A Welsh Springer will form a strong bond with his family and likewise, he thrives on human contact. When left on his own for long periods of time, he won’t be very happy. This breed of dog is much better suited to a family where someone remains at home during the day, so the dog isn’t left for lengthy periods. He may become stressed and be destructive around the home, as a way of venting his anxieties.
Providing the pup’s training begins at a young age, this dog will be quite happy and eager to learn new tasks. The Welsh Springer is known to excel at a variety of canine agilities, including obedience skills, agility sessions and fly-ball, too. This dog loves nothing more than to train with his handler and to take part in joint tasks. A very smart dog who will be very focussed and keen to learn new skills, although try to avoid repetition and make sure to keep the training sessions interesting. Positive reinforcement is preferred, rather than any heavy handed methods. As they can sometimes be rather stubborn at times, too, lots of understanding and patience on the handler’s part is needed.
In normal, everyday circumstances, this breed isn’t known to bark unnecessarily. However, a dog left alone for long periods can quickly become bored, often with the resulting bark to gain attention.
As a working and hunting dog, he does need lots of exercise each day. It is advisable to spend any exercise period’s off-leash in a confined location, as this breed often tends to wander.
As a high-energy and athletic dog, the Welsh Springer needs intense and adequate exercise sessions to prevent him becoming hyperactive. This hyperactivity is often the result of a bored and unstimulated dog, and can lead to chewing, digging or destructive behaviours.
Although not known to be a greedy dog, with his amazing scenting skills, he can sniff out even the smallest amount of food, especially any titbits that have fallen to the floor.
The Welsh Springer Spaniel isn’t a natural watchdog and is generally non-confrontational, although this doesn’t mean that he won’t alert his owner to a stranger in the vicinity. He is actually more likely to bark to alert you, then run up to the person at the door, with a friendly welcome.
These very amenable and friendly dogs love nothing better than spending time with, and entertaining their master. In most situations however, they are quite high maintenance. They require adequate daily exercise, often of a high intensity, and as intelligent dogs they need to be kept mentally active too. They really need an owner who can dedicate sufficient time to them, to meet their physical and mental needs.
