Don’t Go Hunting Without A Hunting Dog

Hunting Dogs have hunted alongside humans for thousands of years.  Although today, hunting with dogs is often just for sport, many hunters still provide food for their families, and their dogs are an essential partner for a successful hunt. Well-trained hunting dogs are indispensable for certain types of hunting.

The duties of a hunting dog include:

• Locating prey by sight or scent.
• Stalking when the target is detected.
• Driving or flushing the prey out of hiding.
• Chasing the prey.
• Retrieving downed game.

Retrievers

Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and Flat-Coated Retrievers are the most popular retrievers used in hunting.

Retrievers do not necessarily locate or chase the prey. Their job is to find the fallen birds and bring them undamaged back to the hunter.

Retrievers and other hunting dogs are also known as “gun dogs” and must remain controlled when guns are fired. Many dog breeds are terrified of loud noises, and tolerating gunshots is a unique hunting dog trait.

Retrievers must also remain calm and under control. Much of their work is on or near the water and sometimes on boats. You don’t want your dog jumping around in the boat.

Like most hunting dogs, retrievers live to please humans and are excellent family pets. According to the AKC, Golden and Labrador retrievers are consistently in the top 3 most popular dog breeds.

Retrievers recover fallen game like pheasants, quail, or waterfowl and carry them back to the hunter without damaging them. To do this, they need a “soft” or gentle mouth to carefully carry the prey. Some retrievers are bred for work in the water and have webbing between their toes to help them swim.

The Golden Retriever originated in Scotland in the 1800s. She was trained to retrieve waterfowl and other game birds.

Labrador Retriever. Originally from the United Kingdom, Labradors are the most popular breed of dogs in many countries worldwide.

Flat-Coated Retrievers. Originating in England, this retriever was bred for use on both land and water.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.  Developed in the United States Chesapeake Bay area, this dog loves the water and was used to retrieve game, pull fishing nets, and rescue fishermen.

Curly-Coated Retriever.  Originating in England, it is the tallest of the retrievers.  It has a tight, curly coat.

Flat-Coated Retriever.  Also, this dog was bred from England for use on land and water.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. This breed looks very much like a smaller Golden Retriever. Originated in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Spaniels

Cocker Spaniels (American and English), Irish Water Spaniels, and English Springer Spaniels hunt dogs. Their role is to flush out the game like birds and rabbits.  Thanks to their thick coats, spaniels can get into the underbrush to find a game hiding there.

They do not kill. Their job is to get the prey out in the open for the hunter to shoot. They also have a “soft mouth,” so they can retrieve fallen game without doing damage. Spaniels make good family pets, too.

An American Cocker Spaniel.  Ancestors of the American Cocker Spaniel came from England.  It has different breed standards from its English cousins.  It is the smallest hunting dog breed and can also be a retriever.

The English Cocker Spaniel.  This dog got its name from its use to hunt woodcocks.  

English Springer Spaniels.  This dog is used for flushing and retrieving game.  It is also used as a “sniffer dog” for finding bombs and other explosives.

The Welsh Springer Spaniel.  Most dogs come in various coat colors, but the Welsh Springer Spaniel is unique because its coat only comes in a single color combination of white and red markings.

Irish Water Spaniels.  Native to Ireland, this dog has a coat of dense curls and sheds very little.  It is the largest of the spaniels.

Pointers

Pointers are even-tempered, friendly hunting dogs and make good house pets despite their large size. They are not aggressive and are happy to live with other dogs and cats.  They will bark at suspicious noises but are not excellent watchdogs.

Pointers were bred to be hunting dogs. They are not natural retrievers but can be trained to locate and bring back dead or wounded game. When a pointer detects prey, it typically stops and “points” with its muzzle in the prey’s direction.

Pointers are sometimes called “bird dogs” because they are primarily used for hunting birds.

English Pointer.  In England, this breed is called the Pointer.  Pointers are intelligent, affectionate, and very loyal family pets.

German Longhaired Pointers  This is a multi-purpose gundog, originally from Germany. Other pointers from Germany include the German Shorthaired Pointer, the German Wirehaired Pointer, and the Large Münsterländer.

Portuguese Pointer  A medium-sized dog, the Portuguese Pointer, was mainly used for hunting [wiki]red-legged partridge[/wiki].

