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AKC: Welsh Springer Spaniel breed overview

Sporting group · Wales

Welsh Springer Spaniel

Also called Welshie, Welsh Springer

A red-and-white Welsh gundog that learns best through partnership, patience and plenty of miles.

The Welsh Springer is a hard-working flushing spaniel from Wales, a little smaller and much rarer than its English cousin and more reserved with strangers. It bonds closely with its people, learns willingly when training is gentle and consistent, and does not enjoy being left alone.

Original AI-generated breed illustration

Weight

16 to 25 kg

35 to 55 lb

Height

43 to 48 cm

at the shoulder

Life expectancy

12 to 15 yrs

Activity estimate

90 to 120 min

editorial daily planning range

Adult-size estimate

18 months

approximate model input

Life with a Welsh Springer Spaniel

Training a Welsh Springer is less about commands and more about building a working partnership. The breed was developed to hunt close to a person on foot, flushing birds from dense cover and bringing them back, and it still wants to know where you are and what you want next. Handled with patience, it becomes a responsive, affectionate companion. Pushed too hard, it can turn worried or quietly stubborn.

Red-and-white spaniels have worked in Wales for centuries, prized by local hunters for their stamina in rough, wet country. They were often called Welsh Starters for the way they 'started' game from cover. The Kennel Club recognized them as a separate breed in 1902. Through the 20th century they stayed a working dog first, and today they remain far less common than the English Springer.

At home, Welshies are classic shadow dogs, following family members from room to room. They are affectionate and playful but can be reserved or even aloof with strangers, which surprises people expecting a typical outgoing spaniel. Given enough exercise and company, they are gentle, steady and easy to live with.

What stands out

Training

Welsh Springers learn quickly but are sensitive, reading tone and body language closely. Rewards of food, toys and praise work far better than corrections, and short, varied sessions keep them engaged. A harshly handled Welshie tends to become anxious or simply switch off.

Read the full training guide

Easy to train

Open with strangers

Good with other dogs

A great match for

active owners who hike or run
homes where someone is around most of the day
gundog work and field training
families with older children
owners who enjoy regular training

Think twice if

struggles with long periods alone
reserved or shy with strangers
strong nose can override recall
ear infections under heavy ears
slow to mature

Personality and needs at a glance

Living together

Good with children

Good with other dogs

Open with strangers

Apartment friendly

Copes with alone time

Energy and character

Energy level

Playfulness

Easy to train

Barking

5 means very vocal

Care and climate

Grooming needs

Shedding

Drooling

Handles cold

Handles heat

How much a Welsh Springer Spaniel eats

Illustrative calculations for neutered adults at midpoint breed weights, with food at 370 kcal per 100 g and 100 g per cup. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.

Dog	Weight	Calories	Dry food
Female, relaxed lifestyle	20 kg	910 kcal	245 g (2.5 cups)
Female, typical pet	20 kg	1040 kcal	280 g (2.8 cups)
Male, typical pet	22 kg	1120 kcal	300 g (3 cups)
Male, very active	22 kg	1400 kcal	380 g (3.8 cups)

Full Welsh Springer Spaniel feeding guide Calculate for my dog

Care guides for the Welsh Springer Spaniel

Feeding25 to 3 cups, in two meals, depending on activity. Working dogs during the shooting season may need a good deal more, while pet dogs in a quiet winter often need less.Read more Puppy growthWelsh Springer puppies grow steadily, reaching adult height around 12 months and filling out by 18 to 24 months. Adolescence can be long; plenty are still quite puppyish at two.Read more ExerciseAdults need 60 to 90 minutes of exercise a day, including time off lead in safe areas where they can run and hunt with their noses. Retrieving games, gundog training, scent work, swimming and long hikes are all ideal.Read more GroomingFeathering is the high-maintenance part of this coat. Go over it two or three times a week with a slicker brush and a comb, focusing on the feathering on the ears, legs and belly, where burrs and mats collect.Read more HealthEyes deserve particular attention in this breed. Welsh Springers are known to be predisposed to glaucoma linked with goniodysgenesis, an abnormality in the eye's drainage angle, and eye screening is standard among careful breeders.Read more

Things owners are often surprised by

1Rich red and white is the only accepted color.
2The Kennel Club recognized the breed as a distinct spaniel in 1902.
3Local hunters once called them Welsh Starters, for their knack of starting game from cover.
4Males stand about 46 to 48 cm (18 to 19 in), smaller than the English Springer.
5The ears are shorter and shaped like a vine leaf, a quick way to tell the breed apart.

Welsh Springer Spaniel questions

What is the difference between a Welsh Springer and an English Springer Spaniel?

Welsh Springers are smaller, typically 43 to 48 cm (17 to 19 in), and always red and white, while English Springers stand up to about 51 cm (20 in) and are usually liver or black with white. The Welshie has shorter, vine-leaf-shaped ears. Temperament differs too: Welsh Springers tend to be more reserved with strangers and more intensely bonded to their own family.

Are Welsh Springer Spaniels good for first-time owners?

They can be, if the owner is active and at home for much of the day. Their sensitivity means they respond well to gentle, positive training, which suits beginners. Their exercise needs, dislike of being alone and reserve with strangers do take effort, though. Working with a trainer and joining gundog or obedience classes early makes the first two years much smoother.

Can Welsh Springer Spaniels be left alone?

Not for long. Many find separation hard and become vocal or destructive. Build alone time gradually from puppyhood, starting with a few minutes and extending slowly, and pair departures with a long-lasting chew. Most adults can manage three to four hours, but a dog walker, daycare or a family member at home is the answer for longer absences.

Are Welsh Springer Spaniels rare?

Yes, compared with English Springers. Far fewer puppies are registered each year in the UK, and the breed is uncommon in North America and much of Europe. That means you may wait a while for a puppy from a reputable breeder. Contact the national breed club, visit shows and working tests, and expect a waiting list.

Why is my Welsh Springer shy with strangers?

Reserve with unfamiliar people is a known trait of the breed, not a sign that something went wrong. Welshies often need time to warm up. Let your dog approach new people at its own pace, ask visitors to ignore it at first and toss treats rather than reach out, and never force contact. Steady, positive experiences usually build confidence over months.

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