| Hunting dogs, as their name suggests, are | | | | dogs were bred to go into the water and |
| simply those dogs that have been bred - and | | | | retrieve or bring back game, to flush and |
| trained - to assist human hunters in their | | | | point, and to show where waterfowl may be |
| activities. Originally, these dogs were | | | | located on the shore areas in rushes and |
| responsible, at least partially, for bringing | | | | weeds. Some of them are also used for on-land |
| home the meat for the family's dinner and, | | | | game bird shooting, a type of hunting in |
| without them, the job of hunting was much | | | | which setters and pointers have become |
| more difficult. The dogs assist the human | | | | specialized. These dog breeds are very |
| hunter to scent and track, retrieve, flush, | | | | patient and will wait, without moving, for |
| point or even chase down game. The skills | | | | long periods of time until they are finally |
| developed will be specific to each breed, | | | | told to do so by the hunter. They are also |
| depending on the type of game that the dog | | | | used to swimming great distances into the |
| has been trained to hunt, and the hunting | | | | water and back to retrieve a duck or goose |
| style used with that particular type of game. | | | | without damaging the bird or even piercing |
| Hunting dogs love to be outdoors and work | | | | the skin with their teeth. |
| with their owners. They usually become | | | | |
| noticeably excited and active when they | | | | Dog breeds included in the group of gun or |
| notice that preparations for the hunt are | | | | water dogs are: |
| getting under way. | | | | |
| | | | · Retrievers - Labradors, Golden, |
| Since each breed of hunting dog has unique | | | | Chesapeake Bay |
| skills and attributes, we shall look at each | | | | |
| general type of hunting dog separately. It is | | | | · Spaniels - English, Cocker, Water, |
| important to remember that hunting dogs are | | | | Brittany |
| not aggressive by nature and are actually | | | | |
| some of the best natured and calm mannered of | | | | · Setters - English, Irish, Gordon |
| all the breeds of dogs. | | | | |
| | | | · Pointers - Pudelpointer, German Short |
| Hounds | | | | Haired, English |
| | | | |
| Hounds, used as hunting dogs, can be | | | | It is interesting to note that the standard |
| subdivided into two types: scent or sight | | | | Poodle is an excellent gun and hunting dog, |
| hunting dogs. They are used to hunt many | | | | although nowadays it is rarely used as a |
| types of mammals such as raccoons, coyotes, | | | | hunting dog anymore. |
| and other larger mammals. As you might | | | | |
| imagine, sight hounds hunt by visual contact | | | | Terriers |
| with the game. They are very fast and tend to | | | | |
| be relatively smaller than scent hounds - | | | | Terriers are a group of hunting dogs, mostly |
| although this does not mean that all of the | | | | developed during the industrial revolution, |
| breeds of sight hunting hounds are small | | | | in the United Kingdom and Europe, to kill the |
| dogs. Sight hounds include: | | | | vermin in houses, factories and farms. These |
| | | | small- to medium-sized dogs are energetic, |
| · Whippets | | | | lively and very independent. These dogs are a |
| | | | little different, in that they are actually |
| · Greyhounds | | | | trained to kill their prey, unlike the hounds |
| | | | or water dogs listed above. For that reason |
| · Rhodesian Ridgebacks | | | | they tend to be a bit more aggressive towards |
| | | | other animals if not socialized properly. The |
| · Saluki | | | | most common terrier breeds include: |
| | | | |
| · Afghan hound | | | | · Jack Russell |
| | | | |
| · Basenji | | | | · Cairn |
| | | | |
| · Irish Wolfhound | | | | · West Highland White |
| | | | |
| Scent hounds tend to be heavier-set, | | | | · Skye |
| deeper-chested hunting dogs that excel for | | | | |
| their endurance rather than their speed. | | | | · Boston |
| Their voices tend to be deep and baying and | | | | |
| in this way hunters can follow them to where | | | | · Yorkshire |
| they have treed or cornered the game. Scent | | | | |
| hounds include: | | | | · Fox |
| | | | |
| · Bloodhounds | | | | · Airedale |
| | | | |
| · Bassets | | | | · Scottish |
| | | | |
| · Beagles | | | | However, there are many other types of |
| | | | terriers, all with unique coat colors and |
| · Coonhounds (all varieties) | | | | characteristics. |
| | | | |
| · Foxhounds | | | | If you are looking for a hunting dog, you |
| | | | need to bear in mind, first, exactly which |
| · Scottish Deerhound | | | | breed is best suited to your requirements. As |
| | | | a hunter, be sure to research each breed and |
| Some hounds are versatile and can track using | | | | talk to dog owners to find which will most |
| both sight and scent. | | | | closely match your needs. However, remember |
| | | | that you needn't be a hunter to own one of |
| Water Dogs | | | | these dogs - hunting dogs can make excellent, |
| | | | good-natured companions. If that is the case, |
| The name "water dogs" is the original name | | | | simply make sure that the breed you choose |
| for a large group of hunting dog breeds that | | | | fits in with your present - and projected |
| are now often referred to as gun dogs. These | | | | lifestyle. |