Picardy Spaniel vs Beagador - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

The Beagador, the gorgeous medium size dog, is a mix of two beautiful breeds: Labrador retriever and a Beagle. This mix was made on purpose in the USA and resulted in a breed that got all the best of both breeds. The Beagador is an intelligent dog, very good in sports and very sociable. This made him very popular around the globe and one of the most desirable dog pets.

The Picardy Spaniel hails from France and has always been used as a gundog, having been crossed with different British hunting dogs.

While this dog breed is related to the Blue Picardy Spaniel, the Picardy is the older of the two breeds. It has always been sought after by the French nobility for its hunting skills and the fact that its weather resistant coat allowed it to hunt in all kinds of weather conditions.

The dog’s popularity waned in the early 20th century. The UKC have recognized the Picardy Spaniel as a Gun Dog and the breed has also been accepted within the FCI as a Pointing dog group.

The Beagador got his height genes from the Beagle. That means that he is a bit shorter than the Labrador. Generally, they look a lot more like the Labrador, but in some cases, the puppies actually look more like a Beagle. So, actually, there is no rule about this. They have the short coat, usually very smooth. Sometimes it turns out softer and sometimes it doesn’t. They come in many colours, and they are usually two-coloured. So, the real truth is that Beagador breed appearance depends on the stronger genes between parent mix of Beagle and Labrador.

The Picardy Spaniel is larger than other spaniels. It is described as a medium sized dog, standing at 56 – 61cm in height and weighing between 20 and 25 kilograms. The body of the spaniel is squarely built and muscular body. The dog has long floppy ears and the coat which is shortish in areas except for feathering around the legs and belly can vary in colour from red to chestnut brown to sandy and chocolate. The tail is long and feathered.

Temperament:

The Picardy Spaniel is a docile breed of dog and makes a great family pet, loving being playful with the children in the home and getting on well with other dogs. He is gentle but sociable and intelligent too and is easy to train and socialize.

Although he has been used as a hunting dog he can slot into life in the city or the countryside. He can be indoors or outdoors and still be happy, so long as his family members are close by.

He is an active dog though, and won’t be content to be sitting around for too long, loving nothing more than to be chasing a ball or going for a walk with you.

Children friendliness

The Beagador is a friendly breed. They will make no difference between adults and children, and they will bond easily even with complete strangers. But, children are usually more active than adults, so, in situations where he can choose, he will definitely choose to play with children. Some say that this dog never grows up in his heart. Maybe that is the reason they like children more.

Special talents

Hunting, sports

Adaptability

The Beagador has the sweetest temper. But, for him, everything is a game. He might be a little bit too happy for other dog breeds. He likes to chase, jump, wrestle and be very physical with other animals. Some animals will enjoy this, but most of them won’t. If you start training him while he is still a puppy and socializing him from his early days, he will learn how to fit in and take a break once in a while.

Learning ability

The Beagador is very intelligent breed. They will be easy to train but only if you are experienced teacher. If you are not, they will try to get the things on their own way and you will end up being trained. It is advisable to use the reward technique, but make sure you don’t prise your Beagador with food. Early training is a must.

The Picardy Spaniel is a docile dog who forms strong bonds with his human family.

He doesn’t gel easily with strangers though, but socialization and training will at least make him well behaved among strangers.

A well-mannered Picardy Spaniel is a joy in the home, and this gentle dog is guaranteed to make you the most wonderfully loyal and loving pet and companion.

Eye problems

The problems with their third eyelid, high risk of corneal wounds since they get too playful all the time, a disease that causes the dysfunction of the tear glands, conjunctivitis, glaucoma, cataracts, blindness.

Dwarfism

When the puppies are born with skeletal defects that causes them to remain small.

Skin problems

Atopic dermatitis – very dry skin. If not treated, it will result in wound made by scratching the itchy and dry skin.

Ear problems

Since they have dropped ears, they don’t have the natural airflow and that causes the most of the infections.

Without any major health issues, your Picardy can reach 14 years of age and possibly even older. A couple of common dog conditions to be on the watch for include:

Ear Infections:

Your beautiful Picardy Spaniel has floppy ears and this opens up the tendency to suffer with ear infections. The inside of the ears are moist and hot and you as the dog owner can try to keep the inside of the ear clean and dry.

He is a dog that loves water too, and swimming encourages dampness. If you prefer not to work on the inside of the ears, dog groomers or your vet can clean the ears for you. An ear infection can be painful for your pet and it will require veterinary intervention.

Obesity:

These are dogs which can pick up weight quite easily. Dogs which are overweight are more prone to developing cancer, diabetes and heart disease, not to mention joint problems.

Other problems to look out for include cancer, bloat, dental disease and parasites.

Diet tips

One of the first things you will notice is – you will never be able to feed your Beagador. He is always hungry, and he can always have just one more bite. But, this usually leads to very dangerous obesity. Make sure you feed him with prescribed portions: three times a day until he is 6 months old, and two times per day once he grows up. Their diet must be sugar-free.

Points for Good Health

The Beagador is one of the lovable breeds. They need a lot of love and they show a lot of love. They have playful nature and they get happy just by being with people. They shouldn’t be left alone for too long because they will easily develop the separation nervousness. They like to eat and they will use any chance to beg for food. That makes them very obese in no time. Keep in mind that giving them the prescribed proportion is for their own good. They need moderate grooming since they shed regularly. If you bathe them once in a month and brush them two times per week, they will do just fine.

Games and Exercises

The Beagador is a very active dog. They need daily activity. Since they are very friendly, you will have a great chance to meet a lot of people at the dog park! They will run with you, run along while you drive your bike, play in the water, fetch.

Grooming:

Your Picardy has a thick coat which sheds and the coat should be brushed at least twice a week to prevent matting. The ears of the Picardy Spaniel require special attention. Because they are long they will need to be cleaned and kept dry otherwise an ear infection can develop.

At the same time, check your pet over for ticks and fleas, check his eyes, keep the nails trimmed, and check inside his mouth for rotting teeth which can be the source of many health problems if left untreated.

Feeding your Picardy:

If you have a puppy, you will need to provide 4 bowls of food in a 24 hour period. Check on the directions provided on the food packaging to see how much to feed your puppy.

By the time your Picardy is one year of age, he can move over to 2 bowls of food a day. Only the highest quality commercially manufactured food will be good enough for your dog. Food and its quality impacts the health and longevity of your pet.

Apart from dry kibble, try and provide some home-made food, keeping it as simple as possible. Dogs thrive on simple, consistent foods. Chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots added to the kibble now and then will thrill your pet. Occasionally you can also add in some raw meat.

Avoid feeding your dog things like coffee, chocolates, popcorn, nuts and onions as all these will just upset your dog's digestive system. The secret is to keep things simple and nutritious.

Make sure your pet always has access to fresh, cool water.