Hunting dog

For the species known as the African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, or painted hunting dog, see African Wild Dog.

A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, cur type dogs, and gun dogs. Among these categories further divisions can be made based upon the dogs' skill sets.

Breeds and capabilities used in hunting

For a list of breeds of each type, see the detailed articles for each category:

Main category	Subcategory	Example	Summary
Hounds	Hounds Hounds are further divided into sighthounds and scent hounds depending upon the primary sense used to locate quarry. Many fur bearing animals such as jackrabbit, raccoon, coyote, and large predators are hunted with hounds.
	Sighthounds	Whippet	Sighthounds are well adapted for visual acuity and speed. Their method is known as "coursing" - prey is often sighted from a distance, stalked, pursued and neatly killed. Sighthounds work quickly and quietly, and are by nature independent.
	Scent hounds	Coonhound	Scent hounds are hounds that primarily hunt by scent. Scenthounds are used to trail and sometimes kill game. They hunt in packs leading the hunters on a chase which may end in the quarry being chased into a tree or killed. Some of these breeds have deep, booming barks and use them when following a scent trail.
	Lurchers	Lurcher, 3/4 Greyhound, 1/8 Scottish Deerhound, 1/8 Collie	A Lurcher is a sighthound crossed with a working dog breed−usually a pastoral dog or Terrier bred selectively for working.
Gun dogs	Gun dogs are used primarily by small game hunters using shotguns. Gun dogs are classified as retrievers, flushing spaniels, and pointing breeds.
	Retrievers	Chesapeake Bay Retriever	Once classified as a water spaniel, a retriever's primary role is to find and return shot game to the hunter. Retrievers can spend long hours in a duck blind and visually spot and remember the location of downed birds. At command, they retrieve the birds. They may be able to follow hand, verbal, and whistle commands to the downed bird. They typically have large, gentle muzzles.
	Setters	English Setter	Setters have a long history as upland gun dogs. They appear to have a native ability to locate and point at upland game birds. They flush the birds at the hunter's command.
	Spaniels	File:Kerygma Cockers Mistyside.jpg English Cocker Spaniel	Spaniels have been used to hunt for hundreds of years. Flushing Spaniels are used to locate and flush game for a hunter.
	Pointers	German Shorthaired Pointer	Pointers are dogs trained to locate and point at small game allowing the hunter to approach and flush the game. Pointing breeds cover more range than Spaniels.
	Water dogs	Poodle	Water dogs are a subclass of retrievers.
Feists		Feist	Feists are small dogs that hunt small game, especially squirrels, in a similar manner to large hounds hunting raccoons and large game. Feists may hunt in packs, and "bark up" on trees to alert the hunter. The feist was developed in the southern United States, reputedly from small Native American dogs and British fell terriers.
Terriers		Lakeland Terrier	Terriers are used to hunt mammals. Terriers locate the den or set of the target animal and then bolt, capture, or kill the animal. A working terrier may go underground to kill or drive out game. Hunters who use terriers are referred to as terriermen.
Curs		Catahoula Cur	Curs hunt similarly to terriers, though usually larger game. Curs are used to hunt boars, raccoon, cougars, and other large mammals.

Further details about some types

Flushing spaniels combine hunting, flushing, and retrieving skills. English Springer Spaniels are popular gundogs for a variety of cover but are closely followed in popularity by English Cocker Spaniels. Both breeds are adept at finding and flushing then retrieving game from thick cover. Clumbers, Sussex, and Field Spaniels are also popular for their slower, methodical hunting pattern. The American Water Spaniel and the Boykin Spaniel are noted for their water work.

When trained, Beagles are particularly adept at chasing through thick briars and brush after rabbits. However, spaniels are also excellent rabbit hunting dogs. Spaniel field trials in the UK use both game birds as well as rabbits. Many hound breeds are excellent at treeing raccoons.

Sighthounds are different from scenthounds in their methods and adaptations. The long lean head of the sighthound gives it a greater degree of binocular vision. Their speed, agility and visual acuity are particularly adapted for coursing game in open meadows or steppes. They are independent in nature, and are worked singly or in a "brace" of two or three dogs. Sighthounds are generally quiet and placid dogs compared to other hunting breeds.

Retrievers are good swimmers so are used for retrieving game shot down over water. Retrievers skin secretes an oily substance that sheds water. Retrievers are good at retrieving birds on land or in water.

Hounds have sensitive noses that are used to locate small animals like rabbits and squirrels. Hound breeds include the bluetick, red tick, walker, and redbone.

Flushers are frequently used for pheasant hunting and can be trained to work within gun range. Other flushers, like the cocker, the Boykin and several types of spaniels pursue game until it goes for cover.

Gallery

• 
  Wolf hunt depicted in a 12th century bestiary
• 
  Medieval women hunting, illustration from a period manuscript
• 
  Boar hunting, tacuinum sanitatis casanatensis (14th century)
• 
  Wolf hunt with hounds, 15th century engraving (wolf in upper right)
• 
  A 19th century painting depicting the conclusion of a wolf hunt

See also

• Hunting dogs constellation Canes Venatici
• Deeley, Martin. "Working Gundogs: An Introduction to Training and Handling. (1990,reprinted 2002) The Crowood Press. ISBN 1-85223-764-3.
• Fergus, Charles. Gun Dog Breeds, A Guide to Spaniels, Retrievers, and Pointing Dogs, The Lyons Press, 2002. ISBN 1-58574-618-5
• Roettger, Anthony Z. and Schleider, Benjamin H. III. (2004) Urban Gun Dogs: Training flushing dogs for home and field. The Writer's Collective. ISBN 1594110506

• Hunting

External links

• The Hunting Dog for Field and Family - An informative website about dogs, especially the versatile hunting dog breeds.
• Hunting Dogs Reviews - A site where you can find reviews for all major types of hunting dogs including specifications, general info, pictures and many more.
• Spaniel Journal Provides comprehensive information and articles on training, hunting, field events and other topics of interest to flushing spaniel owners.
• American Spaniel ClubParent club in the United States for Cocker Spaniels.
• Hunting Dog Breeder DirectoryThe hunting dog breeders directory with kennel listings and training articles.