Customer Reviews

American Water Spaniel (Complete & Reliable Handbook)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There is very little written about this breed (and most of it is out of print). There is a nice summary of the breed history and rather general advice about raising and training your dog. The subjects covered are a good introduction to training but would need to be supplemented from other sources. The illustrations are outstandingly good and give an excellent view of the wideranging abilities of this "great All American dog". It is an excellent book for the person who wants an American water spaniel as a pet or who wants to know what the breed looks like. I could not wholeheartedly recommend it for a person who wants a hunting dog. As far as field ability and training of an American water spaniel are concerned, I would suggest James Spencer's book Training the Flushing Spaniel the American Way which contains a most informative chapter about the special characteristics of this breed and excellent advice on field training.

This is a great book for anyone who is interested in the AWS. Although it only briefly skims advanced training or care information, it has a wide number of examples of the breed represented in it's numerous pictures. I highly recommend this book and I only gave it less then five stars because of the last chapter of the book which is an advertisment for dog dental toys.

We found this book much too generic for anyone seriously considering the advantages/disadvantages of this breed compared to another hunting breed of dog. The pictures provided a clear look at the dog's appearance, but most of the text (training, care etc.) could have been written about almost any dog.

First I'm concerned with the author's statement of not spaying a female until after the first cycle due to the her contention that the female pup will forever be an adolescent. All other information and studies state that the most signifigant health benefits are gained by having female dogs spayed before the first heat cycle. Is the "forever adolescent" an "old wives tale" or held as true by most experts on the AWS? The book doesn't say.

The rest of the book is worth while as a "coffee table" piece with the best photography seen and decent chapters on the AWS.

A better read of the differences and training of sporting (flushing) spaniels is "Hup! Training Flushing Spaniels The American Way by James Spencer"

The pictures are fabulous, up-to-date & high quality. It is worth buying the book for the pictures alone. This updated story of the American Water Spaniel is evenly presented and takes a look at all aspects of this wonderful breed.

The pictures are fabulous, up-to-date & high quality. It is worth buying the book for the pictures alone. This updated story of the American Water Spaniel is evenly presented and takes a look at all aspects of this wonderful breed.