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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Welsh Springer Spaniel

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a tireless red-and-white worker — bred to quarter a field all day and retrieve from land or water — which means it burns clean, steady fuel and needs a diet that keeps pace without padding the waistline.

Here is exactly how to feed a Welsh Springer Spaniel on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that protects its joints, its dense weatherproof coat, and those feathered, infection-prone ears.

  • Adult weight35–55 lb
  • SizeMedium
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan12–15 years
  • CoatDense, flat, weatherproof — red and white
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A healthy Welsh Springer Spaniel
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Welsh Springer Spaniel's body needs

Every Welsh Springer Spaniel trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • All-day field-working stamina

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and steady, slow-burning energy — without the carb fillers that spike and crash a dog mid-walk.

  • Dense red-and-white weatherproof coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, keeping the coat glossy and weather-shedding and easing dryness and seasonal shedding.

  • Long, feathered, low-set ears

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers that can feed the chronic ear inflammation floppy-eared spaniels are prone to.

  • Hip dysplasia risk in a working build

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3s calm joint inflammation, and staying lean takes load off the hips.

  • Sensitive, easy-going temperament

    Needs: Consistent, digestible nutrition

    A clean, whole-food raw diet is gentle on a sensitive stomach and easy to keep consistent — steady food suits a steady-natured dog.

How much to feed a Welsh Springer Spaniel

Quick answer: a healthy adult Welsh Springer Spaniel (35–55 lb) needs about 5.3–8.3 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
35 lb 5.3 oz 2.6 oz
40 lb 6.0 oz 3.0 oz
45 lb typical Welsh Springer Spaniel 6.8 oz 3.4 oz
50 lb 7.5 oz 3.8 oz
55 lb 8.3 oz 4.1 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Welsh Springer Spaniel

For a Welsh Springer Spaniel we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition from kibble.

Omega-rich recipes like Salmon feed the breed's silky weatherproof coat from the inside, while lean Chicken suits sensitive dogs and richer Beef fuels hard-working or underweight spaniels. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Welsh Springer Spaniels

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Daily support for Welsh Springer Spaniels

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Treats Welsh Springer Spaniels love

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Feeding a Welsh Springer Spaniel by life stage

  • Puppy: Welsh Springer Spaniel puppies are active and grow at a moderate, medium-breed pace. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals, supporting steady growth and developing joints rather than rushing it.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean, visible waist, split across two meals, and scale with the dog's workload. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition and how hard your Welshie is running.
  • Senior: Activity eases but appetite often lingers. Trim portions, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint- and coat-supporting nutrition.

Common Welsh Springer Spaniel concerns — and the diet connection

  • Hip dysplasiaPart genetic in this working breed, but lean weight plus joint nutrients (glucosamine from bone and cartilage, omega-3) support day-to-day comfort and mobility.
  • Ear inflammation (otitis externa)Long, feathered, low-set ears trap moisture; a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet supports the skin barrier and helps keep overall inflammation down.
  • Coat & skin conditionA dense weatherproof coat depends on fat quality — whole-food animal and fish omega-3s nourish the skin and keep the coat resilient against weather and shedding.
  • Energy & lean muscleA field-bred spaniel runs on clean animal protein and fat for sustained stamina and muscle maintenance — not on carbohydrate fillers.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Welsh Springer Spaniel: what to know

A working spaniel's appetite tracks its activity, and a Welshie's activity is high. Feed to body condition — you should feel the ribs easily and see a waist from above — and expect a hard-running dog in season to need more than a couch-bound one in winter.

Weigh portions rather than eyeballing them, and re-check the amount every few weeks, especially after a quiet stretch or any drop in exercise, so the dense coat does not hide a creeping few extra pounds.

Welsh Springer Spaniel feeding questions

How much should I feed my Welsh Springer Spaniel?
A healthy adult Welsh Springer Spaniel (35–55 lb) needs roughly 5–8 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and adjust with your dog's activity.
What is the best food for an active Welsh Springer Spaniel?
A complete freeze-dried raw diet of clean animal protein and fat — Chicken, Salmon or Beef — gives a hard-working spaniel slow-burning, all-day energy without the carb fillers that spike and crash. Scale the portion up on heavy field days.
How do I switch my Welsh Springer Spaniel to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. This is a sensitive breed, so go slowly and watch the stool; start at the lower end of the range since freeze-dried raw is rich.
Which food helps a Welsh Springer Spaniel's coat and ears?
Omega-rich, whole-food nutrition. A recipe like Salmon, or our Skin & Coat Omega, feeds the dense weatherproof coat from the inside, while skipping starchy fillers helps keep the chronic ear inflammation floppy-eared spaniels are prone to in check.
Does a Welsh Springer Spaniel need joint support?
Many benefit from it, given the breed's hip dysplasia risk and working build. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Welshie lean is the most effective joint protection there is.

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  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.