Complete Dogs Guide

Gun Dogs

Gun dogs are a group of dogs typically used to assist a hunter. There’s a wide range of breeds split into sub categories outlined below.

Pointers
Pointers are gun dogs that get there name from there instint to stoop there body and point towards the direction of the hunters prey.

During the hunt they tend to be used as a single dog or in pairs. When they have reached a game field they are instructed to search the field for the game. They tend to work back and forth from close to the hunter to further out until they come across the game bird. Once they find the game they freeze and point there body towards it. The hunter will either flush the game himself or instruct the pointer to do so. Once the bird has been shot the pointer is then instructed to search for it and retrieve it back to the hunter.

Pointer breeds come in all shapes, sizes and colours.

Retrievers
A retriever is a gun dog which was bred specifically for retrieving the shot prey to the hunter with a soft mouth so the preyis not damaged.

They work within close shotgun distance of the hunter. Typically they flush out the prey game bird to flight so the hunter can shoot it. They sit and watch the bird in flight and wait for the command from the hunter to retrieve the game.

Setters
Setters are a gundog which track the prey by scent in silence. When they find the prey they freeze. They will typically be used in the hunting of game birds such as pheasant and grouse.

They are typically medium sized dogs with long smooth coats. They are very energetic and lively dogs.

During the hunt they are used to locate the game and when they do so they typically crouch motionless indicating to the hunter the whereabouts of the game. The hunter will then either flush the game out himself or instruct the dog to do so. Once shot down the hunter will give the command to the dog or the Setter to retrieve the game.

Spaniels
Spaniels were bred as gun dogs that work within the gun range. There job is then to locate the shot game bird and then retrieve it to the gunman. They may also be used to hunt rabbit and waterfowl. They are required to use soft mouth so as not to damage the prey.

Spaniels are whats called flushing dogs which stay within shotgun distance of the gunman. They are often used to hunt game birds and get them into flight so they can be shot. While the bird is in the air the Spaniel sits and watches the bird to see where it falls and then waits for the command to retrieve it back to the hunter.

Most Spaniels are generally small in size with drop ears and long coats.

Water Dogs
Water dogs are hunting dogs that were bred to find and retrieve game from the water. They typically have curly haired coats.

List of Gun Dog Breeds
American Cocker Spaniel
American Water Spaniel
Bracco Italiano
Brittany
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Clumber Spaniel
English Cocker Spaniel (Cocker Spaniel)
Curly Coated Retriever
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel
Field Spaniel
Flat Coated Retriever
German Longhaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Hungarian Vizsla
Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla
Irish Red and White Setter
Irish Setter
Irish Water Spaniel
Italian Spinone
Kooikerhondje
Korthals Griffon
Labrador Retriever
Lagotto Romagnolo
Large Munsterlander
Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever
Pointer
Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer
Small Munsterlander
Spanish Water Dog
Sussex Spaniel
Weimaraner
Welsh Springer Spaniel

List of Other Gundog Dog Breeds from Around the World:
Boykin Spaniel
Braque du Bourbonnais
Cesky Fousek
Corded Poodle
Portuguese Pointer
Pudelpointer
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon