Many hunting dogs are categorized under the Sporting Group by the American Kennel Club. These are modern hunting dogs working in synchrony with a hunter armed with a gun. Many of these breeds have a different approach when it comes to hunting, often specializing in specific tasks, while others are multitasking, all-around dogs. Following are areas of specialization of some gun dogs and breeds that combine their talents in the name of versatility.
Pointing Dogs
These are breeds of dogs bred to freeze and help the hunter locate game in dense brush. Pointers and setters are the experts that perform these tasks. Their goal is to find game and then quietly announce it by freezing and pointing.
Pointers, as the name implies, are used for demonstrating to the hunter the exact location by stopping and pointing at the game with teir muzzle and paw up. In the old days, these dogs were used to freeze while the hunter threw a net over the game. Breeds in this category include the English pointer, German short-haired pointer and German wire-haired pointer to name a few.
Setters, on the other hand, silently hunt for game by using their sense of smell and then once game is found, they will freeze in place. The term ''setter'' derives from the way these dogs ''set'' and creep forward when they find their quarry. Breeds in this category include the English setter, Gordon setter and Irish setter to name a few.
Flushing Dogs
Flushing dogs encompass breeds specialized in finding game and driving it away so it will fly upwards. This helps the hunter gain a good shot. Cockers and spaniels are the experts that perform these tasks best. Their goal is to find game and actively move it so the hunter can shoot.
Spaniels and cockers were selectively bred to flush game out of dense brush. When working with hunters, they are asked to stay withing gun-shot range, ready to flush, and possibly retrieve, using a soft mouth. Breeds in this category include clumber spaniels, American water spaniel and field spaniels to name a few. Cocker breeds include two spaniel type dogs: the American cocker spaniel and the English cocker spaniel.
Retrieving Dogs
Retrievers are dogs responsible for retrieving downed birds. This helps the hunter recover downed birds which are then delivered with a soft mouth. A soft mouth is a must, as the game must be delivered free of damage. A hard mouth is penalized, as game with tooth marks is not presentable, or worse, not fit for the table.
Another task includes being capable of ''marking down game'' which means remembering where each bird falls so when the dog is sent to retrieve, it is able to collect all downed birds. A good retriever must also be able to perform a ''blind retrieve''. This means that when a retriever cannot see where the downed birds are located, it must be able to rely on the hunter's hand signals, voice and whistle commands. Breeds included in this category are golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and Chesapeake Bay retrievers just to name a few.
And Finally, HPR Dogs
Pointers, setters, flushers and retrievers are dogs specialized in performing certain tasks, but what if a hunter wants a dog that does it all? Such dogs are referred to as ''HPR breeds''. HPR, in this case stands for ''hunt, point and retrieve''. In simple words, these are all-around versatile dogs. The following are some popular HPR dogs:
- German shorthair pointer
- German wire-haired pointer
- Munsterlander
- Hungarian Vizla
- Weimaraner
- Italian spinone
- Korthalls griffon
These dogs will point as a pointer, flush as a spaniel and retrieve as a golden. However, expectations should not be too high: while they can perform all these tasks they may not necessarily perform them as well as the breeds specifically bred for these tasks in particular. HPR dogs will need some training, but once trained, will make excellent hunting companions for many years to come.
- References: Hunt, Point and Retrieve Breeds Association ''The HPR Breeds''
Adrienne Farricelli - Adrienne Farricelli brings expertise in canine topics as a former American Animal Hospital Association employee and certified dog ...
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