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Breed profile

Welsh Springer Spaniel

Red-and-white springer: a touch steadier and more reserved with strangers than the English, devoted at home.

Red and white Welsh Springer Spaniel standing in profile in a Mediterranean-style garden
The Welsh Springer's rich red-and-white coat.Photo: Udo Tjalsma / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Weight
16–25 kg35–55 lb
Height
43–48 cm17–19 in
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Group
Gundog / Sporting
Origin
Wales
Popularity
#141 US#78 UK · 2025

Known for: Family dogsGood with other dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Affectionate, Steady, Reserved, Energetic.

Health problems to know about

  • Hip dysplasia
  • Glaucoma
  • Entropion
  • Ear infections (otitis externa)
  • Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Two hours of activity a day with scent and retrieving games. Weekly brushing and regular ear checks. Watch the waistline.

A good fit for

Active families, walkers and people who want a gundog that is less frantic than some.

Probably not ideal for

Long hours alone (they dislike it), flats, and owners wanting a dog that loves every stranger.

Sources

  1. Welsh Springer Spaniel Dog Breed Information | American Kennel Club
  2. Spaniel (Welsh Springer) | Breeds A to Z | The Royal Kennel Club
  3. Welsh Springer Spaniel | Science for Animal Welfare (UFAW) genetic welfare problems
  4. Welsh Springer Spaniel | Wikipedia

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

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English Springer Spaniel

Cheerful, busy gundog that loves water, mud and people in roughly that order. Working lines run hotter than show lines.

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Boykin Spaniel

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Brittany

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Basset Hound

A low-slung scent hound with a world-class nose and a voice to match. Easygoing at home, single-minded on a trail.

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