The Welsh Springer is a smart, active Spaniel, more lightly built and smaller than Field Spaniels, being very little larger than the Cocker. They are invariably white in color, with red or deep orange markings. They have beautifully chiseled heads, small Clumber-shaped ears, and are generally most attractive.
The Welsh Springer is undoubtedly an old breed that has been used by the sportsmen of Wales, who refer’ to them not as Spaniels, but as Starters. They are eminently sportsmanlike in appearance, and have proven themselves to be capital workmen in the field, so that their future popularity is assured. They have made great headway on the English benches, and their classes are well filled with specimens of uniform type.
The Welsh Springer is a dog of from 30 to 40 pounds weight, proportionate in all his parts, with a well-balanced head, straight front, grand spring of rib, and powerful hindquarters. He may be described as an enlarged Cocker, but shows less feathering than is found in most of the other varieties, and the ears are also shorter. As in all Spaniels, snipiness and thick heads are common defects, and the Welsh Springer is no exception. This said, the breed is at once a rational one, and possesses all the traits of his English cousin, while the uniformity of color and its irregular distribution give to a group of Welsh Springers quite a picturesque appearance. In this way the variety has made great headway on the show bench and enlisted a number of enthusiasts within its ranks, who are much devoted to the breed not only for its general beauty, but also for its wonderful prowess in the field.
The chief points to look for in the selection of Welsh Springer puppies at from two to four months and after, are almost the same as those of the English Springer, the recognized color being, of course, red-and-white.
The following is the description formulated by the Welsh members of the Sporting Spaniel Society:
SKULL.-Fairly long and fairly broad, slightly rounded, with a stop at the eyes.
JAWS.-Medium length, narrow (when looked at downwards), straight, fairly square, the nostrils well developed, and flesh-colored or dark. A short, chubby head is objectionable.
EYES.-Hazel or dark brown, medium size, intelligent, not prominent nor sunken nor showing haw.
EARS.-Comparatively small, covered with feather not longer than the ear, set moderately low, and hanging close to the cheeks.
NECK.-Strong, muscular, clean in throat. SHOULDERS.-Long and sloping. FORELEGS.-Medium length, straight, good bone, moderately feathered.
BODY.-Strong, fairly deep, not long, well-sprung ribs. Length of body should be proportionate to that of leg.
LOIN.-Muscular and strong, slightly arched, well coupled up and knit together.
HINDQUARTERS AND LEGS.-Strong; hocks well let down; stifles moderately bent (not twisted in or out), not feathered below the hock on the leg. FEET.-Round, with thick pads.
STERN.-LOW, never carried above the level of the back, feathered, and with a lively motion. COAT.-Straight or flat, and thick. CoLOh.-Red or orange-and-white (red preferable).
GENERAL APPEARANCE.-Symmetrical, compact, strong, merry, active, not stilty, built for endurance and activity.
WEIGHT.-Between 30 and 42 pounds.