The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a dog that was made for hunting. It is a descendant of a great hunting dog that was introduced to Wales in the year 250 B.C. But interest in a dog that hunted with more forethought was required and from that need, the Welsh Springer Spaniel was born. Until the Welsh Springer Spaniel was first bred, the hunters on the continent had to contend with hunting dogs that provided no warning to their owners prior to flushing the bird. Instead, they required a dog that would wait until the hunter was properly in place, a technique that the Welsh Springer Spaniel is still popular for today.
If you've chosen the Welsh Springer Spaniel as your hunting companion, you couldn't have chosen a better dog. The Welshie is the ideal gundog because, unlike its English counterpart, the Welsh Springer Spaniel works more methodically, although with less speed. But, for a recreational hunter, the Welshie has the skills to be a real asset at any hunting ground while still having the advantage of being a larger dog.
What's your target?
Initially the Welsh Springer Spaniel was used mostly to hunt birds, but if you prefer a different type of game, the Welshie has been known to hunt other animals as well. The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a good hunting companion if you enjoy duck hunting. Although this breed can only effectively hunt ducks during the first half of the season as the weather is much too cold for the coat of a Welsh Springer Spaniel in the later half. You can also try hunting geese with your Welshie if you've spent the proper time training him. Typically, the goose is too large for a Welsh Springer Spaniel to handle but once trained, the Welshie can be great at it.
Although the modern-day Welshie still got it's hunting instincts, it has to be trained, and if you're not willing to take the time to train your Welsh Springer Spaniel yourself, he will prove very ineffective in the sport.
Training
To help your Welshie develop his full gundog potential, it's important to begin training at an early age. This will give you time to get used to having a hunting companion and it will give your Welsh Springer Spaniel the opportunity to learn your hunting style. You should also keep in mind that it takes the Welshie longer to mature than the other Springer breeds, so you should allow for that during the training process. The most important task during this training is to train your Welsh Springer Spaniel to be well-behaved. Hunting is so deeply embedded in this breed that they only require training to make the hunt successful. For instance, flushing the bird at the right time rather than scaring it into flight before you're in position.
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