Sporting Dogs (GunDogs)

Pointers, Setters, Spaniels, Retrievers.

The Sporting Group of dogs is also known as Gundogs in Britain and also as Bird Dogs and Hunting Dogs. As the name implies, this group works in hunting game birds such as grouse, pheasant and quail but does not actually kill the bird. The various groups within the Gundog category have different tasks in locating, flushing and retrieving the birds, which are shot in flight by the hunter.

Pointers and Setters are used to locate a bird and then freeze and "point" to show the hunter where the bird is found. Spaniels flush the bird into flight, so the hunters have a good view as it rises from the ground. Then Retrievers are sent in to retrieve the dead and injured birds and bring them back to the hunter.

Sporting dogs must be intelligent and obedient, because they work in situations which can be very dangerous, with shotguns being fired by a number of people at the same time. It is therefore vital that they respond immediately to commands from the handler. If they are to be used in the field, they require specialist training by experts. Pointers and Setters, Retrievers and Spaniels all require training in their own particular discipline.

Because of their breeding characteristics of intelligence and obedience, sporting dogs are one of the most popular breeds as domestic pets. They are receptive to training and are always eager to please. They are friendly and very good with children. They are all bred to have a soft mouth, so they don't damage the game but this means that some of the breeds are inclined to drool and slobber.

American Water Spaniel   Bracco Italiano   Brittany   English Setter   German Short-Haired Pointer
German Wired-Haired Pointer    Gordon Setter   Hungarian Vizsla   Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla
Irish Red & White Setter    Irish Setter   Italian Spinone   Kooikerhondje    Lagotto Romagnolo 
Large Munsterlander    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever   Pointer   Retriever (Chesapeake Bay )
Retriever ( Curly Coat )   Retriever ( Flat Coat )   Golden Retriever    Labrador Retriever 
Spaniel ( American Cocker )   Spaniel ( Clumber )   Spaniel ( English Cocker )   Spaniel ( English Springer )
Spaniel ( Field)   Spaniel ( Irish Water )   Spaniel ( Sussex )   Spaniel ( Welsh Springer )
Spanish Water Dog    Weimaraner    Wirehaired Pointing Griffon