Sporting Group

Welsh Springer Spaniel

Welsh Springer Spaniel is a large dog in the Sporting Group. Adult weight is 40–55 lb (male), 35–50 lb (female), height is 18–19 in (male), 17–18 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Reserved, Happy, Upbeat.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Welsh Springer Spaniel dog
Photo: Siri · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Lifespan12–15 years
Weight40–55 lb (male), 35–50 lb (female)
SizeLargeGroupSporting Group

Height

18–19 in (male), 17–18 in (female)

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about 0.9 years longer than the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 45 lb is about 14.2 lb lighter than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is Wales. The coat is described as double, medium. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, close to the group average of 4.1 for the Sporting Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 4 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 141 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and Thyroid Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked

Questions from the breed record

The verified adult weight for a Welsh Springer Spaniel is 40–55 lb (male), 35–50 lb (female).

Sources

More Sporting Group breeds

All Sporting Group breeds

More large breeds

All large dog breeds

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