Dalmador vs Blue Picardy Spaniel - Breed Comparison

The Dalmador is a cross-breed – a mix between a Dalmation and a Labrador, and because it is a a fairly new breed you won’t find much information about the dog’s origins.

We do know that the Labrador originated in Canada and that the Dalmation comes from Croatia. Both these dog breeds have their own interesting histories. The Dalmador is a hybrid dog and isn’t a member of the American Kennel Club.

They started coming about from the 1980s when mixing one pure-breed dog with another became popular.

The Blue Picardy Spaniel is a direct descendent of the French spaniel. It was in the 14th century that recorded descriptions of the French ‘setting dogs’ emerged but it is believed that the spaniel originated before that.

The spaniels separated into different regional types where size and colour varied according to the region they were in. It was developed in the northern part of France and bred with Gordon- and English Setters, resulting in a Belton blue color, which is a type of blue ticking coloration. The dog was recognized as a separate breed in France in 1938.

The Dalmador is a cross breed dog which comes from crossing the Labrador Retriever with a Dalmatian. The result is a muscular, well proportioned body.He has floppy ears and a long tail.

He is medium to large sized dog and can stand up to 58cm in height and weigh between 25 and 32kg. No two dogs look the same and some dogs gravitate more towards the one breed while others toward the other.

Most Dalmadors have the spotted coat, although the coat could have very visible spots or maybe just a few dots on the fur. Then again there are some Dalmadors where the coat is more of a solid color in brown or black or cream with some white patches. The double coat is short and dense and he is quite a heavy shedder.

Temperament:

The Dalmador is a gentle, friendly dog, making him a great family pet. You can’t really say exactly what temperament your Dalmador will have as he could inherit either the Dalmatian’s more aloof nature or he could inherit the friendly character of the Labrador.

He is quite likely to be even-tempered and is amicable with other pets in the home. He is alert too and this makes him a good watchdog. Because the Dalmador is the hybrid of two active, alert, intelligent breeds you can expect a dog which for some will be quite a handful. It is why training and socialization can be excellent for the Dalmador as it will calm him down, turning him into an obedient dog who comes and sits when told.

If you’re looking for an energetic, active and highly social dog, the Dalmador will suit an active family that can join in with all his high jinks.

His Looks

The medium-sized, well muscled Blue Picardy Spaniel has such an amicable expression on his face with such gentle brown eyes that it is difficult to think of him as a gun dog. He is often described as a quiet dog, but lots of fun. He has long legs and stands about 56–61 cm high at the withers, weighing about 19–20 kg. His speckled grey-blue coat with black patches is medium length and wavy and you’ll find typical Setter feathering on the legs, the tail and underside. The medium-length, drooping ears are also covered in silky, feathery hair, a blue/grey coat with black patches and has long feathering on the belly, legs, ears and tail. When the puppies are born they’re white with black patches, but this changes as they mature.

Temperament

The Blue Picardy Spaniel is a loyal and devoted companion, who just loves to spend time with his human family. He loves to work hard and play hard and he makes a splendid family pet. He’ll also get along well with other pets. Treat him with love and care and you’ll find that the Blue Picardy Spaniel is an even-tempered pet who wants to please. Being alert, he will bark to warn you of strangers.

The wonderful Dalmador is such a easy-going, cheerful dog full of surprises really, as you never know which dominant traits he will inherit from either of the two dogs involved in his making.

Friendly and social, he loves his human family and is totally loyal and loving toward them. Even tempered and faithful, if you’re looking for a wonderful 4-legged friend and companion, the Dalmador promises to make you a splendid pet.

The Blue Picardy Spaniel is a gentle, intelligent breed and he responds well to training. He is such an easy going dog who wants to please his owners. They also do well with children and other pets, making him a wonderful family pet.

This excellent sporting dog bred in the Picardy region of France is sociable and amicable, a sought after companion animal in France. He is highly trainable breed and his wonderful nature makes him a wonderful choice for first-time dog owners. He is a gentle all-rounder who loves to be with family, making him an exceptional friend.

The Dalmador is a hybrid dog and they don’t experience the same health issues that the pure bred dog contends with. The Dalmador has a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years and he can reach this age if you give him all the doggy care he deserves as a 4-legged member of your family.

Apart from a common dog ailment – hip dysplasia, bloat and obesity are also common problems for your dog.

Bloat is a serious health condition that can actually be fatal because its a twisted stomach where trapped gas puts pressure on the diaphragm.

You will notice the swollen stomach of your pet. Larger breeds are more prone to suffer from bloat because of being deep-chested. Also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus, a vet will need to intervene with this ailment as it can be life-threatening.

No Genetic Health Problems

The Blue Picardy Spaniel is considered a healthy breed and there are no known genetic health issues. He is a rare dog breed and not excessively bred, meaning they aren’t prone to genetic health problems. When he is loved and well looked after, he can reach 14 years of age and beyond.

You won’t find more health issues with this breed than with other gun dogs. Always be looking out for hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip joint. The socket of the hip is too shallow, resulting in damage to the joints of the dog, more so as it ages. Symptoms of hip dysplasia include stiffness and trouble with getting up after lying down.

The Dalmador is a medium to large dog so you want to be feeding him one or two bowls of food a day. You want to be giving your Dalmador top-quality food to ensure good health. The lower quality foods are inclined to have ingredients in them that aren’t good for your pet.

Always try to include some home-made food into your pet’s diet such as cooked brown rice, cooked chicken and vegetables. You can mix this into some of his dry kibble. It is important to include some raw meat into his diet from time to time as well.

Clean water must be constantly available. Without good quality food and water, you jeopardize the health of your pet.

He isn’t going to require much maintenance so a good brush twice a week will rid him of loose hairs and keep his coat shiny and glossy.

Other things to check regularly are his ears and to brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week. Don’t neglect giving him a good amount of exercise too.

Food for an Active Breed

The Blue Picardy is an energetic gun dog and he will certainly require a good deal of exercise. If he isn’t running around on a farm you will need to take him for walks regularly or let him off the leash in the park. He is always ready for ball games and just loves to play. It’s why he gets on well with children too- he loves the fun and games he gets.

He’ll need a high quality dog food that has been specially formulated for high energy dogs. Always follow the directions on the packaging. Home made food with meat, rice and vegetables is always a welcome change and remember to ensure he gets some raw meat into his diet too. Never deprive him of fresh, cool water. This should be readily available to him 24/7.

Grooming

The Blue Picardy Spaniel is a moderate shedder with a couple of heavier shedding periods during the year. His grooming requirements are pretty moderate too and he will require a good brush twice a week to get rid of those loose hairs.

Other basic care for your beautiful pet includes clipping his nails, brushing his teeth 2 or 3 times a week, making use of a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste. His ears should certainly be checked for infection.