-weather days: hide-and-seek, chasing a ball rolled along the floor, or learning new tricks. In an apartment, even short walks in the hallways add up.
This is a smart dog that needs its mind worked too. Training for dog sports such as agility, obedience, and rally is a good way to exercise both body and brain.
Training
The French Spaniel is intelligent and responsive to positive, varied training. Its eagerness to please helps sustain attention.
Sociable by nature, the breed is typically warm with family, good with young children, and friendly toward strangers and other dogs. Socialize your French Spaniel early and consistently.
The gentle, people-oriented French Spaniel needs regular involvement in household activities and structured work.
Health conditions
1 condition is documented for the French Spaniel.
A predisposition is not a diagnosis. Ask your vet which screenings make sense for your dog's age.
- Acral Mutilation SyndromeNervous System & Behavioral
Sources
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