HUNTIND DOGS

Hunting dogs have been bred for a purpose and it has remained relatively the same throughout history. Their main function is to flush game from its hiding places and then to retrieve the game after we have dispatched it. However, there are different skill sets even amongst the hunting breeds and whilst some interchangeability is possible, it is not always in the best interest of the dog. Hunting dogs fall mainly in the categories of water dogs, bird dogs and tracking dogs. Water dogs include such breed as the Labrador Retriever and are bred primarily for the purpose of waterfowl hunting and retrieval in wet land environments. Bird Dogs are more of a land-hunting animal, even though it is possible to interchange these two breed types a bit. Bird Dogs include Irish Setters and the Pointer breeds. The third classification of hunting dog is the Tracking breeds, which include hounds of all varieties. These dogs are prized for the determination and keen sense of smell. These dogs are well suited for leashed hunts or long distance, night hunts for nocturnal animals, such as raccoons or opossums, which may travel great distances in escape attempts