Spot Fetcher Bush, the English springer spaniel who belongs to the family of Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, is the daughter of famed first dog Millie, who resided in the White House with George and Barbara Bush from 1988 to 1992. The election of Bush would be a true homecoming for Spot, who was born in the White House in 1989.
Spot will have big shoes to fill if she does become first dog. Millie was beloved by the nation, thanks in part to her 1990 best-selling account of life in the White House, titled Millie's Book. The book, which was "told to" First Lady Barbara Bush, sold more than 500,000 copies and earned closed to $900,000 for the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. It also set a new standard of celebrity for America's first pets.
Unfortunately, if Spot does become the first dog, she won't have the luxury of turning to her mother for advice on dealing with that pesky press corps. Millie was put to sleep in 1997 because of stomach and liver ailments at the age of 12.
A Born Politician
If any breed is suited to the rigors of political life, it's the English springer spaniel. A natural athlete, the springer has the stamina for endless day of licking babies and shaking paws, with more than enough energy left over to attend the evening's $5,000-per-bowl fund-raising dinner. The breed's outgoing, charismatic personality can quickly put disgruntled constituents at ease, but it is bold enough to take on even the meanest, surliest opponent, including members of Congress.
Politics aside, the English springer spaniel truly is an energetic, outgoing breed, and most springers exhibit a gregariousness, warmth and sweet-temper that makes them a joy to know. It has been said that to a nice springer there are no strangers, simply friends he hasn't made yet. This makes many members of the breed an excellent dog for families.
Sadly, aggression has haunted the breed in recent years, making the choice of breeder and lines an important one - springer puppys should be chosen carefully, preferably after meeting the parents. Other problems such as dominance, possessiveness and shyness are also found in the breed. Without appropriate exercise and training, springers can be chewers, diggers, barkers and jumpers.
A roomy back yard or open field is the optimal place to observe the best attributes of the English springer spaniel, for it is within the freedom of open spaces that this breed shines. Bred to spend long days hunting in English countryside, the springer spaniel has the stamina of dogs twice its size. Springers bred from hunting stock are particularly active.
The English springer spaniel is a great dog for Republicans and Democrats, but it is not a good choice for members of the Couch Potato Party. Springers need rigorous exercise everyday, both of the mental and physical variety. Hunting is the first choice to satisfy both needs, but a long walk on leash or good obedience lesson will work, too, and can go far toward making the springer a calm, well-behaved house dog.
A Great Running Mate
The springer's body illustrates its vigorous, athletic approach to life. A midsize breed adult males typically weigh about 50 pounds, females around 40 pounds the springer is above all a well-proportioned dog. The length of a springer's topline -- the distance from the top of the shoulders to the route of the tail -- should be approximately equal to its shoulder height, which is typically around 20 inches for males and 19 inches for females.
The springer's body illustrates its vigorous, athletic approach to life. A midsize breed adult males typically weigh about 50 pounds, females around 40 pounds the springer is above all a well-proportioned dog. The length of a springer's topline -- the distance from the top of the shoulders to the route of the tail -- should be approximately equal to its shoulder height, which is typically around 20 inches for males and 19 inches for females.
This symmetry and size is by design, giving the springer spaniel the ability to cover all types of ground with agility and reasonable speed. Because it is smaller than setters and retrievers, the springer is better suited to navigate the thick brush often encountered in bird hunting. Other typical springer characteristics include an alert but kindly expression, deep body, strong shoulders and legs, and excellent feet.
Covering this athletic body is a flat, wavy, medium-length outercoat and a soft dense undercoat. Acting in tandem the two coats provide excellent protection from both water and cold weather. The springer's ears, chest, legs and belly are nicely furnished with a moderate fringe of feathering which is often trimmed geometrically to give the dog an elegant look. Typically the breed's head, ears and back are black, brown or liver, with a white nose and belly; however, it is not unusual to see wide variations of this basic color scheme.
The springer spaniel's coat should have a clean, glossy appearance indicative of good health, making a weekly or biweekly brush essential. This will also keep mats from forming or burrs from entangling the fine hair. Feathering should be trimmed every few months, both to give the dog a smart appearance and to repel the grime that seems to accumulate there. If you're determined to give your springer the tapered look of a show dog, you may need to seek professional help, but otherwise you can get by with regular brushing and trimming, coupled with an occasional bath. The springer's long ears will need to be kept clean to prevent the growth of bacteria. Check your dog's ears regularly and gently remove any dirt with a cotton swab.
Unfortunately, the breed is haunted by many health problems, including hip and elbow dysplasia, allergies, chronic ear problems and blood and heart disorders. Ectropian, where the eyelid rolls out abnormally, and entropia, when the eyelid rolls in abnormally, are minor concerns. Springer puppies should have eye and hip certification. To avoid aggression problems, males should be neutered, preferably as soon as your veterinarian will do it.
Political Bloodlines
The spaniel's hunting talents quickly made the dog a favorite in England, as well. Over time, different spaniel breeds were developed by English sportsmen for specific purposes. An early distinction was between dogs bred to hunt on land and water. The land spaniels were the "springers," which flushed game or retrieved arrows that had missed their mark.
By the year 1800, further classifications had arisen. Small spaniels dogs weighing up to 25 pounds were called cockers because they were used to hunt woodcocks. Larger spaniels 17 to 18 inches tall and weighing 35 to 45 pounds, were called field or English spaniels.
Adept at hunting, retrieving and going to water, the early springer spaniels gained popularity because of their versatility. Still there were few attempts at organized breeding -- until the 1900s, it was common for springers and cockers to be part of the same litter, with classification based solely upon size.
Historians credit the breed's distinctive black and white, or liver and white, markings to an early strain of springers known as Norfolk spaniels. Depending on the source, these dogs were either kept by the Duke of Norfolk or simply were plentiful in England's Norfolk County. In 1899 an organization of spaniel enthusiasts, called the Sporting Spaniel Club, held a working trial. After that meeting breeders began to recognize the importance of pure breeding in working stock, and by 1902 the English springer spaniel had received separate classification by the Kennel Club.
The United States was home to generic spaniel types as early as the year 1800, but it was not until the 1900s that a following for English springer spaniels developed on this side of the Atlantic. The first English springer spaniel registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) was Denne Lucy in 1910, but no parent club for the breed existed until 1927, when the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association officially accepted the role.
Although it arrived relatively late in the American purebred game, the English springer spaniel has made up for lost ground in the last few decades. Riding the coattails of Millie Bush's celebrity, the breed climbed to 19th on the AKC's ranking of new registrations in 1992. By 1999 the English springer spaniel had fallen to 26th, but if Spot Fetcher Bush does recapture her mother's office of First Dog, the breed may well ride her political coattails back into the AKC's top twenty. No matter what the political outcome, however, no election can change the fact that the English springer spaniel is a great running mate.
No comments:
Post a Comment