Welsh Springer Spaniel

Temperament:

Active, Intelligent, Peaceful
Size: Medium
Height: 43-48 cm
Weight: 16-25 kg
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Coat: Medium Hair
Colors: Red-white
FCI Group: Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a British dog breed and recognized by the FCI. He belongs to the porter, retriever and water dogs. The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a very active and intelligent dog. He is suitable both as a hunting dog and as a family dog. Moreover, he has a very pleasant and peaceful nature.

Welsh Springer Spaniel
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Characteristics

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a symmetrical and rather compact dog. He has a strong stature. He reaches a weight of 15 kg. The males reach a height of up to 48 cm, the females up to 46 cm. The muzzle of the Welsh Springer Spaniel is angular. His eyes are of medium size and almond-shaped with a brown coloring. His ears are low and hang on the side of the head with a pointed end. The coat of the Welsh Springer Spaniel is semi-long and dense with a silky sheen.

The tree as well as the legs of the Welsh Springer Spaniel have a white coloring. The upper coat, on the other hand, is deep red. The hair on the legs, belly, chest and ears is denser than on the rest of the body.

The character of the Welsh Springer Spaniel is gentle and sociable. He has a balanced nature and is extremely intelligent. He has a friendly disposition and easily obeys his master. In addition, the Welsh Springer Spaniel has a strong hunting instinct. He also has a particularly sensitive sense of smell. However, some dogs tend to be slightly stubborn.

It is important to shear the Welsh Springer Spaniel regularly at an interval of about two months. This is especially true for the paws. The Welsh Springer Spaniel has a natural play instinct. He is particularly fond of retrieving and is an enthusiastic swimmer. Extensive walks should be planned daily.

The Welsh Springer Spaniel loves company and is a loyal family dog. You should not leave him alone too often and do not keep him in a kennel. His nature requires a varied occupation and fun tasks. He needs to be able to really let off steam and exercise his mind.

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is easy to train. He is very docile and obedient. He learns quickly. His hunting instinct is not a hindrance. The education should be consistent and not too hard.

Special dog toys will help keep your Welsh Springer Spaniel busy. In addition, you should pursue a dog sport. Agility or dog dancing are especially recommended. But you can also stage a tracking search or take hunting tests.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

The diet of the Welsh Springer Spaniel should be balanced. The requirements for the food are not specific. However, you should always choose a food that has sufficient nutrients and vitamins.

Whether you use wet or dry food is a matter of taste. Try out what your dog likes best. Dry food is particularly easy to store. You can also treat your Welsh Springer Spaniel to a few treats now and then. Alternatively, you can cook the food fresh. A mix of meat and boiled vegetables is best.

Some Welsh Springer Spaniels tend to become a little overweight. In that case, you should reduce the total amount of food somewhat. It is also important that your Welsh Springer Spaniel always has a bowl of fresh water available.
Overall, proteins, fats, minerals, carbohydrates, water and vitamins are particularly important for the development of the dog. The amount of the individual components depends, among other things, on age, size,

state of health and the daily workload. Here the breeder can give valuable tips. As a guideline for an adult Welsh Springer Spaniel is a daily portion of 200 - 250g of muscle meat. To this you can add curd cheese, vegetables, rice or fruit. Raw green rumen is particularly rich in fiber. To cover the protein requirement, you can also resort to fish and raw eggs.

Health & Care

Grooming the Welsh Springer Spaniel includes regular trimming. This is important to prevent the longer coat from becoming matted. In addition, the eye area is also kept free. Likewise, it is also important to trim the fur on the paws so that it is not obstructive. In addition, the ears, neck and tail should also be trimmed free.

It is important that you buy a Welsh Springer Spaniel from a reputable breeder. This breeder also has the necessary papers. He should have passed the usual health tests. But there are also hereditary diseases. This includes a hip dysplasia. But also eye diseases are not rare.

Other typical diseases for the Welsh Springer Spaniel are Familial Nephropathy or Canine Fucosidosis. However, these are usually rather harmless diseases.

In any case, you should schedule a visit to the vet once a year. Here, the animal is thoroughly checked once.

Regular grooming also includes brushing the Welsh Springer Spaniel well several times a week. This removes dead hairs and prevents matting. It also brings a silky sheen to the coat.
Furthermore, you should also observe and clean the eyes and ears of the Welsh Springer Spaniel. This is best done with a soft, lint-free cloth and some lukewarm water. It is best to clean the paws after every walk. This removes dirt and stones. This way you can prevent small wounds or infections.

The teeth also need to be cleaned regularly. You can do this with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Bones are also a natural cleaning agent. By chewing, plaque and tartar are removed.

Suitable accessories

Important accessories for your Welsh Springer Spaniel is, among other things, a dog basket. This provides a retreat for the dog and serves as a place to sleep at night.

In order to adequately groom your pet, you should get a special dog brush. A massage glove is also useful to pamper the dog. At the same time you care for the coat.

Furthermore, you should set up a small medicine cabinet. In this a tick pliers may not be missing. Also flea powder and a balm for the paws are important. In addition, you can get a claw scissors.

Your Welsh Springer Spaniel also needs a collar. You can also put a flea collar on your dog. This will protect him from flea infestation. Further you need a dog leash. This can be a sturdy leather leash or a retractable leash.

If you transport the animal in the car, you also need a transport box. A grille is also recommended as a barrier to the driver's compartment. Equip the trunk with additional blankets. Always have a towel handy to dry your Welsh Springer Spaniel after a shower or bath.

Finally, you need some toys. Try it here with different utensils such as a ball, a Frisbee or chewing ropes. Also treats and chewing bones should always be handy.

Welsh Springer Spaniel History

Origin & History

Welsh Springer Spaniel is one of the oldest breeds among hunting dogs in Great Britain. Mainly this breed was bred in Wales. The breed has existed for about 400 years. Officially, the Welsh Springer Spaniel was recognized by the Kennel Club Committee at the beginning of the 19th century. The Welsh Springer Spaniel is considered the ancestor of almost all Spaniels.

His original tasks included driving the game into nets or into open terrain and thus preparing it for the hunt. Today his tasks are retrieving and hunting. The breed also appears in dog sports many times.

The Welsh Springer Spaniel has always been bred to be a retriever. He was also geared for use in rough and hilly terrain. He is also an excellent animal for water work. Beauty breeding has never been pursued.

Its name origin comes from the English "They spring game into open" which translated means "By his powerful jumps he drives the game out of cover". He has a close relationship to the English Springer Spaniel. Overall, the breed is rather rare today.

Especially in Germany the Welsh Springer Spaniel is rather unknown. Here there are only about 20-50 puppies per year. Responsible in this country are the Jagdspaniel-Klub and the Spaniel-Club Germany.