The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a breed of balance. They’re tough, hardy hunting dogs, yet they’re highly sensitive to harsh handling or treatment. Welshies are unstoppable in the field but retain an ability to settle at home and rest during off-days. The Welsh Springer Spaniel isn’t for everyone, but those who love them find their goofy demeanors, determined spirits, and adorable freckles to be deeply endearing. There is so much that makes this breed unique, and good reason that humans have loved these dogs for thousands of years.
1. Welshies Are an Ancient Breed
Selective breeding of most spaniel-type dogs was said to occur in the early 1300s. While difficult for us to fathom, this actually doesn’t constitute an ancient breed group. Spaniels are many centuries old, but canines have been walking alongside humans for millennia. The earliest canine companions held simple jobs that required little to no human interference, such as barking to alert to danger. As humans evolved in our ability to hunt wildlife and domesticate farmed animals, dogs’ jobs became more complex. People began selectively breeding dogs with physical and behavioral traits adapted for specific tasks. The first spaniel-type dogs were developed in and around Spain. “Spaniel” was actually derived from the word “Spanish.”

Spaniels were used in hunting, with different breeds used to pursue different types of birds. Spaniels would work in tandem with hunters, zigzagging through the brush to flush birds out of the bush. These were before the days of powerful hunting rifles. In these times, nets were the primary way of capturing birds; dogs were essential to assist with the hunt. In addition to flushing birds, many spaniels of today are also trained to retrieve birds once shot by the hunter. In the early 19th century, dog breed enthusiasts in England began naming spaniel breeds according to their role in the hunt. Field Spaniels, Irish Water Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, and Clumber Spaniels are just a few examples of this extensive group of dogs.

Welshies are thought to be the oldest of Britain’s spaniels. Depictions of the “Agassian Hunting Dog,” an ancestor of the modern Welsh Springer Spaniel, can be traced back as early as 250 B.C. This truly ancient breed, which strongly resembles the Welshie, worked with hunters on the coast of Britain, Scotland, and Ireland. Today, these dogs are quite rare outside of their homeland. In the United States, Welsh Springer Spaniels rank 138th out of the 202 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.
2. Welshies Are Medium-sized, Red and White Dogs

Perhaps the most noticeable characteristic of this beloved breed is its deep red coloration and freckles, the latter known in the dog world as “ticking.” Welsh Springer Spaniels come in only one recognized color: red and white. While most are predominantly red with white points, Welshies can also be predominantly white with red points. Any coat pattern within this coloration is acceptable. Their soft, floppy ears are ivy-leaf shaped and should be cleaned regularly to prevent ear infections. Cooperative care for ear cleaning should start as early as possible. Welsh Springer Spaniels can have docked or intact tails in the United States, and fans of undocked Welshies adore their elegant, silky, feathered tails.
Welshies have fine, silky hair known as “feathers.” Their coat is remarkably self-cleaning; mud, sand, and debris will often dry out and fall off in a matter of hours. These dogs should be brushed and combed regularly to prevent tangles and matting, especially on the undersides of the legs and on the lower belly. Shedding is moderate, and hair tends to fall off in fine, silky strands.

The dogs stand at 17 to 19 inches at the shoulder, and the size difference between males and females can be substantial. Males, who tend to be taller and bulkier, weigh in at 40 to 55 pounds. Females tend to range from 35 to 50 pounds.
One interesting aspect of this breed is that there is no split between field lines and show lines; Welshies who perform well in the show ring retain the ability to perform their intended job of working as a bird dog.
3. Welshies Are Determined Bird Dogs

To understand why Welshies behave the way they do, it’s important to examine what they’ve been bred to do for thousands of years. Different breed groups have been selectively bred to interact with people, animals, and the environment in different ways. For example, herding breeds have historically worked in ways that require very close attention to their human handler, constantly looking to the human before carrying out their next move. Some breed groups, like sighthounds, were bred to work almost completely independently, carrying out a task on their own while humans simply try to keep up.
Spaniels fall into an “in between” space on this spectrum. They are bred to work cooperatively with humans while carrying out some independent tasks. Spaniels in the field will often walk far ahead of the hunter, fanning out and moving forward in a sweeping motion to flush birds out of the brush. They may make seemingly erratic movements, zigzagging back and forth, and changing direction suddenly when they catch a scent. Welsh Springer Spaniels were bred to push through thick brush and swim through water to access birds, so determination is strong in these dogs.

