Interestingly, the Welsh Springer Spaniel took the spring into its name because of how it “springs” upon prey once it is down for the count. These extremely intelligent dogs were always a favorite hunter and have actually been around for centuries. While it may be easy to group them into the same category as their cousins, the English Springer Spaniel, it is actually a distinct breed all of its own. The Welshie is easily distinguished by its flowing red and white spotted coat and slightly more laid back personality. Due to how friendly and overall accepting they are of strangers, it is no surprise that this hunting dog would become a favorite of royalty back in the olden days. At first, they were only popular in Wales, but in the late 19th century more of the dogs appeared in shows and their popularity grew. It took quite some time for the American Kennel Club to recognize the breed, and by the time it did in the year 1906, there weren’t many people interested in the red and white Spaniel. However, when a few of the dogs were imported over to America in 1949, breeding took off and the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America was founded just a few years later. Now that these dogs are well known pretty much everywhere, they are still used for things such as shows, tracking, hunting, retrieving, being a watchdog, and a companion. There is no doubt that this jolly breed has a lot to offer!
