Hunting Dogs – Basic Types Of Hunting Dogs

Hunting dogs are those breeds that have been bred to assist in the various activities that have to do with hunting. The dogs act to assist the human hunter to scent and track, retrieve, flush, point or even chase down game. Depending on the type of game that the dog has been trained to hunt, and the hunting style used with that particular type of game, the skills specific to each hunting dog type will be developed. Hunting dogs love to be outdoors and work with their owners. They usually become noticeably excited and active when they notice preparations for the hunt beginning.

Since each breed of hunting dog has unique skills and attributes, each general type of hunting dog will be discussed separately. It is important to remember that hunting dogs are not aggressive by nature and are actually some of the best natured and calm mannered of all the breeds of dogs.

Hounds

Hounds are generally used for either scent or sight dogs while hunting. Hounds are used to hunt many types of mammals such as raccoons, coyotes, and other larger mammals. Sight hounds, as the name implies, hunt by visual contact with the game. They are very fast and tend to be smaller than the scent hounds, although some of the breeds are large dogs. Sight hounds include:

• Whippets
• Greyhounds
• Rhodesian Ridgebacks
• Saluki
• Afghan hound
• Basenji
• Irish Wolfhound

The scent hounds tend to be heavier set, deeper-chested hunting dogs that are designed for endurance rather than speed. They have deep, baying voices so that hunters can follow them to where they have treed or cornered the game. Hounds that are scent hounds include:

• Bloodhounds
• Bassets
• Beagles
• Coonhounds (all varieties)
• Foxhounds
• Scottish Deerhound

Some hounds can track using both sight and scent.

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Water Dogs

The name water dogs is the original term for a large number of hunting dog breeds that are now often known as gun dogs. These dogs were bred to go into the water and retrieve or bring back, flush and point, as well as show where waterfowl may be located on the shore areas in rushes and weeds. They are also used for in-land game bird shooting and the setters and pointers have become specialized to this kind of hunting. These dogs are very patient and will wait for long periods of time without moving until told to do so by the hunter. They will also swim great distances into the water and back to retrieve a duck or goose without damaging the bird or even piercing the skin with their teeth.

Dogs that are included in the gun or water dog breeds of hunting dogs include:

• Retrievers – Labradors, Golden, Chesapeake Bay
• Spaniels – English, Cocker, Water, Brittany
• Setters – English, Irish, Gordon
• Pointers – Pudelpointer, German Short Haired, English

It is interesting to note that the Standard Poodle is an excellent gun and hunting dog although it is rarely used as a hunting dog anymore.

Terriers

Terriers are a group of hunting dogs, mostly developed in the United Kingdom and Europe, to kill the vermin in houses, factories and farms during the industrial revolution. These small to medium sized dogs are energetic, lively and very independent. Unlike the hunting dogs listed above they are actually trained to kill their prey, so they tend to be a bit more aggressive towards other animals if not socialized properly. The most common terrier breeds include:

• Jack Russell
• Cairn
• West Highland White
• Skye
• Boston
• Yorkshire
• Fox
• Airedale
• Scottish

There are many other types of terriers, all with unique coat colors and characteristics.

To find which of the hunting dogs is best suited to your requirements, be sure to research each breed and talk to dog owners to find which will most closely match your needs.