 |
Ahunting dog is adog that hunts with or forhunters. There are several differenttypes of hunting dog developed for various tasks and purposes. The major categories of hunting dog includehounds,terriers,cur type dogs, andgun dogs. Further distinctions within these categories can be made, based upon the dog's skills and capabilities. They are usually larger and have a more sensitive smell than normal dogs.
For a list of breeds of each type, see the detailed articles for each category:
| Main category | Subcategory | Example | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hounds | Hounds are further divided intosighthounds andscenthounds depending upon the primary sense used to locate quarry. Manymammals such asjackrabbits,raccoons,coyotes,deer, and other large predators are hunted with hounds. | ||
| Sighthounds |  | Sighthounds are tall and lean running hounds, adapted for visual acuity and speed. Their method of hunting is calledcoursing, where prey is sighted from a distance, chased, and caught.[1]: 36, 102 | |
| Scenthounds | .jpg) | Scenthounds arehounds that primarily hunt byscent. Scenthounds are used to trail and sometimes kill game. They hunt in packs, leading the hunters on a chase that may end in the quarry being chased into a tree or killed. Some of these breeds have deep, booming barks and use them when following ascent trail. | |
| Dachshund |  | The standarddachshund was bred to scent, chase, and flush out badgers, foxes, and other burrow-dwelling animals, while the miniature dachshund was developed to hunt smaller prey such asrabbits. In the American West, they have also been used to huntprairie dogs. In Europe, dachshunds are widely used for huntingdeer,boar, and smaller game such as rabbits andhares. They are also excellent scent dogs and are often used to track down wounded animals after car accidents, for example. The dachshund is also the only breed of dog to hunt both above and below ground. | |
| Gun dogs | Gun dogs are used primarily bysmall game hunters usingshotguns. Gun dogs are classified asretrievers,spaniels, andpointing breeds. | ||
| Pointers |  | Pointers are dogs trained to locate and point at small game, allowing the hunter to approach and flush the game. Pointing breeds have greater range than spaniels. | |
| Retrievers |  | Once classified as a water spaniel, a retriever's primary role is to find and return shot game to the hunter. Retrievers can spend long hours in aduck blind and visually spot and remember the location of downed birds. Upon command, they retrieve the birds. They may be able to follow hand, verbal, and whistle commands to the downed bird. They typically have large, gentle muzzles. | |
| Setters |  | Setters have a long history as upland gun dogs. They appear to have an innate ability to locate and point at upland game birds. They flush the birds at the hunter's command. | |
| Spaniels |  | Spaniels have been used as hunting dogs. Flushing spaniels are used to locate and flush game for a hunter. | |
| Water dogs |  | Water dogs are a subclass of retrievers. Typically, they are strong swimmers with great stamina, bred to hunt all manner of waterfowl. | |
| Curs |  | Curs hunt similarly to terriers, though usually larger game. Curs are used to huntraccoons, as well asferal pigs,cougars and other large mammals. | |
| Feists |  | Feists are small dogs that hunt small game, especiallysquirrels, in a similar manner to large hounds hunting raccoons and large game. Feists may hunt in packs and "bark up" trees to alert the hunter. | |
| Laikas |  Karelian Bear Dog | Laikas are hunting dogs from northernRussia, with origins inSiberia. Laika breeds are primitive dogs that flourish with minimal care even in hostile weather and hunt in a variety of styles depending on the size of the game: they tree small game, point and bay larger game, and work in teams to cornerbear and boar.[2] Several otherSpitz-type dogs, such as the Norwegian Elkhound, Shiba Inu, and Taiwan Dog are also used for hunting. | |
| Lurchers |  | A Lurcher is a sighthound crossed with a working dog breed—usually a pastoral dog or terrier bred selected for working. | |
| Terriers |  | Terriers are used to hunt smallmammals, such asrats. Terriers locate theden orset of the target animal and then bolt, capture, or kill the animal. Aworking terrier may go underground to kill or drive out game. Hunters who use terriers are referred to as terriermen. Larger members of this type, such those of thebull and terrier family, are sometimes used to hunt larger game, likerazorbacks: the hunter will send in scenthounds to corner the pig, and the more heavily builtcatch dog will charge at it, bite it, and hold it down until the hunter can come and kill it. | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
.jpg)
