Spinoni Italiano

Book excerpt: The new cucciolo on the block, the Spinone Italiano is one of Italy's superb contributions to the gundog family, an ancient breed that is a newcomer to the United States but quickly gaining ground. The Spinone is prized for its prowess in the field as well as its hallmark prickly coat, which forms a beard, mustache and bush eye brows on the distinguished adult dog. For the family desiring an active companion, a proficient hunting dog and a keen watchdog, the Spinone Italiano is a first-rate choice. This new Special Limited Edition, written by well-known sporting dog judge and author Richard Beauchamp, offers a complete history of the breed, with a special section on the breed's development in the US written by breeder Jan Naigus, and chapters on breed characteristics and the breed standard. This colorful guide provides new owners with all of the information they need to not only select and care for a well-bred Spinone cucciolo (puppy!) but also attend to the needs of an adult and senior dog, including grooming, feeding and exercise. A chapter on obedience training and house-training detail what is required to have a properly behaved, completely livable Spinone Italiano. A health chapter by world-famous veterinarian and author Dr. Lowell Ackerman presents excellent up-to-date information about vaccinations, parasite control, spaying/neutering and much more.