SPANIELS: THEIR BREAKING FOR SPORT AND FIELD TRIALS. By H.W. Carlton. With an Introduction by W. Arkwright. Ninth edition.

(1915) 1976 9th edition. 16mo (108 x 172mm). Ppxvi,136,4pp ads. B/w plate frontispiece with new (1976) photographs on preceding page. Adverts from the original. Green boards, spine and upper board titled in gilt.

"I am painfully aware that [this book's] very thoroughness creates [a] difficulty. What is there left to me to write about? ...I will draw attention to the rather obvious fact that Mr. Carlton's work fills a gap in gundog literature; for it is, I believe, the only one that has ever been devoted in its entirety to the breaking - to the education of the spaniel." William Arkwright in the Introduction to the fifth edition, 1931. A thorough, authoritative and ground-breaking book, still of much use. The contents cover: general principles; the perfect spaniel with regard to its duties; early lessons for puppies; other methods of teaching puppies retrieving; dropping to shot; subesequent retrieving lessons; hunting in cover, the open and hedgerows; work with the gun; brace and team work; water work; some difficulties and suggestions; psychology and dog-breaking; field trials.