CHOOSING THE RIGHT BREED OF HUNTING DOG

When you have decided to purchase a dog for hunting, it is very important to choose a breed that will fit your hunting style and your hunting needs. There are four basic classifications to consider.

Flushing dogs are typically breeds such as the English Springer spaniel, the English cocker spaniel, the Boykin spaniel and so on. These hunting breeds are best known for their close hunting style in the uplands for Pheasants, Hungarian and Chucker partridge. These breeds will work well in the water and are natural retrievers. Many hunters prefer this breed for their ability to root out the wild roosters from the dense under brush and to put the bird to air. These breeds are usually small in size ranging from 20 to 50 pounds with longer hair and sturdy well built bodies.

Retrievers would be breeds such as the Labrador retriever the Golden retriever, Chesapeake bay retriever, and so on. These breeds are also used as upland flushers but they excel well in the water retrieving ducks and geese. The heavy and dense oily coat of these breeds make them a good choice for cold water . These dogs are larger in size ranging from 40 to 100+ pounds and have sturdy well built frames with large heads and broad shoulders. These dogs usually have a very strong desire to retrieve.

Pointers such as the German Shorthaired or German Wirehaired pointer, the English pointer and Brittney spaniel would fall into this category . These breeds would be considered a mid range running dog. They seek game while covering a larger area by air scenting . These dogs usually run out between 50 and 100+ yards in front of the hunters. And should point when they strike a birds scent. These breeds generally weigh between 40 and 70 pounds. Some will swim and most will retrieve if encouraged. These type of dogs work well on upland game like pheasants but also do a nice job in the wood lots for grouse and woodcock.

Setters would be dogs such as the English setter, the Gordon setter, the Irish setter, the Llewellyn setter etc. These dogs may also be big runners. They will air scent for game in the woods or in the uplands and hunt at yardages between 100 and 200 yards+. In front of the shooters. These dogs have a longer and thinner coat of hair, they typically are not used for cold water retrieving . This type of dog will work extremely well in wide open country when your looking for a covey of quail or for woodcock in the big woods. Natural retrieving is not a strong trait but bird finding is. These breeds are medium sized between 40 and 70 pounds.

Roger Hess