Choosing a Good Hunting Dog

Posted by Jeanne on December 1, 2008

Dogs have been bred for the purposes of hunting with humans for centuries.  Whether hunting for food or sport, various breeds of dog have been used to help flush the hunted animals out into the open, to retrieve downed animals (especially ducks, pheasant, and other birds), and to sniff out and track animals for the hunter.  It is with these potential duties in mind that a hunting dog should be chosen.

When choosing a dog for hunting purposes, you may want to evaluate your needs and base the choice on what you want the dog to do, how easily it can be trained, whether it is likely to be “spooked” by the report of a weapon being fired, and how good its nose is.

Hunting Breeds

There are several breeds of dog that have a natural aptitude for assisting in various aspects of hunting.  Hounds, for example, make excellent trackers, especially bloodhounds.  They have a very acute sense of smell, even for a dog, and have no problem following several scents at once.  Retrievers are quite keen at retrieving and make excellent bird-dogs.

Hunting breeds are separated into four general groups.  These are the general hunting dogs, gun dogs, retrievers, and bird dogs.  Some specific dog breeds may fit into more than one category.

Retrievers

Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are experts at finding and fetching fallen prey.  They are especially useful on duck hunts because their oily coats help them move effortlessly through water to find and retrieve the fallen waterfowl.

Pointers and Setters

These dogs are useful in hunting because they let the hunter know when prey is nearby.  They are most often used in bird hunts and are trained to freeze and point their bodies in the direction of the hunted bird (pointers) or hunker down low to the ground when they locate a bird (setters).  Spaniels also make good pointers.

Hounds and Trackers

Bloodhounds and other dogs with heightened senses of smell are used to track all manner of animals.  Whether it is their traditional use in the British fox hunt or their usefulness in tracking down deer, bears, and other such game for hunters in the US, they serve their purpose exceptionally well.

Golden Retriever Dog Breed

Posted by Jeanne on November 12, 2008

Golden Retrievers are bred for their soft mouths that make them especially useful for retrieving game that might be easily injured. They are easily broken, are most tractable, and are fine workers and useful in retrieving either upland game or waterfowl.

• General Appearance – Should be of a symmetrical, active powerful dog, a good level mover, sound and well put together, with a kindly expression, not clumsy or long in the leg.
• Head – Broad in skull, well set on a clean and muscular neck, muzzle powerful and wide, not weak jawed, good stop.
• Eyes – Dark and set well apart, very kindly in expression with dark rims.
• Teeth – Even, neither under nor overshot.
• Color – Rich golden, must not be as dark as an Irish Red Setter or cream color. The presence of a few white hairs on chest permissible, but white collar, feet, toes or blaze to be penalized.
• Coat – Must be flat or wavy, good undercoat, dense and water resisting.
• Ears – Small and well set on.
• Feet – Round and cat-like, must not open or splay.
• Forelegs – Straight, with good bone.
• Hindlegs – Strong and muscular, well-bent stifle.
• Hocks – Well let down, not cow hocked.
• Nose – Should be black, but a light-colored nose should not debar a dog from honors who is good in all other respects.
• Tail – Should be straight, not curled at tip or carried over the back.
• Body – Well balanced, short coupled, and deep through the heart. Loins must be strong, back ribs must be deep and strong with good second thighs; shoulders must be well laid back and long in the blade.