Sporting Dogs (Gun Dogs) Breed Information
The Retriever, Pointer and Setter dogs and their main functionalities are as follows:
The Retriever dog - Retriever dogs find and return killed game to the hunter. Some Retrievers are especially equipped, for instance with a water-repellent coat and webbed feet, for retrieving downed waterfowl.
The Pointer dog - Pointer dogs stand in front of their quarry, with their nose and body rigidly still , thus directing (or pointing) the hunter to its location.
The Setter dog - Setter dogs were originally trained to set, or crouch, in front of game preventing the escape of the quarry. The hunter would make the capture with a net.
Information about Sporting Dogs (Gundogs) characteristics
Sporting Dogs (Gundogs) hunt by air scent, as opposed to ground scent used by the dogs categorised as being in the Hound category. Characteristics and features of Sporting Dogs (Gundogs) have been introduced and strengthened by breeding with animals who already demonstrated the desired traits. Breeding for appearance was only introduced in the 19th Century. Before this time dogs and puppies were bred to increase useful abilities and traits helpful for the duties they were intended for. Thus, the various Sporting breeds, or Gundogs were initially introduced to help man according to his specific requirements such as:
Hunting game birds
Hunting waterfowl
Retrieving game that had been shot and wounded
Pointing to game to allow the hunter to catch or shoot the quarry
Startling, or flushing, birds from their cover
It is said that Sporting Dogs (Gun dogs) are perhaps the most intelligent of the breeds, resulting in their wide variety of uses and their ease of training. These dogs like to be around people and are active and alert and require regular, invigorating exercise and lots of attention.
Information about Sporting Dogs (Gun Dogs)
To discover more about specific breeds of Sporting Dogs (Gundogs), their origins, history, temperaments and characteristics please follow one of the following links:
