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A Bird Dog's Purpose: Hand in Paw With Their Humans

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Humans have developed “hand in paw” with their canine companions for millennia. The designation of “man’s best friend” exists for a reason. It’s not just that dogs are loving, loyal and helpful by nature, it’s also true that they’ve been with us since our earliest “hunter and gatherer” days, learning the tools for survival right along with us.

It’s difficult to sort out whether humans would have developed differently without our dogs, or whether dogs would have evolved differently without their humans. Archaeological evidence from ancient burial sites shows how we’ve evolved together — humans and hunting dogs in particular. History reveals that if it wasn’t for them, our way of life would have been significantly different.

Because of their close association with humans, dogs have changed a lot through the ages. Even some of the most common types of hunting dogs, originally bred for finding and retrieving game, have become, with our help, house dogs and lap dogs who need to hunt nothing more challenging than tennis balls. Nevertheless, traditional hunting dog breeds still excel at their specialties, and hunting enthusiasts throughout the world still depend on their company, friendship and assistance.

In general, the most common types of hunting dogs are scent hounds and bird dogs/gun dogs. Scent hounds follow prey trails with their noses, making quite a lot of noise while running after prey. The dogs’ calls enable the hunter to follow the trail even when the dog is out of sight.

Bird dogs, or gun dogs, comprise a big subcategory of hunting dog types — and birds are, of course, their specialty. Their role is very different from that of hounds. They assist the hunter by flushing prey out of hiding, tracking prey and pointing to prey. They also retrieve quarry once it is downed by the hunter. Among the most familiar categories of bird dogs/gun dogs are the spaniels, setters, pointers and retrievers, and there's much overlap in their duties.

SPANIELS

These breeds excel at locating and flushing out prey. At different times in their history, they’ve been separated into different categories like land spaniels and water spaniels, depending on the prey they were hunting. Water spaniels were also used to retrieve gunned-down prey, while land spaniels were, and still are, setting dogs. They’ll creep toward the prey and flush it out for the hunter. There are also springing spaniels adept at flushing prey. Very smart dogs, spaniels know and love their role in a hunt. You can see spaniels often used in partnership with other animals — with falcons for pheasants and partridges, or with sight hounds for rabbits and other small prey.

There are many noteworthy breeds in the spaniel class and there are some cross purposes . Here are few of the standouts.

Boykin Spaniel: The Boykin will keep a moderate pace in front of the hunter to track birds by scent and sight. They are known for their hesitation while tracking, before flushing aggressively. They are versatile hunters with very keen noses and a strong, natural desire to retrieve. Boykins are fantastic swimmers. They are friendly and affectionate, but require activity to remain content.

English Springer Spaniel: This breed will generally range in a zig-zag pattern in front of the hunter to “spring” and flush upland game birds. Their retrieving skills rival those of the Labradors and Golden Retrievers. The typical springer is cheerful, friendly and affectionate, and easy to acclimate into a family setting. Their playful nature combined with great stamina make them excellent sporting companions and popular playmates for children.

Brittany (Formerly Brittany Spaniel): The Brittany is a close-working pointer with natural hunting and retrieving ability. While not large in stature, they have the speed and agility to cover a lot of ground. They are a tough and durable breed with skin and coat built to resist punctures and tears in thick cover. Generally, the breed produces a very active and alert dog with a good disposition. A Brittany will make a good house dog provided it has sufficient exercise.

SETTERS

The setter helps the hunter by locating prey and flushing it out of cover. Used for hunting upland game birds, setters use both their scent and sight instincts to expertly locate birds and flush them when and how the hunter commands. They move quickly and almost silently, making them competent stealth hunters. They are committed and enthusiastic about their searches.

Setters take their names after a rather distinctive pose they strike once they’ve located their quarry — a sort of crouch, or “set.” Once the dog has indicated where the birds are by freezing on point, the birds are then flushed so the hunters can get a shot. In earlier times before guns were used, a net would be used to trap the birds.

The setter is generally considered an intelligent, happy dog with a kind temperament, which makes it particularly patient with children. However, they are active and energetic, requiring a significant amount of exercise. Here are a few breeds to recognize.

English Setter: This breed is a quick and efficient worker with an excellent nose and ground speed that was bred specifically for upland bird hunting. They are graceful hunters that combine agility with stamina to cover a lot of ground. They are a gentle and affectionate breed with a very mild disposition that tends to train better with positive reinforcement. They do well in a home environment, as they tend to mellow indoors and take on a friendly “couch potato” mentality, as long as they are kept active when outdoors.

Irish Setter, Red Setter: These breeds are upland bird dogs with a high prey drive, work ethic and stamina. The Irish Setter, and its Red Setter relative, are high-spirited gun dogs/bird dogs known for grace, speed and flashy red coats. They are famously good family dogs: sweet-tempered companions for the folks, and rollicking playmates and tennis ball fetchers for the children. The Red Setters are smaller than the traditional Irish Setters. They both make excellent hunters and house dogs, provided they are given plenty of exercise.

