Welsh Springer Spaniel puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Welsh Springer Spaniel puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
• Autoimmune thyroiditis, screened by a thyroid evaluation
• Inherited eye disease including glaucoma and goniodysgenesis, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation with gonioscopy
• Ear infections in the long drop ears, found on regular ear checks
• Periodontal disease, kept down by regular tooth brushing

From Welsh Springer Spaniel breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/welsh-springer-spaniel/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Welsh Springer Spaniel puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Welsh Springer Spaniel.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15.9 to 24.9 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other medium breeds

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