Chelsea Devon - English Toy Spaniel

Physical Characteristics of the English Toy Spaniel

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Head: Large in comparison to size, with a plush, chubby look, albeit with a degree of refinement.

Ears: Very long and set low and close to the head, fringed with heavy feathering.

Neck: Moderate in length; nicely arched.

Skull: From the side, curves as far out over the eyes as possible.

Eyes: Large and very dark brown or black.

Stop: Deep and well-defined.

Nose: Large and jet black in color, with large, wide open nostrils.

Muzzle: Very short, with the nose well laid back.

Jaw: Square, broad and deep and well turned up.

Bite: Slightly undershot; teeth not to show.

Forequarters: Shoulders well laid back; legs well boned and strong, dropping straight down from the elbow; strong in pastern.

Color: The Blenheim (red and white) consists of a pearly white ground with deep red or chestnut markings evenly distributed in large patches. The Prince Charles (tricolor) consists of a pearly white ground with evenly distributed black patches, solid black ears and black face markings. The King Charles (black and tan) is a rich, glossy black with bright mahogany tan markings appearing on the cheeks, lining of the ears, over the eyes, on the legs and underneath the tail. The Ruby is a self-colored, rich mahogany red.

Coat: Profusely coated, heavy fringing on the ears, body and chest, and with flowing feathering on both the front and hind legs, and feathering on the feet.

Topline: Level.

Body: Short, compact, square and deep.

Tail: Docked to 2 to 4 inches in length.

Hindquarters: Rear legs are well muscled and nicely angulated to indicate strength, and parallel of hock.

Feet: Front and rear, are neat and compact.

Size: The most desirable weight of an adult is 8 to 14 pounds.

Contents

Uncover the aristocratic background of the English Toy Spaniel by discussing the origins of the toy spaniels and learning how the breed became established in England, its homeland. Follow the breed across the Atlantic and trace its history in the US.

With a regal beauty befitting its native country, the English Toy Spaniel is an affectionate companion in a compact size that can fit in most anywhere. Small in stature yet big in personality, the English Toy Spaniel is a true charmer! Topics include the breeds temperament, owner suitablity and potential health problems in the breed.

Learn the requirements of a well-bred English Toy Spaniel by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Find out about how to locate a well-bred English Toy Spaniel puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and solving basic puppy problems.

Cover the specifics of taking care of your English Toy Spaniel every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog identification.

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the English Toy Spaniel, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Get started by introducing the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dogs healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

Know when to consider your English Toy Spaniel a senior and what special needs he will have. Learn to recognize the signs of aging in terms of physical and behavioral traits and what your vet can do to optimize your dogs golden years. Consider some advice about saying goodbye to your beloved pet.

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Heres a basic overview of ACK conformation showing, including how to get started and whats required for your dog to become a champion. Take a leap into the realms of obedience trials, rally obedience and agility.

Analyze the canine mind to understand what makes your English Toy Spaniel tick. The following potential problems are addressed: separation anxiety, sexual misconduct, chewing, digging, barking and food-related problems.

K ENNEL C LUB B OOKS E NGLISH T OY S PANIEL

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-332-7

eISBN 13: 978-1-62187-021-0

Copyright 2007 Kennel Club Books An Imprint of I-5 Press 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.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sherwin, Lee.

English toy spaniel / by Lee Sherwin.

p. cm.

1. English toy spaniel. I. Title.

SF429.E73S54 2007

636.76dc22 2006016291

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Photography by Carol Ann Johnson

with additional photographs by: