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Gun dog

January 21, 2023

Gun dogs, or bird dogs, are types of hunting dogs developed to assist hunters in finding and retrieving game, usually quail, dove, or duck. Gun dogs are divided into three primary types: retrievers, flushing dogs, and pointing breeds.[1]

A group of gun dogs as printed in Dogs of All Nations by W.E. Mason in 1915

Types

There are several types of gundogs, each type consisting of multiple breeds.[2] Gun dogs are divided into three primary types: retrievers, flushing dogs, and pointing breeds.

Method of work

Although classified according to method of work, gun dogs often have skills extending beyond the tasks outlined for their classification. Depending upon how they are trained, dogs may be useful in a variety of hunting situations. The methods described here are analogous to human-canine hunting going back tens of thousands of years.

Pointers and setters

 
Painting of a Pointer and two Setters by Johann Wenzel Peter circa 1829

Upon reaching the field, the handler often will cast or direct the dog in a wide circle. Experienced dogs will search the edges of the field knowing that birds are usually found there. This wide run helps to burn off the dog's initial exuberance and may help the dog establish its bearings and form a "background" upon which game smells will be processed. The dog then begins working back and forth, starting near the hunter and slowly ranging out. The dog repeats this process as the hunters move through the field. How far a handler allows the dog to range is a matter of personal preference. When a pair of dogs work as a team, one works close in while the other ranges out in larger circles. If either dog becomes birdy, the other dog works its way over to assist. Good bird dogs are alert to their handlers and to the disposition of other dogs in the field. They should readily comply if the handler casts them to an area of particular interest, such as a brush pile.

When game is detected, a dog freezes, either pointing or crouching. If other dogs are present, they also freeze, "honoring" the first dog's point. The pointing dog remains motionless until the hunters are in position. Handlers give the command whoa, instructing the dog to remain still. What happens next depends on the dog's training. Some trainers train the dog to stay motionless while the hunter steps forward and flushes the game. Other trainers direct the dog to flush the game with a command such as get it! Pointing dogs excel on covey type birds such as bobwhite, quail, and grouse as these birds will hold in position well, allowing the hunter to approach and get into position.

If a bird is downed, the dogs are instructed to search for and retrieve it with the command dead bird, or simply dead.

Flushing dogs

 
An English Springer Spaniel (Liver and White) and English Cocker Spaniel (Blue Roan)

When hunting upland game, flushing dogs (spaniels and retrievers) work much more closely with the hunter. Flushers will not cover the same amount of ground as a pointing dog as the flusher must be kept within shotgun distance. Flushing dogs are often used on birds that run from the hunter. On such birds as pheasant, an aggressive flush is necessary to spring the bird to wing. Flushing dogs excel on these types of bird because they do not point the birds, giving them little time for escape on the ground. Pointing breeds are used on such birds, but must be well trained to know when the bird pointed has moved.

Once a bird has been flushed, the dog will sit or "hup" to watch the flight of the bird and mark the fallen birds for retrieval. A dog which does this successfully is referred to as "steady to wing and shot". Steadiness is the hallmark of the finished spaniel.

When a bird is shot, the dog should mark where it fell and wait until given the command to retrieve. Once commanded, the dog will race to the point of fall, pick up the bird, and return it to the handler.

Retrievers

 
A yellow male adult Labrador Retriever

Retrievers are typically used when waterfowl hunting, although they can also be employed in hunting upland birds as well. Since a majority of waterfowl hunting employs the use of small boats in winter conditions, retrievers are expected to remain sitting calmly and quietly until sent to retrieve. As birds move into range, a well-trained retriever will watch and follow the handler's gun as he shoots, marking, and remembering each bird that is downed. This is called "marking off the gun", and the downed birds are called "marks". Once the shooting has ceased, the handler commands the dog to retrieve each bird that has been downed. If a dog did not see the bird fall, a retriever takes direction from the handler, who can use hand and whistle signals to guide the dog to the unseen downed bird. This is called a "blind" retrieve. During a typical day of shooting, additional birds are frequently downed while the dog is performing a retrieve. Retrievers are taught to ignore these "diversions" until the current retrieve has been completed. Also at times multiple dogs are used on a hunt, and retrievers are also taught to "honor" another dog's retrieve by remaining calm and quiet while the other dog is working.

List of gundog breeds

Kennel club classification

When competing in conformation shows most kennel clubs, including The Kennel Club group pedigree gun dog breeds together in their own gun dog group, whilst some such as the American Kennel Club group them in a sporting group.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Williams, Ben O. (3 July 2012). Bird Dog: The Instinctive Training Method. Willow Creek Press. ISBN 9781607556824. Retrieved 6 July 2018 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Gun Dog Care - Caring for Different Dog Breeds". Purina. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Breed Profile: Braque d'Auvergne - Gun Dog Magazine". 1 June 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Gundog Group". The Kennel Club. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Sporting Group". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 17 December 2019.

