The energy and affection received by the owner of a Welsh Springer Spaniel is unmatched. Because of his extended childhood, the Welshie is able to hold on to his playful demeanor for much longer and often appears as just a "big kid" to his owner. Beyond the information that you should know to keep your pet happy, healthy and safe, there are some very interested and odd facts about the Welsh Springer Spaniel.
Did you know that the Welsh and English Springer Spaniel are two completely different breeds of dog? Many people believe that the two breeds share a common ancestor because their names are so similar. But the truth is that the Welshie got his name from his hunting style. As a gundog, the primary goal of the Welsh Springer Spaniel was to "spring" the game from their hiding places, thus making the process much easier for the hunter.
Did you know the history of the Welsh Springer Spaniel dates back to as far as 7000 B.C.? This is the first time that man relied on dogs as hunting companions. Although many descriptions have been documented in history matching that of the Welsh Springer Spaniel, they did not receive formal recognition from the Kennel Club until 1902 and the American Kennel Club (AKC) until 1906. But oddly enough, from 1926 until 1948 there wasn't one single Welsh Springer Spaniel on record with the AKC!
Did you know your Welsh Springer Spaniel could be a great watch dog? Their history as guard dogs has made them very effective in alerting their owners that a stranger is nearby or someone is at the door. Unfortunately these Welshie is much too friendly, if properly socialized to be a truly effective guard dog.
Did you know that the Welsh Springer Spaniel is often called a 'Velcro dog'? They've gained this common nickname based on their desire to always be near their owners. The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a dog that will be most happy being as close to you as possible whenever you're near. By that same token, Welshies do not do well when left alone for long periods of time. They can develop separation anxiety and become destructive.
Did you know that until recently, it wasn't considered 'fashionable' to dock your Welshie's tail? Although many European countries have outlawed docking, or amputating a dog's tail, it is still legal in many parts of the world. This process is done for a wide variety of reasons from hygiene to safety but the newest challenge faced by breeders of the Welsh Springer Spaniel is whether they can be bred with shorter tails to get around the new laws. Many claim that for this gundog, an undocked tail is simply a nuisance.
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