Plate 204 · British Isles
Welsh Springer Spaniel
威尔士激飞猎犬
“The red-and-white spaniel of the Welsh valleys.”
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Wales
- Region of origin
- A Welsh spaniel thought to have been kept in the valleys of Wales; the sources name no single county, so the marker is the reference point of Powys, in central Wales.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Old land-spaniel type; recognized 1902
- Today
- Gun dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Wales
A red-and-white Welsh spaniel, similar to but distinct from the English Springer.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Springing game for hunters, at first for falconers.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Red-and-white land spaniels were described by John Caius in 1570 and kept pure, it is thought, in the Welsh valleys. Known as the Welsh Spaniel or Welsh Cocker, it took its present name after Kennel Club recognition in 1902.
04 · Today
Gun dog · Companion
A gun dog and devoted companion.
Personality
- Reserved
- Happy
- Upbeat
- Devoted
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Active: plenty of exercise and time with its people.
- Grooming
- Weekly brushing.
- Training
- Very trainable; reserved with strangers, so socialize early.
Living with one
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Flat, soft, straight coat; rich red and white only
Field note
Its only accepted colours are red and white.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Sporting Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 8, standard 126), The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Sporting Group, recognized 1914.
AKC registrations: ranked 141 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Welsh Springer Spaniel — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/welsh-springer-spaniel/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Welsh Springer Spaniel — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_Springer_Spaniel
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Likeness to the old Land Spaniel, John Caius (1570), Welsh Spaniel and Welsh Cocker names, Kennel Club recognition (1902), the red-and-white colour.
- Welsh Springer Spaniel — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/WELSH-SPRINGER-SPANIEL-126.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Great Britain; Group 8, section "Flushing Dogs"; accepted 1954.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: A Welsh spaniel thought to have been kept in the valleys of Wales; the sources name no single county, so the marker is the reference point of Powys, in central Wales.