January 21, 2023
this, article, lead, section, short, adequately, summarize, points, please, consider, expanding, lead, provide, accessible, overview, important, aspects, article, june, 2021, bird, dogs, types, hunting, dogs, developed, assist, hunters, finding, retrieving, ga. This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article June 2021 Gun dogs or bird dogs are types of hunting dogs developed to assist hunters in finding and retrieving game usually quail dove or duck Gun dogs are divided into three primary types retrievers flushing dogs and pointing breeds 1 A group of gun dogs as printed in Dogs of All Nations by W E Mason in 1915 Contents 1 Types 2 Method of work 2 1 Pointers and setters 2 2 Flushing dogs 2 3 Retrievers 3 List of gundog breeds 4 Kennel club classification 5 See also 6 ReferencesTypes EditThere are several types of gundogs each type consisting of multiple breeds 2 Gun dogs are divided into three primary types retrievers flushing dogs and pointing breeds Type ExamplePointers English PointerRetrievers Golden RetrieverSetters English SetterSpaniels English Cocker SpanielWater dogs Standard PoodleMethod of work EditAlthough classified according to method of work gun dogs often have skills extending beyond the tasks outlined for their classification Depending upon how they are trained dogs may be useful in a variety of hunting situations The methods described here are analogous to human canine hunting going back tens of thousands of years Pointers and setters Edit Painting of a Pointer and two Setters by Johann Wenzel Peter circa 1829 Upon reaching the field the handler often will cast or direct the dog in a wide circle Experienced dogs will search the edges of the field knowing that birds are usually found there This wide run helps to burn off the dog s initial exuberance and may help the dog establish its bearings and form a background upon which game smells will be processed The dog then begins working back and forth starting near the hunter and slowly ranging out The dog repeats this process as the hunters move through the field How far a handler allows the dog to range is a matter of personal preference When a pair of dogs work as a team one works close in while the other ranges out in larger circles If either dog becomes birdy the other dog works its way over to assist Good bird dogs are alert to their handlers and to the disposition of other dogs in the field They should readily comply if the handler casts them to an area of particular interest such as a brush pile When game is detected a dog freezes either pointing or crouching If other dogs are present they also freeze honoring the first dog s point The pointing dog remains motionless until the hunters are in position Handlers give the command whoa instructing the dog to remain still What happens next depends on the dog s training Some trainers train the dog to stay motionless while the hunter steps forward and flushes the game Other trainers direct the dog to flush the game with a command such as get it Pointing dogs excel on covey type birds such as bobwhite quail and grouse as these birds will hold in position well allowing the hunter to approach and get into position If a bird is downed the dogs are instructed to search for and retrieve it with the command dead bird or simply dead Flushing dogs Edit An English Springer Spaniel Liver and White and English Cocker Spaniel Blue Roan When hunting upland game flushing dogs spaniels and retrievers work much more closely with the hunter Flushers will not cover the same amount of ground as a pointing dog as the flusher must be kept within shotgun distance Flushing dogs are often used on birds that run from the hunter On such birds as pheasant an aggressive flush is necessary to spring the bird to wing Flushing dogs excel on these types of bird because they do not point the birds giving them little time for escape on the ground Pointing breeds are used on such birds but must be well trained to know when the bird pointed has moved Once a bird has been flushed the dog will sit or hup to watch the flight of the bird and mark the fallen birds for retrieval A dog which does this successfully is referred to as steady to wing and shot Steadiness is the hallmark of the finished spaniel When a bird is shot the dog should mark where it fell and wait until given the command to retrieve Once commanded the dog will race to the point of fall pick up the bird and return it to the handler Retrievers Edit A yellow male adult Labrador Retriever Retrievers are typically used when waterfowl hunting although they can also be employed in hunting upland birds as well Since a majority of waterfowl hunting employs the use of small boats in winter conditions retrievers are expected to remain sitting calmly and quietly until sent to retrieve As birds move into range a well trained retriever will watch and follow the handler s gun as he shoots marking and remembering each bird that is downed This is called marking off the gun and the downed birds are called marks Once the shooting has ceased the handler commands the dog to retrieve each bird that has been downed If a dog did not see the bird fall a retriever takes direction from the handler who can use hand and whistle signals to guide the dog to the unseen downed bird This is called a blind retrieve During a typical day of shooting additional birds are frequently downed while the dog is performing a retrieve Retrievers are taught to ignore these diversions until the current retrieve has been completed Also at times multiple dogs are used on a hunt and retrievers are also taught to honor another dog s retrieve by remaining calm and quiet while the other dog is working List of gundog breeds EditBarbet Bracco Italiano Braque du Bourbonnais 3 Brittany Burgos Pointer Drentsche Patrijshond Cesky Fousek Corded Poodle German Longhaired Pointer German Shorthaired Pointer German Spaniel German Wirehaired Pointer Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla Kooikerhondje Lagotto Romagnolo Large Munsterlander Pointer Portuguese Water Dog Portuguese Pointer Pudelpointer Chesapeake Bay Retriever Curly Coated Retriever Flat Coated Retriever Golden Retriever Labrador Retriever Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever English Setter Gordon Setter Irish Setter Irish Red and White Setter Small Munsterlander American Cocker Spaniel American Water Spaniel Boykin Spaniel Clumber Spaniel English Cocker Spaniel English Springer Spaniel Field Spaniel Irish Water Spaniel Sussex Spaniel Welsh Springer Spaniel Spanish Water Dog Spinone Italiano Stichelhaar Standard Poodle Vizsla Weimaraner Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Wirehaired VizslaKennel club classification EditWhen competing in conformation shows most kennel clubs including The Kennel Club group pedigree gun dog breeds together in their own gun dog group whilst some such as the American Kennel Club group them in a sporting group 4 5 See also EditField trialReferences Edit Williams Ben O 3 July 2012 Bird Dog The Instinctive Training Method Willow Creek Press ISBN 9781607556824 Retrieved 6 July 2018 via Google Books Gun Dog Care Caring for Different Dog Breeds Purina Retrieved 6 July 2018 Breed Profile Braque d Auvergne Gun Dog Magazine 1 June 2016 Retrieved 6 July 2018 Gundog Group The Kennel Club Retrieved 17 December 2019 Sporting Group American Kennel Club Retrieved 17 December 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gun dog amp oldid 1125930271 Flushing dogs, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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