Welsh Springer Spaniel: breed description, care rules

Welsh springers are one of the most obedient, intelligent, human-attached dogs, which are considered to be the oldest breed of spaniels, but there is no exact information about the origin. They are believed to share genetic roots with the English Springer Spaniel breed. Welsh springers were on the verge of extinction, but thanks to their breeding in Wales, this type of dog was preserved. As a breed, Welsh Springs were registered in 1902 by the Kennel Club of the Kingdom of Britain.

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is described as strong, active and playful. They are ready for strenuous and long-term work. Pets love long and active walks.

Welsh springers have a strong affection for the owner, they are great for all family members, regardless of their age. They love to play with young children, especially if they have grown up with them and are well socialized. With strangers, the dogs behave quite restrained, they do not particularly trust them. They usually don't attack strangers, but just bark at them.

Springer spaniels have a rectangular muzzle of medium length and dark colored eyes. The whites of the eyes of a healthy pet are slightly yellow. The head is slightly domed. Dogs have a fairly strong jaw and a long neck. The ears are pear-shaped, not very long, close to the jaw. The body is well proportioned and well muscled. The legs of the dogs are of medium length, straight. On the paws, thick pads, similar to those of a cat, are round in shape. Nice feathering on the back of the legs.The tail is set low, usually the tails of this breed are docked.

The coat of Welsh Springer is usually straight or slightly wavy. Dogs are white in color with bright red spots, sometimes these spots can be black or dark brown. There are also completely white individuals. The height of the dog at the withers is 46-48 cm, weight - 16-20 kg. Despite their small size, the dogs are very fast. In addition, from the name of the breed it is clear that they can still jump well: "Springer" in translation from English means "jumper".

An ideal place for keeping a Welsh Springer is a private house, but if it is possible to organize long and active walks, the dog will feel good in the apartment. Ideally, if the pet has a play partner - a dog with a similar character. The main thing in keeping a Welsh Springer is to give them enough physical activity, otherwise the dog may get nervous. Dogs of this breed are very fond of water.

To maintain a neat appearance, it is recommended to brush the dog 1-2 times a week. A soft natural brush is suitable for this. Claws are cut once a month. It is recommended to thoroughly bathe the dog once a month with a special shampoo with a neutral pH. After bathing, the pet must be thoroughly dried. The ears should be checked regularly and cleaned as needed. Regular preventive oral cleaning is recommended for the dog.

The Welsh Springer is best fed with premium dry food. You can also feed your dog with natural food, but in this case it will be difficult to formulate a balanced diet for him. The basis for natural feed can be low-fat meats, vegetables and dairy products. It is necessary that a bowl of clean water is always readily available to the dog, especially during the hot season.

A Welsh puppy requires special attention and care; otherwise, caring for a baby is not very different from keeping an adult. The small Welsh Springer Spaniel should be fed 6 times a day, from 8 months of age it can be switched to two meals a day. In general, the diet of puppies should be balanced - this is very important during the period of its active development.

Puppies are susceptible to all sorts of infections and diseases, so they need to get all the necessary vaccinations. The first vaccination is given at 8-9 weeks, and the second at 12 weeks of age. Further, vaccination is carried out annually. Usually, after vaccination, small Welsh pets have a fever, lack of appetite, general weakness, which disappear after a few days. A Welsh puppy is prone to ear infections, so it is important to check his ears regularly to try to keep him out of drafts and hypothermia.

It is also important to educate the puppy. It is necessary to train him in the basic commands:

• "lie";
• "sit";
• "to me";
• "stand";
• "a place";
• "Aport" and others.

Training a Welsh dog must be mandatory so that the dog's hunting instincts are controlled. Training can be done on your own or you can send the dog for training to professionals. Individuals of this breed are easy to train and achieve high results. You should not stop training if there are no quick results - training takes a lot of time.

Outdoor areas in the fresh air are best suited for classes. Do not scold your pet. The carrot method is best for training - reward your dog with a treat for completing tasks correctly. In the process of training, you can not only teach the dog the basic necessary commands, but also develop hunting skills, if necessary.It is important to take the training of your pet seriously enough, because improper training can negatively affect its character.

Dogs of the Welsh Springer Spaniel breed are in good health and live on average up to 13 years. To maintain the health of the pet, daily physical activity, proper nutrition are necessary - otherwise, the dog may become obese, which will provoke the development of other diseases.

The most common diseases among this breed are:

• retinal atrophy;
• ear infections;
• dysplasia of the joints;
• skin diseases;
• fucosidosis.

Epileptic illness is rare, which is manifested by outbursts of sudden aggression. At such moments, the dog is uncontrollable, it can attack the owner. In this case, it is important to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible and start treatment.

Before buying a puppy, you need to study the information about the selected breed, evaluate your ability to provide the dog with all the necessary conditions. It is also important to assess your readiness for the appearance of a dog in the family, the ability to devote time and energy to it.

It is better to buy a purebred puppy in proven kennels, where they will provide all the necessary documents for the dog - a passport and pedigree. When choosing a pet, you need to pay attention to its appearance and behavior. A Welsh puppy should be active, friendly and playful. The baby's nose should be moist, eyes and ears clean. The puppy shouldn't smell bad. It is imperative to inquire about the puppy's health, whether his parents have any genetic diseases that could be inherited.

For more information on the Welsh Spinger Spaniel, see the video below.