Setters

Setters combine the best hunting dogs skills of the spaniel and the pointer, which have been around since the 14th century.  They primarily hunt game birds such as pheasants, quail, and grouse.

Setter breeds include the English Setter, Irish Setter, and Gordon Setter.  A setter silently searches for game by scent.  They hunt systematically and methodically. When they find prey, the dog becomes motionless and “sets” or crouches rather than chasing after the game.

English Setter.  Full of energy and people-friendly, the English Setter is a gentle dog who can sometimes be mischievous.

Gordon Setter.  Also known as a “black and tan,” he is a large dog originally from Scotland.  This breed is known for its devotion and loyalty.

Irish Setter.  These dogs have an excellent sense of smell, which makes them good at finding game birds.  They are wonderful family pets but may not get along well with cats.

Irish Red and White Setter.  A medium-sized dog, the Irish Red and White Setter, is a good family pet.

Hounds

Hounds are excellent hunting dogs divided into sighthounds and scenthounds, depending upon the primary skill used to locate the quarry. Many mammals, such as jackrabbits, raccoons, coyotes, and large predators, are hunted with hounds.  Unlike setters and pointers, hounds actively pursue prey and kill the quarry.

ScentHounds

Scenthounds are hunting dogs that primarily hunt by scent. Scent hounds are used to trail and sometimes kill game. They hunt in packs leading the hunters on a chase that may end in the quarry being treed or killed.

When the dogs have successfully treed the quarry, the tone of their howls will change. Some hounds have deep, booming howls and use them when following a scent trail.  Their howls may be a nuisance in the city, but it is beneficial for the hunter to know where his dogs are heading.

Bloodhound.  This large dog was bred to hunt large game such as deer and wild boar.  It is better known for its ability to follow human scent over long distances and periods.

Beagle.  The Beagle was mainly used for hunting rabbits or hares.  It is a smaller dog, which makes it a trendy family pet.

Foxhounds.  These hunting dogs usually hunt in packs and chase, of course, foxes.  There are several Foxhound breeds, including American, English, Welsh, Black, and Tan.

Coonhounds.  Bred for hunting raccoons, they also hunt wild pigs, bears, bobcats, and cougars.  Several breeds of coonhounds include Black-and-Tan, Redbone, Bluetick, English, and the Treeing Walker Coonhound.

Dachshund.  The standard size “wiener” dog was bred to find and flush out badgers and other burrowing animals.  The smaller Dachshund was used for hunting rabbits and mice.

Basset Hounds.  These hunting dogs have a keen sense of smell, second only to the Bloodhound.  It was used to hunt rabbits or hares.

Sighthounds

Sighthounds have excellent vision and speed. Their method of hunting is known as “coursing.”   They see their prey from a distance, stalk,  and pursue until the prey is caught or exhausted.

These hunting dogs have long legs, broad chests, and very little body fat built for speed.  Even the best-fed sighthounds may look like they are skin and bones.

Because of their great speed, sighthounds, especially the Greyhound and Whippet, are used in organized racing competitions.

Greyhound.  The fastest dog in the world, Greyhounds who retire from racing, are adopted as family pets, which has helped raise this breed’s popularity.

Whippet.  This dog, which looks like a small Greyhound, is also used in racing competitions.  It is excellent in dog agility sports such as [wiki]flyball[/wiki] and [wiki]dock diving[/wiki].

Saluki.  This breed comes from the [wiki]Middle East[/wiki] and is a very ancient breed.  Its primary game was gazelle, hare, fox, and jackal.  They have great speed and stamina.

Afghan Hound.  The Afghan Hound is a tall, sophisticated-looking dog from the cold mountains of Afghanistan.  Although considered intelligent, it isn’t easy to train.

Scottish Deerhound.  Only the Scottish Foxhound is a taller dog breed than the Scottish Deerhound.  The Deerhound was bred to hunt and chase [wiki]red deer[/wiki].

Conclusion

Hunting dogs were bred to work closely with humans who needed help locating and catching food.  This close relationship has made hunting dogs loyal companions who become excellent family pets.  Their hunting instincts make them like chasing anything that moves, which can be a nuisance to other family pets such as cats.

Hunting dogs come in many sizes, shapes, and colors.  It should be easy to find one that fits your taste in dogs.