Destiny Welsh Springer Spaniels

Below, Mika celebrates her 10th birthday on January 25, 2012, with her family.  Left to right, daughter Holly, son Charlie, Mika the birthday girl, and half-sister Elena.  More photos in the 2012 photo gallery.

Welcome to Destiny Welsh Springer Spaniels, located in the Pioneer Valley in western Massachusetts.  We are a family of five humans, three cats, and four Welsh Springers, and we are life-long dog owners and dog lovers.  I met my first Welsh Springer in 2000 and at last had the chance to pursue my dream of showing and breeding purebred dogs.  All of our dogs are health-tested, with their hips and elbows x-rayed and periodic tests of their eyes and thyroid.  My daughters and I have put championships on three of our dogs, and the youngest is closing in on becoming a champion.    First and foremost, however, our dogs are beloved members of our family.  I can't imagine life without them.

Elena, Charlie and Mika

It's easy to fall in love at first sight with this breed: with their vivid red and white coloring, soft feathering, and soulful spaniel eyes, if you ask me there's not a prettier dog on the planet.  Welshies are smart, playful, clever, funny, and sensitive to your moods.  They're devoted to their family members and want to be with you always, following you from room to room and staring at the door when you leave without them.  They need to live inside where they can be close to the center of activity in the house.  They do best if they can be part of most family activities and join you on outings.

For all of their appeal, though, this breed is not the right dog for everyone.  Welsh Springers can be independent, even slightly stubborn.  Although they love to please you, it's not always the first thing on their minds.  Welshies are energetic sporting dogs and require daily exercise.  Without enough vigorous activity, they can become destructive or anxious. The breed is intelligent but highly sensitive, and they don't respond well to harsh training methods.  Because they are bred to work out in front of the hunter, they like to follow their noses and think for themselves.  The breed is typically reserved with strangers, and sometimes they worry about strange things, making socialization a life-long process.  They love children if brought up with them, as long as they are treated gently.

With exercise, socialization, training, consistent handling, and lots of attention, however, the Welsh Springer makes a wonderful family member and companion.  They are the most entertaining dogs I've ever owned!

Holly

Holly meeting her first quail

 

Daisy exploring at 6 weeks

Copper leaping down the step

 Beedle ready to go home to Alabama