Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12834 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 244 pages

Synopsis
This book, written by Keith Erlandson, one of the world's top breeders and handlers, covers all aspects of owning a working springer spaniel. How to choose, work, breed and trial this popular sporting spaniel. An essential read for every spaniel owner. The working springer spaniel has long been the most popular sporting breed throughout the English speaking world. A versatile hunting and retrieving dog, its drive and energy give it an attractive temperament but make it difficult to handle. Keith Erlandson is one of the world's top breeders and handlers of both the working springer and cocker. He describes in this book the knowledge he has gained from more than 37 years experience with both breeds.

Illustrated with 16 papers of photographs, The Working Springer Spaniel includes individual chapters on the origins of the springer; obtaining a spaniel puppy; hip and eye tests; pre-training procedures; training equipment, dogging guns and ammunition; early obedience lessons; steadiness to dummies and introduction to retrieving; introducing the gun; retrieving real game; hunting and steadiness to game; a breakdown of game scent; dropping to shot; blind retrieves; jumping; water work; walking to heel; artificial lines; punishment; soft and hard mouths; the principles and practicalites of breeding; field trials in Britain, USA, Canada and Europe; the working cocker; woodcock and 'cocking' spaniels. The book is essential reading for anyone who owns or is thinking of owning a working springer or cocker spaniel.

Customer Reviews

Pretty complete book covering all aspects of the working Springer
A good read, written in an easy and relaxed style with equal doses of fact, anecdote and wisdom from a proven expert in the field. Around half of the book is devoted to training techniques and ideas. Some reading between the lines may be required to get the most out of the training tips but its all in here. There's some nice backround on the breed and also about the Cocker. The latter quarter of the book is devoted to Field Trials home and abroad and is a good insight into this aspect of the sport especially if you have aspirations to this level of training. Some of the photos are nice enough but don't add anything to the text.

Gundog Training contains a degree of overlapping content and it is clear throughout that despite it being a more general book the author is a "Spaniel Man"!