Collins Complete Dog Manual

Fact File

Group: Gundog

Country of Origin: England

Male: Approx. 50 cm (20 in)

Female: Approx. 50 cm (20 in)

Coat: Weather-resistant coat, with feathering on the ears, forelegs and hindquarters.

Life Expectancy: 12–14 years

Guarding Instinct: Will warn but friendly.

Temperament & Grooming

Temperament: This is a gentle, loving dog whose natural desire is to please. The Springer is highly intelligent and reacts well to kind training. They crave and give affection, hating to be alone, and are very good with children.

Grooming: They should be brushed and combed once a week (ears daily). Trim the feathering with scissors and make sure you keep the ears dry and clean.

Exercise & Feeding

Exercise: Springers need plenty of free running and play daily. They need things to do, especially retrieving games and play, and take to Agility and Flyball with enthusiasm.

Feeding: There are no special feeding requirements.

Health Problems

Some hip dysplasia (#litres_trial_promo). Eye problems include progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) (here (#litres_trial_promo)). Buy only from tested parents.

Labrador Retriever

(© Jean Michel Labat)

Worldwide, this is the most popular Retriever of all. Almost the perfect Gundog, the Labrador Retriever has a natural inclination to retrieve on land and water, a desire to please and the ability to learn easily. They have a need for love and understanding. Their natural desire to play makes them good family pets. A wonderful companion dog.

History

The seventeenth century saw trade between Britain and Newfoundland – slates out and salt fish back. An all-purpose water dog helped the fishermen to retrieve dropped articles, haul carts and retrieve game. Called St John’s Dogs, they were originally brought to Poole, England, by sailors. The Earl of Malmesbury, recognizing their skills, developed them as Gundogs.

Description

Labrador puppies may look small and cute but they grow up into large, powerful dogs – the Labrador has a broad, deep chest and a distinctive short, dense coat that can withstand the cold and wet. Coat colours are chocolate or liver, yellow or black. Stimulating their brains prevents destructive habits forming; owners should invent search and retrieve games and involve them in all family activities.

Fact File

Group: Gundog

Country of Origin: Canada

Male:

56–57 cm (22–23 in)

Female:

54–56 cm (21–22 in)

Coat: Short, dense coat that can withstand the cold and wet.

Life Expectancy: 10–12 years

Guarding Instinct: Will warn but friendly.

Temperament & Grooming

Temperament: Cool and laid back, the Labrador Retriever is tolerant and easy-going with dogs and human beings, enjoys the company of children and will allow them to take liberties. However, it is easily upset by shouting or harsh treatment of any kind.

Grooming: Grooming is minimal; all you need to do is just clean the ears and brush the coat weekly to rid it of dead hairs.

Exercise & Feeding

Exercise: As much as possible. The Labrador is an active, country dog needing plenty of exercise, free running and play.

Feeding: Labradors have a voracious appetite and a tendency to become over-weight, so monitor your dog’s diet carefully.

Health Problems

Hip dysplasia (#litres_trial_promo). Some eye conditions: multi-focal retinal dysplasia (MRD), progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hereditary cataracts and entropion (see here (#litres_trial_promo)). The best breeders test their breeding dogs.

Golden Retriever

(© Jean Michel Labat)

Delightful family pets, Golden Retrievers are happy to be the Gundog for the father, an elegant companion for the mother and a playmate for the children. Their versatility and intelligence have led them to becoming great guide dogs for the blind and assistance dogs for the disabled. They are easily trained to be all-purpose Gundogs and work with great enthusiasm, braving the thickest cover and the coldest water.

History

In 1825 Lord Tweedmouth mated his ‘Yellow’ Retriever to a Tweed Water Spaniel (now extinct). One of the resulting progeny was mated to another Tweed Water Spaniel, the progeny of which was mated back again. It is rumoured that a Bloodhound was added together with a Sheepdog from a troupe of performing Russian circus dogs with which his Lordship became enamoured and bought. And thus today’s Golden Retriever evolved.

Description

This medium-sized dog is strongly built and muscular with a gentle, loving expression in the eyes. The coat is dense with good feathering and a water-resistant undercoat. The colour varies from a cream to a rich, lustrous gold. Mainly a country hunting dog, the Golden Retriever needs frequent exercise and plenty of mental stimulation. These excellent retrievers have a soft mouth and a good nose for finding lost game.

Fact File

Group: Gundog