Finding the right dog that has a brilliant, lovable personality and fits your way of life can often be hard to do, especially when looking for a breed that will work well as an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) too. Just starting your search? Looking for something easy to train and incredibly loyal? Then the French spaniel might be the dog for you.
What is a French Spaniel?
The French spaniel is a hunting dog that is similar to both the spaniel and setter types. They are incredibly friendly and well-tempered dogs. They are also quite smart, so they are easy to train. They are very patient and develop deep bonds with their masters since they are of the working class. Because they have such a great temperament and are not naturally aggressive dogs, we know they make the perfect family dog!
However, since they are a working and hunting class dog, they have lots of energy and stamina, and that energy will last a long time! Because of this, they should be walked a few times a day, as well as get plenty of exercise through various other activities, such as playing fetch. Therefore, while this breed would be great for a family with kids, it might pose a problem for someone with limited mobility.
History of the French Spaniel
The French spaniel originated in France and Canada in the 11th century and was considered a devoted hunting dog. It became incredibly popular among royals in the Medieval Times and was famously mentioned in books and magazines from the 1600s to the 1800s. Around the 1800s, the breed began to split among other spaniel types, and the Brittany spaniel was created after crossing a French spaniel with an English setter. However, their popularity plummeted, and they were on the verge of extinction by the 20th century. Fortunately, a French priest by the name of Father Fournier reestablished the breed by gathering as many as he could and breeding them at his kennel, Saint Hillaire. In 1921, the French Spaniel Club with founded, with Father Fournier as the president, and since then, the French spaniel has been recognized alongside other French spaniels, such as the Brittany and Picardy.
Today, The United Kennel (UK) and the American Kennel Club (AKC) still do not recognize the French spaniel, however, it is recognized by Federation Cynologique Internationale and the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association and can be registered through a number of American dog registries, such as the Dog Registry of America.
What Does a French Spaniel Look Like?
These well-designed dogs resemble their close relatives; they look like a spaniel, with the elegance of a setter. They are the tallest and biggest of their kind and stand at 22 to 24 inches for males and 21 to 23 inches for females, and they weigh in at 45-60 pounds. Their most common variation in color is white with brown spots, ranging from a lighter brown to nearly black, but they can also come in white and silver, and white and black. While most spots are quite large, they also feature some speckling across their coat. Their coats are medium to long, and are quite dense, making them water-resistant. So, while this is great for duck hunting, it might make bath time a little difficult! Their dense coats also make shedding a minimal occurrence, luckily for their owners. Their coats tend to be shorter around their abdomen, face, and legs, but they have feathering, which is longer hair around their ears and tails.
Overall, their grooming is considered to be fairly low maintenance. As long as you brush their coats once or twice a week, check their ears after being in brush or water, and bathe them occasionally (or whenever they’ve made a mess), you don’t have to worry about much!
What is an ESA?
An Emotional Support Animal, also known as an ESA, helps those who are disabled and require everyday help. This can be any disability; it can be anything from a mental disorder, such as PTSD, to a physical disability that restricts your ability to perform daily tasks without aid. That’s what an ESA is for.
Dogs are fantastic ESA candidates because of their intelligence and ability to understand and perform commands or tasks, and they come in a variety of sizes and breeds that fit nearly every purpose; that means there is a dog for nearly everyone that can fit their needs. There are no breed or size restrictions, either, so from small chihuahuas to a Neapolitan mastiff, they can all help a person function.
Would a French Spaniel be a Good ESA?
Because of their sweet demeanor, loyalty, and the fact that they’re easy to train, we think a French spaniel would make a wonderful ESA! Because the French spaniel is a larger breed, it may be somewhat more difficult to travel with. ESAs are no longer allowed in airplane cabins, and a French spaniel would be too large to take as a carry-on. However, since they are still more of a medium-sized dog, they should fit quite well into your lifestyle and regular errands, such as shopping, work and/or school, and chores around the house.
Since they are not aggressive and full of energy, we think they would be a perfect fit in a family with kids to burn out their energy through many walks and hours of playtime or with someone who lives on their own and would like a companion on their walks. However, we would not recommend this fun pup to someone who has limited mobility, such as someone with a physical disability or who is elderly, for it might be difficult to keep up with their much-needed exercise.
How Can I Register My Dog to be an ESA?
Congrats! You’ve finally found the dog that fits your needs—maybe it’s the elegant French spaniel—or maybe you already have a loyal companion at home that helps you get through each day with your disability.
Do you have a physical or emotional disability that significantly limits your principal life activities? If so, you qualify to have a service animal or ESA. A qualifying disability can be nearly anything; for instance, mental disorders like PTSD, anxiety, depression, and any physical disability that limits your ability to function.
If you’re ready to register, but worried it might be a hassle, we make the process easy! All the information you need to know is easily laid out on our registration page, which addresses your personal information and your personal pet’s data. All this information will be printed on your emotional support animal’s ID tag, along with their name and photo.
In the case your validity is ever questioned, we also provide a card that entails all your rights as a physically, emotionally, or psychologically disabled person with an emotional support animal. That way, you are prepared if the occasion ever arises.
Also, all your pet’s information, spanning from their date of birth to their breed, and the registration number is listed on the ID card we provide. The card also includes your information, such as your registration number, your name, and your address. At U.S. Service Animal and Support Animal Registry, we take care of everything, so you don’t have a single worry!