Which historical period caused the greatest existential threat to the breed?
Answer
The two World Wars
The mid-20th century, specifically the period encompassing the two World Wars, represented the most severe crisis for the Welsh Springer Spaniel population. These global conflicts caused massive societal disruption, leading to scarcity of resources, stalling of dedicated breeding programs, and forcing many enthusiasts serving abroad or otherwise preoccupied to abandon their kennels. Following World War II, the breed reached a precarious state, being perilously close to complete extinction with only a tiny fraction of purebred specimens surviving, necessitating a massive international rescue effort.
Related Questions
What historical event might predate the lineage of the Welsh Springer Spaniel?What is the exclusive color pattern defining the Welsh Springer Spaniel?Where does the 'Springer' part of the Welsh Springer Spaniel name originate?Which historical period caused the greatest existential threat to the breed?In what year did The Kennel Club in the UK first register the breed as distinct?In which year did the AKC officially grant recognition to the breed into the Sporting Group?What was the primary functional utility for which Welsh Springers were developed?What were Welsh Springers historically referred to simply as?Which colors can English Springer Spaniels present besides the Welsh standard?What ancestral trait causes an under-exercised Welsh Springer to become frustrated?