Welsh Springer

Coming somewhere in size between the English springer spaniel and the cocker spaniel, the Welsh springer spaniel is generally red and white in colour with a variant being a tri-coloured dog with some black present.

Indeed, red and white spaniels were mentioned in Welsh gundog history and were once referred to as ‘Welsh cockers.’  In 1902 they were recognised as a separate breed by the Kennel Club.  The Welsh springer spaniel is a very attractive and strong breed of working gundog that was bred for working the Welsh hills.  Like the English springer, Welsh springers are tail docked just after birth to prevent later tail damage in thick cover.

Welsh springers have not found the favour of their English cousins in the world of field trials.  They have a tendency to hunt a line forward instead of quartering like the English springer and the cocker.  They can be trained to quarter but their natural hunting instinct is for hunting forward.