Description: The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a charming dog, to the eye, that is a medium-sized working dog. The head is slightly round but in good proportion to the body. The muzzle is about the same length as the skull, but is square in shape. The nose of this dog is an open nostril and the color is black or brown depending on the color of the coat. Welsh Springer Spaniel’s teeth are level or scissor at the bite. The eyes are oval in shape and brown, from dark to light. These are quite spacious. The long ears, which are set close to the head and hang down from eye level, have fringed hair that reaches down to the dog’s cheeks. The tail of the Welsh Springer Spaniel is docked, in countries that allow docking, placing the tail on the top line and is level; this is carried parallel to the back. Height in dogs is 17-19 inches and in female dogs it is 16-18 inches. The weight is for dogs 40 to 45 pounds and for female dogs it is 35 to 45 pounds. The coat is soft, flat and wavy or smooth. This one is of medium length with feathers on the ears and tail, this should be light. The coloration is red and white with all accepted patterns.
History: This dog, the Welsh Springer Spaniel, is a descendant of the English Springer Spaniel. The breed dates back to 1300 AD and this was called the “Cocker”. They are a large family that includes Clumber, Sussex, the Irish Water Spaniels, to name a few. Hunting needs began to determine the type and use needs of this breed. The most obvious is whether the dog was needed for the water or the land. The Welsh Springer Spaniel was classified as a separate breed in the 1800s. This dog’s role was to find and pitch the game. The Welsh Springer Spaniel is very hardy and can work in all climates. This breed has good stamina and can work for hours. The Welsh Springer Spaniel can roam so training is very important. The talents this dog is known for are; recovery, hunting dog, tracking, guard dog and hunting.