The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a compact, athletic gundog developed in Wales to flush and retrieve game, and a distinct, older breed from the more common English Springer. Usually around 16 to 25 kilos, with a rich red-and-white coat and gentle feathering, the Welshie is loyal, affectionate, hardworking and devoted to its family. It is a genuine working spaniel with real energy and a strong hunting drive, and understanding that need for exercise is the first thing before adopting one.
Welsh Springers reach Sydney and NSW rescue when their exercise and stimulation needs are underestimated, leaving a bored or anxious dog, or when a family's circumstances change. Purebred Welshies appear alongside crosses, and drive varies dog to dog, so the foster carer or shelter assessment of the individual dog with people, children and other animals matters more than the breed label.
A Welsh Springer Spaniel suits an active owner or family who can commit to genuine daily exercise, training and ideally a dog sport, with a securely fenced yard. In the right home it is an affectionate, devoted and gentle companion. Browse the Welsh Springer Spaniels and crosses currently listed from rescues and shelters across Sydney and New South Wales.
Showing 0 dogs
No dogs found matching your search.
Get notified when a Welsh Springer Spaniel is listed
We will email you when a Welsh Springer Spaniel or Welsh Springer Spaniel cross becomes available for adoption in Sydney, from a rescue or an owner rehoming.
Need to rehome a Welsh Springer Spaniel?
If you can no longer keep your Welsh Springer Spaniel, listing it for rehoming on LocalPetFinder connects it directly with adopters across Sydney and NSW, and keeps it out of a shelter. It is free.
List your dog for rehoming →Welsh Springer Spaniel Adoption Guides
The pre-adoption reading list specific to Welsh Springer Spaniels in Sydney and NSW.
Welsh Springer Spaniel Adoption in Sydney
Where to adopt a Welsh Springer Spaniel in Sydney, the real costs, and the energy and drive to plan for.
Welsh Springer Spaniel Health Issues to Plan For
Hip dysplasia, ear infections, eye conditions and the checks every Welsh Springer Spaniel owner should plan for.
Welsh Springer Spaniel Exercise & Drive in Sydney
How much exercise a Welsh Springer really needs, the hunting drive, and keeping this active gundog happy in Sydney.
Welsh Springer Spaniel Adoption FAQ
Where can I adopt a Welsh Springer Spaniel near me in Sydney?
LocalPetFinder lists Welsh Springer Spaniels available for adoption from rescues across Sydney and New South Wales, including the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, Western Sydney and the Sutherland Shire. Rescues that regularly take in dogs of this type include RSPCA NSW at Yagoona and Animal Welfare League NSW at Kemps Creek, alongside foster-based groups. Listings update regularly, so browse the Welsh Springer Spaniels above and apply directly through the rescue.
Are there Welsh Springer Spaniel rescues near Sydney?
Yes. Several Sydney and NSW rescues regularly have Welsh Springer Spaniels and Welsh Springer Spaniel crosses, including RSPCA NSW, Animal Welfare League NSW, Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, Monika's Doggie Rescue and Maggie's Rescue, plus breed-focused foster networks. A dedicated single-breed rescue is not always active, so the fastest path is to set an alert here and watch the general rescues. Use LocalPetFinder to see which rescues currently have Welsh Springer Spaniels available near you.
Are these Welsh Springer Spaniels for sale in Sydney?
Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Welsh Springer Spaniel here comes from a Sydney or NSW rescue, not a breeder or classified seller, and the adoption fee already includes desexing, vaccination and microchipping. That fee is typically a few hundred dollars, against often several thousand from a breeder with none of the vet work done. If you searched "welsh springer spaniel for sale sydney", adopting gets you a vetted dog for a fraction of the price.
Where can I buy a Welsh Springer Spaniel in Sydney, and should I?
You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable breeder often charges several thousand dollars and may have a waitlist, while a rescue Welsh Springer Spaniel costs a few hundred dollars fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap "for sale" ads on classified sites and marketplaces, which are a known hotspot for scams and backyard breeding. The ACCC Scamwatch has documented deposit scams for pets that do not exist. For most Sydney families, adopting a rescue Welsh Springer Spaniel is cheaper, faster and gives a dog in need a home.
What health problems do Welsh Springer Spaniels have?
The Welsh Springer is generally a hardy, athletic breed, but there are a few things to plan for. Hip dysplasia can occur, and the drop ears are prone to infection, especially in the humid Sydney climate, so regular ear checks matter. Eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts, plus hypothyroidism and occasionally epilepsy, are also seen in the breed. A rescue Welshie arrives desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and vet-checked, and any known issue is noted. Ask your vet about hip, ear and eye checks.
How much exercise does a Welsh Springer Spaniel need?
A lot, and this is the single most important thing to understand. Plan on well over an hour of genuine physical exercise a day plus training and mental work, because this is a working gundog that becomes bored, anxious and busy when under-exercised. A stroll around the block is not enough. They love to run and swim, so secure fenced space matters. In a Sydney summer, exercise in the cool of the early morning or evening, carry water, and keep year-round paralysis tick prevention up if you exercise in bushland or coastal areas.
Are Welsh Springer Spaniels good family dogs?
Yes, in an active household. Welshies are affectionate, loyal and devoted, and many are excellent with children and other animals when well socialised, though they can be a little reserved with strangers, which early socialisation helps. They are sensitive dogs that respond to reward-based training. The catch is the energy: a Welsh Springer in a quiet, low-activity home becomes frustrated. Each rescue notes how the individual dog has gone with children and other pets in foster or shelter care.
Are Welsh Springer Spaniels the same as English Springers?
No, they are separate breeds. The Welsh Springer Spaniel is an older, distinct breed with a rich red-and-white coat, generally a little smaller and often more reserved with strangers than the English Springer, which comes in black-and-white or liver-and-white. Both are active working spaniels with high exercise needs, so the day-to-day commitment is similar, but they are recognised as different breeds. If you are choosing between them, meet the individual dog and talk to the rescue about temperament.