Frequently Asked Questions About the Welsh Springer Spaniel
Is the Welsh Springer the result of a breeding between the English Springer and the Brittany?
No. The Welsh Springer is a very ancient and pure breed, having been developed in the isolation of Wales for many centuries.
What are the key differences between the Welsh Springer, the English Springer, and the Brittany?
The Welsh Springer is only red and white in color, is smaller in size and weight than the English Springer, and is about the same height as the Brittany, but heavier in weight and bone. The Welsh Springer is normally more “laid back” than the English Springer and Brittany. Also, in the field, the Welsh and English Springers are flushing spaniels, and the Brittany is a pointing breed.
This subject is covered in detail in a Breed Standard Comparison which details the differences in the three breeds.
How big are Welsh Springers?
The Breed Standard describes a Welsh Springer as a dog of “handy size”.
The males will generally weigh 40-55 lbs., and females weigh 35-50 lbs. Males are generally 18-19 inches tall at the shoulder, females 17-18 inches.
For a more complete description of the breed, please see our Illustrated Breed Standard.
How long do they live?
Welshies are generally a healthy breed and live long, happy lives. The typical lifespan is 13-14 years. However, dogs over 14 years are not that unusual, 15 is not uncommon, and some live to 16 or beyond.
Does the Welsh Springer make a good family pet?
Yes. The Welsh Springer is often referred to as a “Velcro” dog and generally prefers to be with his people rather than with other dogs (except maybe other Welsh Springer’s as they can be very clannish). He also knows when to protect and guard without becoming aggressive or mean.
Are they good with children? Yes, however dogs and young children/toddlers should not be left unsupervised. Young children and toddlers do not know how to behave around a pet of any type.
Are they good with cats? They can co-exist with cats, but it may take some training.
Are they good with other pets like birds/rabbits/ferrets? They can co-exist but don’t forget that the Welsh was bred to hunt upland game, which includes birds and rabbits. It would not be a good thing to have the bird/rabbit/ferret loose with the dog at the same time, especially unsupervised.
Are they easy to housetrain?
Most Welsh puppies will train themselves and will try to wait until they are taken outside. Normally if you have an accident in the home it is the owners fault, not the puppy’s.
Will a Welsh Springer do well living in an apartment?
With appropriate training and exercise. Otherwise, they will make you and your neighbors very unhappy.
Do they bark a lot?
One of the functions of the breed was to alert the farmer of approaching strangers and now some will alert them to the squirrel with indigestion two blocks away! But every dog is different, and some Welshies are quieter, while others are more vocal. Exercise, activities, and training go a long way to address nuisance barking.
How much exercise do they need?
They need a couple of good hard walks each day or romps in the yard. The walks are good for clearing your head before and after going to work. The walks make an excellent source of exercise for both the human and dog.
At what age can I start letting my Welsh Springer jog with me? The Welsh Springer puppy grows at a phenomenal rate. Most will have full height, though not mature, by the time they are nine to ten months of age. While you can allow them to start jogging with you on a limited basis after they are full sized, to prevent possible joint and bone structural damage, it is best to wait until they are more mature (over one year).
Reminder: It is always best to get advice from your puppy’s breeder on training and exercise routines.
Do they need a fenced yard?
While not an absolute necessity, it certainly helps. If you are in a city apartment situation you should, at a minimum, have a park, walk area or play area close-by. Some Welsh Springer breeders require that you have a fenced yard prior to obtaining a puppy from them.
Reminder: It is always best to get advice from your puppy’s breeder on raising your pet so it becomes your best companion.
Is there a difference between the performance event dogs and the family pet?
No. WSSCA and its members have worked very hard to ensure that there is no divergence in the standard between the performance event dog and family pet. A much loved “couch potato” is just as likely to have a Champion title and/or be an Obedience, Hunting, Agility or Tracking title holder.
Are they easy to train? Welsh are fairly easy to train as long as you are fair, use treats and break the exercise down into the simple components for the dog to learn.
Is the Welsh Springer a good hunter?
Yes. The Welsh Springer possesses an excellent nose and is a natural hunter. The Welsh Springer may not be as “flashy” a worker as some of the other breeds, but if there is a bird in the field he will bring it up for you.
To view the Welsh at work, please see our video The Working Welshman.
Should your Welsh Springer be spayed or neutered?
Welsh Springer breeders generally require that their puppies going into pet homes be spayed or neutered. The female will normally come into season approximately every 6 to 8 months and this can sometimes prove very difficult if the owner is not prepared to deal with the situation.
When should the puppy be spayed or neutered? There are different schools of thought on when to have your pet spayed or neutered; these should be discussed with your puppy’s breeder before purchase. Studies have shown that it is better in the long term to wait until the puppy is older before sterilization procedures take place, AKC Canine Health Foundation | Health Implications in Early Spay and Neuter in Dogs (akcchf.org)
I have heard that after your dog has been spayed or neutered that their coat often becomes “cottony”. Is this true? It’s not always the case, but it is not unusual for the soft, silky coat to have a more cottony texture after the dog has been altered. With good, consistent grooming this can be kept under control and should not pose a problem.
Reminder: It is always best to get advice from your puppy’s breeder whether to spay or neuter.
Do the males and females have different personalities?
The young male Welsh Springer (under one year) is normally more easy-going than the female Welsh Springer with more of a “let’s wait and see attitude”. The young female Welsh Springer is normally more inquisitive and “busy” and is always checking and getting into things. As they age there is little to no difference between the male or female.
