Hunting dogs have been a part of our social fabric for literally thousands of years. In the early days of joint hunting expeditions of dogs and men, the Greeks and later the Romans used large mastiff-like dogs to track down escaped prisoners and army deserters, to hunt and kill predators such as lions, bears, and wolves. , and to run over game faster until the human hunters could finish the job. The relationship between man and his hunting dog is strong and continues to this day in almost all regions of the world.
There are essentially three types of hunting dogs, and many sub-varieties within each type. The oldest type of hunting dog is the Sighthound. These dogs have a very particular body structure, including elongated heads and noses to allow better visual acuity. Their legs are long and slender, and their bodies are contoured in such a way as to allow the dog to be extremely fast on its feet. A sighthound works by identifying prey from afar, before the prey has even noticed the hunter or dog. Then the greyhound stalks its prey very silently, in the same crouching and stealthy way big cats hunt. When close enough, the sighthound will come out of hiding and quickly capture and kill its prey. Sighthounds include Greyhounds, Whippets, Borzoi, and Salukis. As proof of its effectiveness, the Salukis have been hunting man for more than 5,000 years.
Another type of hunting dog, and perhaps the most widely used in modern times, is the hunting dog. These dogs are trained to work closely with their hunter and perform a wide variety of tasks. The most popular of these is the Spaniel. Spaniels are a highly adapted hunting dog. They methodically locate game, drop it, carry it to the ground or tree, and in some cases safely retrieve it for their master. Hunting dogs of the Spaniel type include English Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, King Charles Cavalier Spaniels, Water Spaniels, and the Sussex and Boykin Spaniels.
Retrievers are almost equally popular and are used primarily to retrieve waterfowl. A retriever’s primary duty is to retrieve game that has been knocked down, usually over water. The retriever’s oily coat helps it repel water, and its webbed toes make it an excellent swimmer. Retriever types include Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and Flat-Coated Retrievers. However, retrievers also include water dogs that can have significant differences in appearance and coat types, but generally work and function in the same way. Examples of these include otter hounds, poodles, and Portuguese water dogs.
Another popular and hard-working hunting dog is the Pointer. A pointer’s primary duty is to locate game discreetly and “mark” it until a hunter arrives. This involves extreme discipline, and the dog may be required to stay on point for quite some time. When the hunter arrives, the game is emptied and killed. Pointer types include German Shorthaired Pointers, English Pointers, Irish Setters, English Setters, and Gordon Setters.
Two other main types of hunting dogs are Terriers and Curs. Terriers have been used for hundreds of years to hunt rats and other vermin, rabbits, and most small to medium-sized mammals. They locate and track their prey, often chasing it into dens and other animal dens, even underground ones, and return triumphant. Terriers can even be trained to “hold” their prey and not kill it while they wait for their master to arrive. Examples of the Terrier breed include Bull Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Airedale Terriers, and many more. Curs, on the other hand, are bred exclusively to kill large game animals. Curs are exceptionally fast dogs and have a kind of deep bark that alerts their hunters to their location. Dogs often work in packs to take down prey like cougars and cougars, wild boars, and even bears. Types of Curs include Catahoula Curs, Black Mouth Curs, and Leopard Cur.
The hunting dogs listed here are only a small fraction of the types of dogs actually used and primarily represent American favorites. However, there are many more breeds and types of hunting dogs available throughout the world; therefore, intense study is recommended before choosing one for yourself. Happy hunting!
