theWelsh Springer Spaniel

Happy, Upbeat, Reserved
Sporting Group Sporting Group

meet theWelsh Springer Spaniel

Did you know?

The history of the Welsh Springer Spaniel begins as far back as 7000 BC.

Learn More

at aGlance

Energy & Size

medium ENERGY &
medium size

AKC Dog Ranking

133rd
Most Popular Dog Breed

Personality

  • Check Happy
  • Check Reserved
  • Check Upbeat
Happy, upbeat, family oriented; reserved but not shy with strangers.

theBreed Standard

Embed the breed standard on your site.

  • Click the box above and use
    Cmd + C or Ctrl + C
    to add this code to your site/blog. Show off your love for the Welsh Springer Spaniel!

Welsh Springer Spaniel Breed Standard Illustration 01 02 03 04 05 06

  • General Appearance

    The Welsh Springer Spaniel is an attractive dog of handy size, exhibiting substance without coarseness. He is compact, not leggy, obviously built for hard work and endurance. The Welsh Springer Spaniel gives the impression of length due to obliquely angled forequarters and well developed hindquarters. Being a hunting dog, he should be shown in hard muscled working condition. His coat should not be so excessive as to hinder his work as an active flushing spaniel, but should be thick enough to protect him from heavy cover and weather.

  • Head

    The Welsh Springer Spaniel head is unique and should in no way approximate that of other spaniel breeds. Its overall balance is of primary importance. Head is in proportion to body, never so broad as to appear coarse nor so narrow as to appear racy. The skull is of medium length, slightly domed, with a clearly defined stop. It is well chiseled below the eyes. The top plane of the skull is very slightly divergent from that of the muzzle, but with no tendency toward a down-faced appearance. A short chubby head is most objectionable. Eyes should be oval in shape, dark to medium brown in color with a soft expression. Preference is for a darker eye though lighter shades of brown are acceptable. Yellow or mean-looking eyes are to be heavily penalized. Medium in size, they are neither prominent, nor sunken, nor do they show haw. Eye rims are tight and dark pigmentation is preferred. Ears are set on approximately at eye level and hang close to the cheeks. Comparatively small, the leather does not reach to the nose. Gradually narrowing toward the tip, they are shaped somewhat like a vine leaf and are lightly feathered.
     

  • Body

    The neck is long and slightly arched, clean in throat, and set into long, sloping shoulders. Topline is level. The loin is slightly arched, muscular, and close-coupled. The croup is very slightly rounded, never steep nor falling off. The topline in combination with proper angulation fore and aft presents a silhouette that appears rectangular. The chest is well developed and muscular with a prominent forechest, the ribs well sprung and the brisket reaching to the elbows. 

  • Forequarters

    The shoulder blade and upper arm are approximately equal in length. The upper arm is set well back, joining the shoulder blade with sufficient angulation to place the elbow beneath the highest point of the shoulder blade when standing. The forearms are of medium length, straight and moderately feathered. 

  • Coat

    The coat is naturally straight flat and soft to the touch, never wiry or wavy. It is sufficiently dense to be waterproof, thornproof, and weatherproof. The back of the forelegs, the hind legs above the hocks, chest and underside of the body are moderately feathered. The ears and tail are lightly feathered. Coat so excessive as to be a hindrance in the field is to be discouraged. Obvious barbering is to be avoided as well.

  • Hindquarters

    The hindquarters must be strong, muscular, and well boned, but not coarse. When viewed in profile the thighs should be wide and the second thighs well developed. The angulation of the pelvis and femur corresponds to that of the shoulder and upper arm. Bend of stifle is moderate. T

A Welsh Springer Spaniel
Learn More

theWelsh Springer Spaniels of AKC

Add my DogAdd My Dog

Upload your favorite Welsh Springer Spaniel photos to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #akcWelshSpringerSpaniel.

More Photos

get involved inClubs & Events

National Breed Club

theWelsh Springer Spaniel Club of America, Inc.

Local Breed
Club

Find the Local Breed Clubs in your area.


Meetups

Explore meetups.com and see all of the local Welsh Springer Spaniels in your area.

exploreOther Breeds