Gordon Setter: The Gordon Setter, “The black avenger of the Highlands,” is a substantial bird dog named for a Scottish aristocrat. It is one of the largest setters, and has a distinctive black and tan coat that is long and slightly wavy. Athletic and outdoorsy, Gordons are bold, confident, resolute in the field and sweetly affectionate by the fireside. Like other Scottish breeds, Gordons were built to withstand their homeland’s tough terrain and foul weather.

POINTERS

Unquestioned aristocrats of the sporting world, pointers carry themselves proudly and are capable of great speed and agility. Pointing dogs are generally used for locating and pointing out prey for the hunter to approach, flush and shoot. Pointers typically have a farther range than spaniels and setters, making them ideal for long hunts. Born hunters, pointers will stand still with one foot raised off the ground to point the hunter in the right direction of the prey. Many pointers are also great land retrievers.The pointer has been bred for many generations to be a biddable, bird-focused, gun dog. They are loyal, hardworking and even-tempered. They also run hard and fast, making them good companions for runners or cyclists. These dogs are also naturals at dog sports. Here are a few remarkable breeds.

English Pointer (The AKC shortened the name to just Pointer): The pointer is a very hard-driving hunter known to be a tireless worker with a great work ethic. They are independent and enthusiastic, with great range, and they work well in the field with other dogs. They generally exhibit natural hunting instincts at a very young age. Very loving and affectionate dogs, they may exhibit restless traits that make them less ideal indoor pets unless they’re exercised regularly.

German Shorthaired Pointer: While the German Shorthaired Pointer is often thought of as an aristocratic “perfect pointer,” it is also incredibly versatile and can perform plenty of other tasks. Powerful, speedy and agile, GSPs are built for long days of working closely with their owners on both land and water. Even when not hunting, they are enthusiastic for almost any other physical activity. They are friendly and intelligent, and very sensitive to their humans. They thrive best with positive training. The wire-haired variety, with its distinctive rough coat, is often the hunting breed of choice for people who suffer from allergies.

Vizsla (Hungarian Pointer): These are very energetic working dogs that are robust but rather lightly built. They exhibit natural abilities to point and retrieve and show a genuine love of water. They do not have an undercoat; however, and are not particularly well-suited for very low temperatures. They are known as a one-owner dog because of their loyalty. They are considered brainy. Be sure they get plenty of mental exercise.

RETRIEVERS

One of the most popular types of gun dog, retrievers were once classified as water spaniels. A retriever’s role is to bring back prey to the hunter after it has been shot down. A well-trained retriever can sit and watch birds fall for hours and remember where each and every one of them fell so that it can retrieve them all at once.

Retrievers are exceptionally smart dogs, easily recognizing various hand, verbal and whistle commands. To do their jobs, retrievers have been bred for having large, soft muzzles, as well as a never-ending desire to please their masters. It’s no surprise how and why retrievers became one of the most popular types of in-house and apartment dogs for hunters and non-hunters alike. They are standout disability assistance dogs. Here are some breeds to remember.

Labrador Retriever: This enthusiastic, energetic and loyal dog can withstand cold temperatures and easily tolerate cold water. Tough and durable, with good speed and agility, they are often considered best for duck hunting. Labs are intelligent, hard workers, and make excellent companions and family dogs, even when not on the hunt. They are the most popularly registered breed in the world. Their social nature makes them great companions but less capable guardians.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is the peerless duck dog of the mid-Atlantic. They are a tough breed, with skin and coat built to resist quite low temperatures in icy water. They are powerful, versatile, loyal, upbeat, affectionate, and tireless. Chessies are usually bright and happy dogs with a great love for water. They tend to be more emotionally complex than the usual gun dog. They are protective of their humans and polite, but not overtly friendly to strangers. They make excellent watchdogs and are gifted athletes. Obedience training is considered essential with this breed, as they are prone to exhibiting dominant behavior.

Golden Retriever: This breed is an exuberant Scottish gun dog of great beauty and stands among America’s most popular dog breeds. They are serious workers at hunting and field work, as guides for the blind, and in search-and-rescue. They enjoy obedience and other competitive events and have an endearing love of life when not at work. Goldens are outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please family dogs. They take a joyous and playful approach to life and maintain this puppyish behavior into adulthood. For a breed built to retrieve waterfowl for hours on end, swimming and fetching are natural pastimes.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY BIRD DOGS INCLUDE: 

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: The little gun dog with the long name, Tollers were bred to hunt with an unusual style — they frolic along the water’s edge to “toll” or lure curious waterfowl to within gun range.

Flat-Coated Retriever: Described as the “Peter Pan” of the Sporting Group, the forever-young Flat-Coated Retriever is a gun dog of relatively recent origin. Happy, self-assured and willing to please, a Flat-Coat will retrieve a duck or a favorite toy with equal enthusiasm.

Poodle (Standard): Although not classified as a sporting breed, the Standard Poodle originated in Germany hundreds of years ago as a water retriever. While not generally used for hunting today, the breed retains many of the qualities that made it attractive to hunters.