How to Identify a Welsh Springer Spaniel

Welsh springer spaniels are an ancient breed of spaniel that are famous for being loyal companions and great hunters. They are active dogs that love to get lots of exercise and to get lots of human contact. If you are not quite sure if your dog is Welsh springer spaniel, or you are interested in how to identify the breed in general, you can assess its appearance, its personality, and get professional opinions in order to identify its breed.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Assessing the Dog's Build and Coat

  1. Welsh springer spaniels are medium to small dogs. Sizes vary within the breed but they should be between 35 to 55 pounds (15.8 to 24.9 kg). Keep in mind that males are larger than females, so males should be between 45 and 55 pounds (20.4 to 24.9 kg) and females should be between 35 and 45 pounds (15.8 to 20.4 kg). [1]
    • Welsh springer spaniels are usually slightly smaller than English springer spaniels. [2]
  2. While the Welsh springer spaniel is of medium size, its build is well-proportioned to that size. It is ideally 17 to 19 inches tall at the withers, which is located at the ridge behind the shoulders of an animal. Its body shape is rectangular, with the height being similar to the length of the body. [3]
    • Overall, the dog should give the impression of being long and lean, clearly being built for hard work and exercise.
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  3. Welsh springer spaniels are a rich shade of red and white. In addition to being a beautiful color, the dog's coat is waterproof, weatherproof, and thornproof. [4]
    • The coat is flat and soft to the touch, and straight instead of wavy.
  4. In addition to its general physical size and shape, there are some physical characteristics that are distinct to the Welsh springer spaniel. In particular, the forequarters and the hindquarters and well proportioned and defined. [5]
    • The forequarters: the Welsh springer spaniel's forearms are approximately the same length as the dog's shoulder blade.
    • The hindquarters: the hind legs and thighs of the Welsh springer spaniel should be well defined and strong. They should be perpendicular to the ground when viewed from the side or the back.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Assessing the Dog's Facial Features

  1. The Welsh springer spaniel's head is well proportioned to its body. It is not overly wide but also not skinny. This well-proportioned nature extends to the muzzle, which should not be overly long but should not be stubby. [6]
    • The dog's muzzle should be the same length, but never longer than, the length of the skull.
  2. The Welsh springer spaniel face and muzzle are well defined below the eyes. This means that they are well-chiseled and tight-skinned on their faces. [7]
    • Above the eyes the dog's skin is a little looser. This can be seen in the dog's eyebrow region, which gives it a nice facial expression.
    • Most often the Welsh springer spaniel has brown eyes.
  3. The Welsh springer spaniel's neck is relatively long for its size. However, the neck is only slightly curved and connects into the shoulders cleanly. [8]
    • It should have skin on the neck that is clean and not droopy but not overly tight.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Assessing the Dog's Personality and Temperament

  1. Welsh springer spaniels are friendly dogs that like to be around humans. They are loyal and affectionate with their family members, preferring to spend time with those that they love. [9]
    • This breed of dog may be reserved with strangers but it is not usually aggressive or overly shy when meeting new people.
    • The Welsh springer spaniel is sometimes referred to as a "velcro" dog because it will follow you around closely. [10]
  2. Welsh springer spaniels are known to be great hunters and they are especially adept at swimming and retrieving game. This is in part due to their partially webbed feet. [11]
    • If you are not a hunter, try playing fetch with your dog in the water. See if the dog enjoys the activity and whether it is an adept swimmer.
  3. Welsh springer spaniels are known for being very smart and great at training. This comes in very handy when they are used as hunting and birding dogs but it also means they are good at being trained to behave and complete tasks, such as completing obstacle courses. [12]
    • Welsh springer spaniels are great retrievers, so they can be easily trained to chase and return balls or other dog toys.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Relying on Expertise and Science

  1. Check the dog's pedigree . If you got your dog from a dog breeder they should have information about the dog's heritage, known as its pedigree. Even if you got your dog years ago, the breeder should still have this information for you.
    • A dog's pedigree is important for good and ethical breeders to know about, as it is key for making sure that their dogs are well bred and not inbred.
  2. Talk to your veterinarian and ask them if they think that your dog might be a Welsh springer spaniel. Your veterinarian likely sees hundreds of dogs every year, so they may have a good idea about how to identify that breed.
    • You can also ask other people who deal with dogs professionally, such as dog groomers and dog trainers.
  3. There are companies that now offer DNA testing kits for dogs. [13] This type of testing can determine which breed strains are present in your dog. For example, a DNA test might be able to tell you that your dog is 60% Welsh springer spaniel and 40% Sussex spaniel. [14]
    • If your dog has any purebred relatives, the test should be pretty accurate. However, if your dog is a mix of a variety of breeds, the test will be less accurate.
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      Tips

      • Welsh springer spaniels and English springer spaniels are distinct dog breeds. The Welsh springer spaniel is not just a sub-type of the English springer spaniel. [15]
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/description-and-physical-characteristics-of-dogs/description-and-physical-characteristics-of-dogs
      2. ↑ http://www.wssca.com/html/welshSpringer.html
      3. ↑ http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/WelshSpringerSpaniel.pdf?_ga=1.30022719.1459299593.1475617028
      4. ↑ http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/WelshSpringerSpaniel.pdf?_ga=1.30022719.1459299593.1475617028
      5. ↑ http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/WelshSpringerSpaniel.pdf?_ga=1.30022719.1459299593.1475617028
      6. ↑ http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/WelshSpringerSpaniel.pdf?_ga=1.96017564.1459299593.1475617028
      7. ↑ http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/WelshSpringerSpaniel.pdf?_ga=1.96017564.1459299593.1475617028
      8. ↑ http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/WelshSpringerSpaniel.pdf?_ga=1.96017564.1459299593.1475617028
      9. ↑ http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/WelshSpringerSpaniel.pdf?_ga=1.30022719.1459299593.1475617028
      1. ↑ http://www.wssca.com/html/welshSpringer.html
      2. ↑ http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/welsh-springer-spaniel/detail/
      3. ↑ http://www.wssca.com/html/welshSpringer.html
      4. ↑ https://www.caninejournal.com/dog-dna-tests-reviews/
      5. ↑ http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/dog-dna-testing
      6. ↑ http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/welsh-springer-spaniel/detail/

      About this article

      Article Summary X

      To identify a Welsh springer spaniel, start by looking for a thick red and white coat that’s soft to the touch and lays flat on the dog’s body. Additionally, look for a long, graceful neck without any folds or sagging of the skin. Then, if the dog is an adult, check that it’s between 17 to 19 inches tall at the withers, or the ridge behind its shoulders, when it’s in a standing position. Adult Welsh springer spaniels should also weigh between 35 to 55 pounds if they’re female, and between 45 to 55 pounds if they’re male. For more advice from our Veterinary co-author, like how to identify a Welsh springer spaniel by its personality and temperament, keep reading!

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