Why Welsh Springer Spaniels are great
If you are looking for a lovable livewire who loves to socialise and play, the Welsh Springer Spaniel may be the perfect dog for you. The Welsh Springer Spaniel, like many Spaniels, are notoriously lively and affectionate. Welsh Springer Spaniels are intelligent dogs, they thrive off work and intellectual stimulation, and enjoy taking part in many canine sports and outdoor activities. The Welsh Springer Spaniel has become a widely loved and adored breed, famed for their charming looks and fun, friendly attitude.
Some highlights:
- Welsh Springer Spaniels are loyal, affectionate and very sociable
- The Welsh Springer Spaniel is known to be great with children
- Welsh Springer Spaniels are ideal for people with active, outdoor lifestyles
- The Welsh Springer Spaniel is quick and intelligent, with a trainable attitude
Things to consider when looking at Welsh Springer Spaniels for Sale
Some downsides to the Welsh Springer Spaniel:
- Welsh Springer Spaniels require a lot of mental and physical stimulation to be happy
- The Welsh Springer Spaniel may suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long at any one time
- Welsh Springer Spaniels are high energy and not ideally suited to an apartment or small space without a secure garden
History of Welsh Springer Spaniels
The Welsh Springer Spaniel breed has a long and rich history that dates back to the 16
th century. Welsh Springer Spaniels were originally bred as gundogs, known as ‘Welsh Spaniels’. Welsh Springer Spaniels became increasingly popular as working dogs because of their enthusiasm and hunting instinct; their eagerness to please, agility and quick mind, made them a fantastic game hunting dog. During the 19
th century, the Welsh Springer Spaniel was bred for beating, which they are still favoured for today. It is speculated that the red and white Welsh Springer Spaniel is the oldest of all the spaniels, however, the breed wasn’t officially recognised as a distinct breed until 1902.
Appearance
How big is the Welsh Springer Spaniel?
Welsh Springer Spaniels reach a height of between 43 – 48cm tall. Welsh Springer Spaniels are slightly longer in the body than they are tall, they are known to be slightly lighter in build than the English Springer Spaniel.
How heavy is a Welsh Springer Spaniel?
A healthy Welsh Springer Spaniel generally weighs between 16 – 20kg
What Colour is the Welsh Springer Spaniel?
The Welsh Springer spaniel is red and white in colour, boasting a distinctive red colour, not seen in other spaniels.
Temperament
Do Welsh Springer Spaniels make good guard dogs?
Welsh Springer Spaniels are not commonly known to be natural watchdogs, although they would be quick to alert their owners if there are strangers around.
Do Welsh Springer Spaniels bark a lot?
Welsh Springer Spaniels are not known to bark excessively, although they will make their feelings known if left alone or bored.
Are Welsh Springer Spaniels easy to train?
Welsh Springer Spaniels are extremely intelligent and are quick to learn, their enthusiastic nature and roots as a working dog make them easy to train and fast to pick things up.
Are Welsh Springer Spaniels playful?
The Welsh Springer Spaniel is an exceptionally happy and playful dog, who loves to get involved in many activities and thoroughly enjoys human company and interaction.
Are Welsh Springer Spaniels good with children?
Welsh Springer Spaniels are known to be great with children, they are affectionate and playful and exceedingly amenable in nature. However, care should always be taken when children are around dogs.
Are Welsh Springer Spaniels good with other pets?
Welsh Springer Spaniels are sociable dogs, and they are known to get along with many other pets including other dogs. Providing they are socialised early on, they will be more than happy to greet other dogs and share their home with other dogs.
Can I leave a Welsh Springer Spaniels Alone?
Welsh Springer Spaniels thrive from human attention; they crave human companionship and may struggle to be left alone for a long length of time. However, they should be happy to be left for a few hours, providing they receive enough exercise and stimulation throughout the day.
Do Welsh Springer Spaniels like water?
Like many spaniels, Welsh Springer Spaniels adore water and swimming, they will take naturally to water, especially on warm days.
Health
How long do Welsh Springer Spaniels live?
Welsh Springer Spaniels are generally a very healthy and fit breed; their life expectancy tends to be between 12 – 15 years.
How much exercise does a Welsh Springer Spaniel need?
Welsh Springer Spaniels are high energy dogs and need the correct amount of exercise and stimulation to be happy, requiring at least 2 hours of outdoor exercise a day, with time off the lead to blow off energy. Welsh Springer Spaniels are suited to people and families with outdoor lifestyles, as they may quickly become bored and show signs of anxiety and stress if they are not kept busy enough.
What are Welsh Springer Spaniels Common health issues?
As with many breeds, the Welsh Springer Spaniel may suffer from certain hereditary illnesses. The main concerns are hip dysplasia, primary glaucoma and primary epilepsy.
Care
How much space do I need for a Welsh Springer Spaniel?
Welsh Springer Spaniels are not suited to apartment living and would benefit from a large space and a secure garden to exercise and roam in.
What should I feed my Welsh Springer Spaniels?
Welsh Springer Spaniels are not fussy eaters but should be fed good quality dog food to ensure that they are healthy. A reputable breeder will provide you with a feeding schedule, which should be adhered to. As a guide, an adult Welsh Springer Spaniel weighing 20kg may be fed 233g to 307g, depending on their daily exercise.
How much grooming do Welsh Springer Spaniels need?
The Welsh Springer Spaniel requires regular grooming to prevent tangles in their coat, pay extra attention to their bellies, leg hair and around the ears, as this is typically where hair will tangle and produce knots. A Welsh Springer Spaniel will benefit from a few trips to the groomers each year, especially in Summer when they may become too hot.
Do Welsh Springer Spaniels shed?
Welsh Springer Spaniels shed their coats throughout the year, usually during Spring and Autumn, when frequent grooming is necessary to aid this.
Average costs
How much does it cost to keep a Welsh Springer Spaniel?
As a rough guide in pricing:
Cost to buy: roughly £350 to £1000 for a well-bred Welsh Springer Spaniel puppy
Other costs (Vet, Food etc): £70 to £100 per month
Specific Buying Guide
You can read our general buying guide here (
/advice-on-buying-a-puppy/), with the most important thing is going to view your Welsh Springer Spaniel Puppy, seeing it with its mother, and checking the quality of the breeder.
More specifically, here is some Welsh Springer Spaniel puppy buying advice:
- When visiting a Welsh Springer Spaniel puppy, ensure the health of the mother and that the mother can be seen with the puppy. Breeding and medical history should be available, along with any supporting documents. It is important to consider that docking tails is now illegal, and can only be done so on specific working dogs.
Other reading, Adopting Welsh Springer Spaniel Puppies and Rescue Organisations
A big thank you to the following sources who helped to shape this article
https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/gundogs/gundog-breeds/welsh-springer-spaniel-98113
https://uk.pedigree.com/getting-a-dog/breed-selector/welsh-springer-spaniel
https://www.dogbreedinfo.com/welshspringerspaniel.htm
https://www.welshspringerspaniel.club/the-breed/buying-a-welsh-springer/
https://www.welshspringerspaniel.club/the-breed/buying-a-welsh-springer/
