| A hunting dog is any type of dog who helps | | | | follow commands from a long distance away. |
| humans when they go hunting. Each breed of | | | | They are renowned for their 'soft mouths' |
| hunting dog has their own particular skill, | | | | which means that they don't leave a mark on |
| so a hunter would choose their dog according | | | | the game that they have retrieved. |
| to which kind of hunting they prefer. True | | | | |
| hunting dogs get huge satisfaction from what | | | | Spaniels are excellent for finding game and |
| they do and a good dog can make all the | | | | flushing it out of any hiding place. They are |
| difference on a hunt. Let's take a look at | | | | also greats swimmers, good family dogs and |
| the different hunting dogs. | | | | fiercely loyal. |
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| Hounds | | | | Pointers are also loyal. They're happy and |
| | | | affectionate dogs. Although they are bred to |
| There are three main kinds of hunting hounds: | | | | hunt, they make great pets as long as they |
| Sighthounds, scent hounds and lurchers. | | | | get sufficient exercise. When they are |
| | | | hunting, they literally point! They find the |
| Sighthounds, like the Whippet, have amazing | | | | game and then stop dead, letting the hunter |
| eyesight and are extremely fast runners. | | | | know where it is. Once they are commanded, |
| Their way of hunting is called 'coursing'. | | | | they flush the prey out for the hunter to |
| They see their prey - often from a huge | | | | shoot. Setters are good pointers. |
| distance - then they stalk, chase and kill | | | | |
| it. These dogs are athletic, fast, very quiet | | | | One of the most famous pointers was Judy, a |
| and extremely independent. They are very | | | | ship's dog during the Second World War. Her |
| affectionate and loyal to their owners and | | | | special skill was to point where Japanese |
| are good with small children. They make | | | | planes were coming from - long before any of |
| hopeless guard dogs as they're so trusting! | | | | the humans on board could even hear their |
| | | | engines! Judy was awarded the animal |
| Scent hounds, as you would imagine, use their | | | | equivalent of the Victoria Cross (the Dickin |
| sense of smell for hunting. Beagles, Basset | | | | Medal) in 1946. |
| Hounds and the American Coonhound all use | | | | |
| their noses to track the prey. They very | | | | Terriers |
| often hunt in packs and can chase game for a | | | | |
| very long way before cornering it or killing | | | | Most of the animals that terriers help to |
| it. These dogs have characteristic booming | | | | hunt for are pests. For example, Jack |
| barks and soulful expressions. | | | | Russells go after ground hogs and foxes in |
| | | | America and Terriers hunt badgers in the UK |
| Lurchers are primarily some kind of | | | | (legally and illegally!). Hunters who work |
| sighthound bred with a working dog. | | | | with these dogs are called terriermen. |
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| Gun Dogs | | | | Curs |
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| Hunters take a gun dog along with them to | | | | These are used in a similar way to terriers |
| bring back whatever has been shot. Retrievers | | | | but the game that they hunt is usually |
| are very good at remembering where prey has | | | | larger, such as boars, raccoons and even |
| fallen and love to retrieve ducks or geese | | | | cougars. Staffordshire Terriers and any other |
| that have been shot and landed in water. A | | | | kind of hunting dog are often bred together |
| typical gun dog is very well trained and can | | | | to produce hunting curs. |