How is it to live with a welsh springer?
We feel that maybe the best way to describe a welsh springer is to share with you some of the questions we get from people interested in the breed. After the question we will try to give you a fair idea of this red and white character from Wales.
 

Questions and Answers

Does it like to be around the family?
Yes, it is a dog that always wants to be close to you, even when you go into the smallest room/space (..know what I mean..?). They follow you everywhere if they are allowed to do so. You run up and down the stairs 20 times in one afternoon, cleaning the house or whatever. Be sure the welsh is behind your feet, every step of the way.

Lap-dog?......well of course!
It loves to sit on your lap and get cuddles and if you stop the cuddles before the welsh has decided you can, it will lift its paw and firmly touch your arm or hand to tell you that "the cuddles are not over yet". Do not dare to try to "get off early".

So if you do not like having a welsh springer next to you at all times in the house, you can forget this breed, try a Saluki.

Is it a "one-man-dog?
No it loves the whole family more than you can imagine. It loves to be in the middle of everything, even when the children are playing it loves to be in the centre.
But it might choose one of the family members as the "leader" who it then treats with a bit of extra attention (if that is possible). This person is usually the one who is training the dog or is the huntsman in the family.
The welsh is usually not really happy until the whole family is gathered in the house.

Does it need a lot of exercise?
The welsh will follow your every whim as long as you are there. It sure loves to run in the field and take part in all outdoor activities. It is a lovely companion when you go jogging or the family take a long lovely walk in the woods. A welsh is, as the standard rightly says, strong, merry and active, built for endurance and hard work.

But if you are ill and in bed?
Some breeds may "climb the walls" if they can not run for miles every day, but not the welsh. If you are unable to exercise for some days, due to sickness or what ever, it will be happy only to be with you, as long as it comes out for a short while to do its business. The welsh is very flexible and easily adjusts to your habits. Just remember a puppy and very young dog should never be exercised (as in long walks etc.)

What about its temperament?
Merry One´s is our prefix and also the character of the welsh, it is a merry one and their tail never seem to stop wagging. A welsh is never moody or sulky it is always forgiving you for your stupidity.
Well it depends of course, if you have the bad taste to leave it alone at home while you go to the cinema (movies) it will let you know its opinion when you come back.

"Kiss-warning"
But you can sometimes get into trouble because it is so merry and happy around all people. It may well kiss somebody to death, or jump all over auntie Betties new white coat just to let her know they love her. But of course……..auntie might have planned to use her coat again tomorrow (without a dry cleaning in between)….

Heaven help us for the expression, "the more the merrier…"

Is there much work with the coat?
Not really. They can come back after a walk, really dirty, but let it stay outside in the garden for a while (if the weather allows) and the dirt will dry and blow away in the wind. It needs a bit of brushing or rather combing through every now and again but the coat usually never gets very tangled. The grooming is not very difficult and if you are the least bit handy you can learn how to do it yourself. Just ask your breeder to show you how. (we are working on a chapter about grooming).

A bitch or a dog?
If you have a bitch or a dog before - do get the same sex again. It is too much trouble to have one of each, unless you are really prepared and know all the work it means.
If you have a lot of dogs (males) in the neighbourhood, get a dog.
If you have mostly bitches around, get a bitch.
If there is a mix of both you can think of the following:
There is no big difference in the sexes. A welsh dog/male is usually just as much for cuddles and just as kind hearted as the bitch. It is more a matter of personality.

The dog is usually always in the same mood, happy and willing to work or play. It does not shed its hair as much and often as bitches do.
It can be a bit stronger and may be a bit tougher when it comes to training. But we only say, it may be …

The bitch is in season about every 8-9 month for about 3 weeks, when she may be a bit "low". About 4 month after this she sheds some of the coat. She might be a bit easier to train to stay around the house (but whatever sex, we still advise to fence in the garden).
So it is more what you feel you could be happy with and if you are unsure discuss it with your breeder or other dog owners.

But it is a gundog....what if...?
Many people interested in the welsh springer often asks what about it being a gundog, will it run away as soon as we let it of the lead?

And really it is the contrary! Because it is a spaniel it should be easy to train it not to go far away from you when running free. It is what a spaniel is meant to do…be/work closely to you.

A little warning. But a warning is, we think, necessary that if a cat, rabbit etc gets in the way it might follow for quite a bit (so think of how close you are to a road before you let it of the lead). But if you train your dog well, you should be able to stop it. You shall try to let your welsh run of the lead at least once a day. (More about this will follow in the chapters about training and hunting).

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A short description of a welsh springer

Fun - close - flexible - merry - clever - gentle - loving - biddable - versatile - naughty

Clever - biddable - versatile
These three words are excellent characteristics for the dog you would like to train for one thing or another, tracking, hunting, obedience, agility etc. It is very clever and quick to learn. Take advantage of this and teach it many different things.

But do not be tempted to force the dog to learn too quickly although it seem to have understood the whole thing at first attempt

The welsh has a "will to please" and is very biddable, but… also has a will of its own. It might just want to do its own little thing…first…and then come back to you.

The welsh is a "quick learner" and needs variation in the training. It is not suited for long boring sessions of the same "trick". It is a fine art to train a welsh well. It needs to have fun when learning and I should think that so do you. (More about this is the chapter about training, hunting and obedience).

Gentle and loving
You can not want for a more gentle and loving creature than a welsh.
 It will love you always and maybe choose one in the family that it will turn to, but it is not a one-man dog. It loves the whole family, children, adults even the odd cat may stick around.

The welshie is wonderful with children (if the children are well behaved ones) but must of course be left alone when sleeping and resting and must at all times be respected as a part of the family and not played with as a toy.

It is naughty - and funny
We would strongly advise against a welsh springer unless you are equipped with a huge portion of humour. We do not think there is a day going by without them making you laugh. They very early in age get very personal and with their special little habits. If they are naughty (and they are, we promise) they always do their mischief without being unkind.

The little gardener.
Like when you have just planted your new tulip bulbs in the perfect spot and you go in for a coffee break and when you come out again to continue….. You realise you have not only bought yourself a welsh springer but also a little garden assistant……You try your best to put up that angry look and "welshie" says…but mum I only wanted to help.

One occupation ideal for a welsh is "recycling-manager". Sally is very efficient and specialises is plastic bags, as you can see on the photo to the left.

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