Desarnaud - Spanish Water Dog: Special Rare-Breed Editiion: A Comprehensive Owners Guide

Physical Characteristics of the Spanish Water Dog

(from the Fdration Cynologique Internationales breed standard)

Head and Cranial Region:Head: Strong, carried with elegance. Skull: Flat with only slightly marked occipital crest. Stop: Facial-cranial depression gentle, only slightly marked.

Eyes: Slightly oblique position, very expressive; of a hazel to chestnut color, should harmonize with the color of the coat.

Nose: Nostrils well defined. Nose is of the same color or slightly darker than the darkest one of the coat.

Lips: Well fitting; labial corners well defined.

Teeth: Well-formed, white, with well-developed canines.

Forequarters: Solid and upright. Shoulders: Well muscled and oblique. Upper arms: Sturdy. Elbows: Close to the chest and parallel. Forearms: Straight and sturdy. Carpus (Pastern joint) and pastern: Straight, rather short. Front feet: Rounded, toes tight, nails of varied colors, resistant pads.

Size:Height at withers: Males 4450 cm (17.3219.69 in); females 4046 cm (15.7518.11 in). Weight: Males 1822 kg (39.6948.5 lb); females 1418 kg (30.8639.69 lb).

Ears: Set at medium height, triangular drooping.

Neck: Short, well muscled, without dewlap, springing cleanly into the shoulders.

Body: Robust. Topline: Straight. Withers: Hardly marked. Back: Straight and powerful. Croup: Slightly tucked up. Chest: Broad and well let down; ribs well arched; diameter of thorax ample, indicating considerable respiratory capacity.

Tail: Set at medium height. Docking must be done at the height of the second to the fourth vertebra.

Hindquarters: Perfectly straight with not too pronounced angulations. Upper thighs: Long and well muscled. Second thighs: Well developed. Hock joint: Well let down. Hock: Short, lean and perpendicular to the ground. Hind feet: As the forefeet.

Coat:Hair: Always curly and of woolly texture. Curly when short, can form cords when long. The recommended maximum length of the hair for shows is 12 cm (15 cm extending the curl) and the minimum is 3 cm to see the quality of the curl.

Color:Solid: White, black and chestnut in different shades. Bicolor: White and black or white and brown in different shades.

Contents

A breed of ancient origin but just a baby in the pure-bred dog fancy, the Spanish Water Dog is a handy herder and an aquatic ace. Learn about the breeds origins in Spain, important people in the breeds development, milestones along the road to recognition and the breeds strides in the US and the UK.

Intelligence, working ability, versatility, loyalty and more, all wrapped up in a woolly coat, the Spanish Water Dog is quite a perro! Learn about the breeds unique personality and many talents to discover if youre a suitable owner for this enchanting rare breed. Potential hereditary concerns are also mentioned to educate the prospective owner.

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Spanish Water Dog by studying the description of the breed set forth in the Fdration Cynologique Internationales standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Be advised about choosing a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, typical puppy. Understand the responsibilities of ownership, including home preparation, acclimatization, the vet and prevention of common puppy problems.

Enter into a sensible discussion of dietary and feeding considerations, exercise, grooming, traveling and identification of your dog. This chapter discusses Spanish Water Dog care for all stages of development.

By Charlotte Schwartz

Be informed about the importance of training your Spanish Water Dog from the basics of house-training and understanding the development of a young dog to executing obedience commands (sit, stay, down, etc.).

Discover how to select a qualified vet and care for your dog at all stages of life. Topics include vaccinations, skin problems, dealing with external and internal parasites and common medical and behavioral conditions.

Consider the care of your senior Spanish Water Dog, including the proper diet for a senior. Recognize the signs of an aging dog, both behavioral and medical; implement a special-care program with your vet and become comfortable with making the final decisions and arrangements for your senior Spanish Water Dog.

Experience the dog show world in the conformation ring and beyond. Learn about conformation dog shows as well as obedience, agility and herding trials. Also learn about the FCI, the worlds international kennel club.

Learn to recognize and handle behavioral problems that may arise with your Spanish Water Dog. Topics discussed include separation anxiety, aggression, barking, chewing, digging, begging, jumping up, etc.

K ENNEL C LUB B OOKS S PANISH W ATER D OG

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-344-0
eISBN 13: 978-1-62187-077-7

Copyright 2003 Kennel Club Books A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC
3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA
Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Photographs by Isabelle Franais and Carol Ann Johnson, with additional photographs by: Norvia Behling, T. J. Calhoun, David Dalton, Doskocil, RBP, Bill Jonas, Marcelino Pozo, Mikki Pet Products, Karen Taylor and Alice van Kempen.

Illustrations by Patricia Peters.

The owner would like to thank Inge Fischer, Maria Jose Suarez Moreno, Jaime Veral Pamarch, Diane Philipson and the rest of the owners of the dogs featured in the book.