French Spaniel
- Height at the withers
- 55 to 61 cm
- Weight
- 20 to 27 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12 to 14 years
- Daily activity
- 90 minutes
- Origin
- France
- FCI group
- 7 · Pointing dogs
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- a family with young children
- a first dog
- living with a cat
- close neighbors: it barks little
Less suited to
- an apartment: it needs space
- long absences: it struggles when left alone
Overview
An elegant, muscular pointing dog with a flat, silky white and liver coat, feathered on the ears, legs and tail, the French Spaniel is one of the oldest pointing breeds in Europe. Steady, gentle, calm and docile, it holds a very firm point and retrieves willingly, and makes an ideal family companion as long as it can burn off energy every day.
History and origins
Descended from the chiens d’oysel (bird dogs) described by Gaston Phébus in the Middle Ages, it is considered the ancestor of many varieties of hunting spaniels. Its first standard was drawn up in 1891 by James de Connick, then revised several times. Threatened with extinction in the early 20th century, the breed was saved by Father Fournier, who gathered its best dogs, and its breed club was founded in 1921. Recognized by the FCI (standard no. 175), it had 236 LOF registrations in 2025 and remains mostly a hunter’s dog.
Health
Life expectancy is 12 to 14 years, and the breed is hardy. The most common health problems in the breed:
- Acral mutilation syndrome (hereditary sensory neuropathy)
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Ear infections
Choose a breeder who has the parents health-screened for this breed, and ask to see the results.
Coat and care
Medium-length, silky coat. Moderate shedding, low coat care. Coat colors: white and liver (cinnamon to dark liver), white and liver ticked or roan.
All ratings
Rated from 1 to 5, comparable across breeds. Green marks a strength for most households, orange something to plan for.
Lifestyle
- Energy
- High, 4 out of 5
- Apartment
- Difficult, 2 out of 5
- Home alone
- Poorly, 2 out of 5
Family and sociability
- With children
- Excellent, 5 out of 5
- With other dogs
- Excellent, 5 out of 5
- With cats
- Good, 4 out of 5
- With strangers
- Open, 4 out of 5
Training and temperament
- Ease of training
- Easy, 4 out of 5
- For a first-time owner
- Good fit, 4 out of 5
- Guarding instinct
- None, 1 out of 5
- Prey drive
- Very strong, 5 out of 5
- Tendency to roam
- Moderate, 3 out of 5
Care and neighbors
- Coat care
- Low, 2 out of 5
- Shedding
- Moderate, 3 out of 5
- Drooling
- Never, 1 out of 5
- Barking
- Quiet, 2 out of 5
Climate and health
- Heat tolerance
- Average, 3 out of 5
- Cold tolerance
- Average, 3 out of 5
- Hardiness
- Good, 4 out of 5
In our lists
French Spaniel FAQ
How big does the French Spaniel get?
The French Spaniel stands 55 to 61 cm at the withers and weighs 20 to 27 kg. It is a medium-sized dog.
Does the French Spaniel shed a lot?
It sheds moderately and its coat needs little care.
Can the French Spaniel live in an apartment?
It is difficult: it needs space and activity, and a home with a yard suits it better.
How much exercise does the French Spaniel need each day?
Allow about 90 minutes of activity a day: its energy is high. Add games and training exercises to keep its mind busy too.
Is the French Spaniel good with children?
Yes: patient and gentle, it is an excellent family dog, even with young children. Never leave a young child alone with a dog, whatever the breed.
How long does the French Spaniel live?
Life expectancy is 12 to 14 years, and the breed is hardy. The main health problems to watch for are acral mutilation syndrome and hip dysplasia.
