GUNDOGS: THEIR LEARNING CHAIN. By Joe Irving.

1983 1st edition. 8vo (140 x 222mm). Ppvi,231. B/w photographs and illustrations. Brown boards, spine titled in gilt.

"Joe Irving's ...greatly respected handbook on gundogs shows how to train a dog for any type of shooting, by following a series of basic lessons which form a special sequence or learning chain. From buying a puppy to working it in the field, the author describes in detail how to adapt each stage of training to suit individual temperaments and all breeds of gundog - spaniel, labrador, golden retriever, flat-coat, curly-coat, pointer, setter, and even the cross-bred." "I'd recommend the book to anyone interested in training a gundog, whatever the breed." - Derry Argue, Shooting Times. Chapters include; the dog for the job - choice of puppy, purchasing a puppy, diet, kennels or not, house training; development - preparation for training, chastisement, early days; basic training - the training ground, sitting at a distance, steadiness to the thrown dummy, dropping to whistle and shot; introduction to the 'hunters' - the rough-shooter's dog, early rough-shooting days; advanced retrieving; cold game - leaving a line, introduction to and retrieving from water, steadiness to game, the check cord, the rabbit pen; pointers and setters; breeding - sires, brood bitches, the bitch in season, mating, gestation, the whelping box, the bitch in whelp, tails, dew claws, hand rearing; picking up and beating.