Cocker Spaniel: A Comprehensive Guide to Owning and Caring for Your Dog (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series)

The experts at Kennel Club Books present the world's largest series of breed-specific canine care books. Each critically acclaimed Comprehensive Owner;s Guide covers everything from breed standards to behavior, from training to health and nutrition. With nearly 200 titles in print, this series is sure to please the fancier of even the rarest breed!;Table of Contents; History of the Cocker Spaniel; Characteristics of the Cocker Spaniel; Breed Standard for the Cocker Spaniel; Your Puppy Cocker Spaniel; Everyday Care of Your Cocker Spaniel; Training Your Cocker Spaniel; Health Care of Your Cocker Spaniel; Your Senior Cocker Spaniel; Showing Your Cocker Spaniel. "Above all merry" well describes the affectionate, fun-loving Sporting dog known as the Cocker Spaniel. The breed's personality and elegant appearance have kept the Cocker Spaniel in the top ten breeds in the United States for decades, and today new owners are discovering the many charms of this apartment-size dog. Although the breed was developed to hunt woodcock and other small game in England, few Cockers today are used as hunting companions; most Cockers enjoy a luxurious existence as companion dogs for families. Author and sporting breed expert Richard G. Beauchamp describes his much-loved breed of which is he is a former breeder and handler: "Under the obvious wealth of furnishings, a well-bred Cocker Spaniel remains a most versatile companion. He is small enough to make a pleasant house dog, yet of more than sufficient size and stamina to spend the day trudging alongside his master over hill and dale." This Comprehensive Owners' Guide retells the breed's origins and characteristics as well as discusses the breed standard and offers new owners advice about selection, care, training, showing, and more.New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on finding a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with photographs of handsome adults and puppies. In all, there are over 135 full-color photographs in this useful and reliable volume. The author's advice on obedience training will help the reader better mold and train into the most well-mannered dog in the neighborhood. The extensive and lavishly illustrated chapter on healthcare provides up-to-date detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, preventing and dealing with parasites, infectious diseases, and more. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as historical dogs, breeders, or kennels, toxic plants, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.

"The real Yankee spaniel" is above all merry! The smallest hunting dog with the biggest heart, the Cocker Spaniel is an affectionate free spirit with an equable temperament. This Cocker makes an ideal family companion, thriving with old and young alike. This book provides the much-needed factual information about the Cocker Spaniel and its ancestry, character and standard, as well as the proper selection, feeding, training, preventative health care and behavior of the breed. The new owner will welcome advice about preparing for the pup's arrival, housebreaking and preventing puppy problems. In addition to an extremely authoritative text, this book presents over 135 photographs in full color, which prove to be as informative as they are attractive. Helpful hints and important information are highlighted to provide easy access to everything the reader needs to know about life with a Cocker Spaniel from puppyhood to the senior years.

Traces the history of the breed, describes breed standards, discusses care and grooming requirements, and includes information on training