While these dogs are highly motivated to work with humans, they also find environmental factors, such as scents and wildlife (particularly birds), to be extremely reinforcing. Methods such as predation substitute training can be used to harness Welshies’ predatory drive toward birds. A solid recall cue should be prioritized in training, and young dogs should be kept on a leash or long line until their caregivers are very confident in their dogs’ recall abilities. Voluntary check-ins should be heavily rewarded from a young age.
Loose-leash walking does not come naturally to all sporting group dogs, so leash skills can be another area of focus if the dog’s caregiver feels this is a priority. As an alternative to the neighborhood walk, Welshies thrive with long-line walks through fields, parks, beaches, and other natural substrates. Even if loosely structured enrichment walks are a caregiver’s preferred method of exploring with their dog, teaching some focus on the leash is a valuable safety tool for navigating tight public spaces when necessary.

While Welsh Springer Spaniels can show grit and persistence in the field, these dogs have a highly sensitive side. Many Welshies can be reserved around strangers, and great care should be taken to actively, positively socialize puppies. This means moving at the puppy’s pace, not forcing interactions, and exposing the puppy to new people, places, and sounds from a young age while using positive reinforcement-based methods. Reservations around strangers should not translate to fear; a dog can take time to bond with a new person while still showing confidence out and about in the world. Cooperative care should be introduced from a young age to help dogs learn to enjoy bathing, brushing, clipping, nail trims, and ear cleaning.
4. Welshies Benefit from Firm, Gentle Training

Welsh Springer Spaniels are often referred to as “Velcro dogs” and can be prone to separation anxiety. Bred to be a hunter’s constant companion, it’s normal for Welshies to always want to be close to their person. New puppy owners should understand and respect puppy developmental phases, not pushing young puppies into alone time too fast. Establishing a sense of safety and security in the new home and moving at a pace a puppy feels comfortable with is essential to setting your Welshie up for success.
Locking a puppy in a crate and simply allowing them to “cry it out” and enter a state of learned helplessness can set a Welshie puppy up for a lifetime of fear and anxiety when left alone. Instead, new Welshie caregivers should ensure their puppies have their enrichment and exercise needs fulfilled before attempting alone-time training. Provide puppies with a high-value enrichment item or a comfortable place to rest––and start with very short periods of alone-time (even just a couple of minutes), gradually expanding that time once the puppies feel safe and confident.

To settle at home, dogs should have their enrichment needs fulfilled first. As a hunting breed, Welsh Springer Spaniels excel at using their noses. Scentwork and tracking are two dog sports this breed can thrive in; even if a caregiver doesn’t want to compete, simple scent games at home can help keep these dogs fulfilled and enriched. Utilizing Welshies’ prey drive toward birds is another excellent way to engage with these dogs. Flirt poles, which are essentially giant cat toys for dogs, can be outfitted with feathered lures and accessories. Welshies love to chase, stalk, and catch these toys, and they can be used as a high-value reward for energetic training sessions. Flirt poles can also be used for training recall, which is a vital skillset for this highly driven breed.

Welsh Springer Spaniels are not prone to aggression towards other dogs, and many love social play with other dogs. Because this breed is sensitive, caution should be taken when playing with unknown dogs at public places like dog parks. Instead, creating a small community of trusted, familiar canine friends in the neighborhood can help fulfill your Welshie’s need to socialize and interact with other dogs.
Welshies are not for everyone, but for those who love them, this incredible breed is a joy to live with.