The French Spaniel (Epagneul Français) is a breed of dog of the Spaniel type. It was developed in France as a hunting dog descended from dogs of the 14th century. Popular with royalty during the Middle Ages it nearly became extinct by the turn of the 20th century but was saved by the efforts of Father Fournier a French priest. One of the largest breeds of Spaniel it typically has a white coat with brown markings.