(By Chris Pritchard)
For information on the other spaniel breeds visit: The Cocker Spaniel, The Clumber Spaniel, The English Springer Spaniel, The Field Spaniel and The American Cocker Spaniel.
The Welsh Springer Spaniel
Welsh Springer’s are reputed to be a cross between the English Springer and probably a Clumber in order to account for the red or orange markings and the vine-leaf-shaped ears however there is some evidence that the Brittany Spaniel featured somewhere along the lines as the Welsh Springer Spaniel’s head is similar to the Brittany.
The breed appears to have originated in Wales and was first recognised by The Kennel Club in 1902. Prior to this recognition they were known as Welsh Cockers. This type of dog was bred for hunting rabbits, birds and other game in the undergrowth and getting them to run or fly, originally for the falcon but nowadays, for the gun.
It is unknown exactly how old the breed is. However, a painting by Van Dyck in 1680 depicts a dog which looks like very much like a Welsh Springer Spaniel, and it is obviously a very ancient and distinct breed of pure origin. They were originally bred for, and indeed still used for, flushing game for the hunter to despatch.
Rover of Gerwyn, born in 1901 was the first champion of the breed. However, it was after the wars that breeding began in a larger scale.
The Welsh Spaniel Club was established in 1923.