Product Description

For the first-time owner of an English Springer Spaniel or for the person contemplating buying one, this concise book is the ideal guide. The care of this handsome, popular gun dog is presented in nine helpful chapters along with a host of color photos.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #268498 in Books
• Published on: 1995-06-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .39" h x 5.96" w x 8.32" l, .53 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 80 pages

From the Inside Flap
The English Springer Spaniel, the traditional dog of the rough-shooter, is now one of the most popular of companion dogs. This superbly illustrated guide is an indispensable handbook for the caring owner. Learn all about: Choosing a puppy; exercise and diet; training; breeding a litter; health care.

About the Author
Don Miller has bred and owned English Springer Spaniels for over thirty years, and with his wife, Jenny, runs a successful boarding kennels, situated high on the Chiltern Hills in rural Hertfordshire. They have now bred eleven Champions, and their prefix Feorlig is in demand worldwide. Don is an International Championship Show judge and has been to Sweden, Finland, Holland and Ireland on judging appointments. In 1987 he had the honour of judging English Springers at Crufts. Don is also passed to award Challenge Certificates in Welsh Springer Spaniels and American Cocker Spaniels. On the administrative side, Don was secretary of the Southern English Springer Spaniel Club for ten years, and is now President. He is also Chairman of the ESS Welfare organisation. He is also breed correspondent of Britain's weekly newspaper, Dog World.

Excerpt
The origins of the English Springer Spaniel are somewhat obscure, but it is generally agreed that, like all our Spaniel breeds, their first home was Spain, imported by the Roman legions during their occupation. The actual term of 'Springer' was introduced around 1570 when Dr Caius, physician to Edward VI, was writing on dogs and used the term to describe all Land Spaniels. In the late 17th century the flintlock gun was introduced into Britain, making it possible for sportsmen to engage in 'flying shooting' - and this was the start of fine gundog training. Obviously any attempt to shoot over wild uncontrolled Spaniels with any sort of gun would have been as useless then as now. As a consequence, over the next three hundred years, Spaniels were transformed from untrained, wild beaters, to smooth, polished gundogs who could hunt within the gun range, and retrieve with a tender mouth, in order to save the game for the table. The Springer has come to the fore to rank as the world's most effective, all-round gundog, with the ability to spring the game, and to work as a natural hunter, coupled with the excellent qualities of a water dog and retriever.