Hunting Dogs
By Liz Hassman
The practice of using animals when hunting has a long history. In prehistoric times, hunting was necessary for
survival. While using a bow and arrows, snares and traps, and more recently firearms, hunters would take down
game. However, without the assistance of their hunting dogs, this way of life would have proven to be very
difficult. Dogs have been used to hunt animals since hunting began and they are still being used today.
A hunting dog is any dog that assists humans in hunting. There are five types: hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur
types, and gun dogs. Hunting dogs have been bred specifically to be as helpful to their owners when hunting
and each specializes in a certain technique or type of game.
Hounds specialize in hunting mammals. They vary in size and commonly hunt in packs. Within this type, the
dogs are separated into sight and scent hounds. Sight hounds are bigger with shorter ears and differently shaped
body than those of scent hounds. They are known for their speed and can hunt down larger prey, like deer and
wolves, than other hounds. Some examples of sight hounds are Greyhounds, Borzoi, Saluki, Irish Wolfhounds,
and Scottish Deerhounds.
Borzoi
Scent hounds are the more commonly used type today. They have a square head and extra long flaps on the
muzzle called flews and long ears that enhance their ability to catch scent. Scent hounds are considered people
dogs, despite their tendency to be aggressive towards strangers. Unlike sight hounds, scent hounds are capable
of killing what they catch. Black and Tan Coonhounds, Redbone Coonhounds, Beagles, Bloodhounds, and
Basset hounds are examples of scent hounds.
Coonhound
Beagle
Terriers are used to hunt and kill vermin and predatory animals like foxes. They are small to medium in size and
very friendly and loyal. These dogs are also energetic, determined, and brave. Because of their independence,
they can also be difficult to train. Terriers were bred to increase their useful abilities and traits before breeding
focused on more appearance based characteristics in the nineteenth century. However, they still have the ability
to dig up underground dens and burrows, while some can even kill animals. Barking noisily while digging to
frighten the animals underground is another useful skill terriers acquired for hunting rats, mice, and other
vermin.
The Skye Terrier is an example of this type of dog. It originated in Scotland on the island of Skye, which is how
it got its name. This terrier is medium sized and hunts mainly fox and otter. Its coat is normally black or cream
with black points and long, hard, and straight in texture. Skye Terriers live fourteen to sixteen years.
Skye Terrier
The dachshund or “wiener dog” or “hot dog” is another type of hunting dog that originated in Germany. They
are considered to be hounds and they hunt mainly badgers. In fact, their name “dachshund” means “badger dog”
in Germany. Dachshunds can also hunt prairie dogs. They have a fearless quality which is necessary for their
job and they are also trained to kill their prey. Dachshunds hunt above and below ground, having been bred
especially for their work. Their bodies are long which allows them to dig and burrow deep into the earth. The
tail provides a handle in which the hunter can retrieve the dog from the ground. They are extremely fast and
strong dogs.
Dachshund
They started breeding dachshunds in the United States in the 1870s and are also a favorite of artists and in the
advertising business. In fact, during World War I, dachshunds were used to depict Germany in propaganda
pieces. Due to the breeding and changes made to the genetic makeup of this dog, there is no “typical
dachshund.” In the 1800s, dachshunds were bred more as a pet and in a smaller size. As pets, dachshunds are
very loyal and devoted, but they can be aggressive and prone to separation anxiety.
Unlike the other types of dogs, the cur type of hunting dog originates in the south of the United States. Dating
back to the pioneer times, these dogs were used to obtain food and guard against strangers. The Blue Lacy, or
“Texas Blue Lacy,” and the Mountain Cur Dog are both dogs in this category.
Blue Lacy
The Mountain Cur Dog is also a cur type from the Appalachian Mountains. These dogs were a necessity for a
frontier family. They would serve as guard and help catch animals to be used as food for the family. Mountain
Cur Dogs were used to hunt a variety of animals, including coons and mountain lions. These are dogs of high
energy and are usually medium sized.
Mountain Cur Dog
The last type of dog is called a gun or bird dog. These are used mostly for finding and retrieving birds. They are
classified according to their method of work in pointing, flushing, or retrieving groups. However, these dogs
often have skills which extend beyond the tasks of their classification, proving to be very useful in a variety of
hunting situations.
Pointers and setters are dogs that find their prey and “point” using their bodies to indicate where the animals
are. There are many steps in this process and it involves a lot of training. First, the hunter directs, or casts, the
pointer dog in a wide circle. These dogs search the edges of the field for common hiding places of birds, while
going back and forth ranging outward from the hunter. Once pointer dogs find game, they freeze in either a
pointing or crouching position. They remain motionless until directed by the hunter. These dogs respond to
many commands and excel at catching covey birds, or birds that stay on the ground, like quail and grouse. An
example of a type of pointer is an English Pointer.
English Pointer
A flushing dog does not cover the same amount of ground as a pointing dog. Instead, these dogs are used on
birds that run from the hunter, especially when an aggressive flush, or scaring of birds, is necessary. Due to this,
these dogs excel at catching birds that would escape quickly. Sometimes, if the dog is trained to do so, the
hunter will instruct the dog to also retrieve the bird once it has been brought down. The English Cocker Spaniel
is an example of a flushing dog.
English Cocker Spaniel
Retrievers are the dogs that get the game once it has been brought down by the hunter. They are used when
hunting water fowl and upland birds. Because retrievers retrieve water fowl, they are expected to sit calmly on a
boat until needed. Their skills include marking and remembering where each bird is downed by the hunter. Each
downed bird is called a “mark,” and they sit up, or “hup,” to watch the flight of the bird in order to prepare
retrieval. Retrievers can also do a “blind retrieve,” in which the hunter guides them to game that the dogs did
not see brought down. To do this, the hunter uses a series of whistles.
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a dog in the retriever group used mainly for hunting water fowl. This dog was
developed in the Chesapeake Bay area in the nineteenth century and is primarily a family pet and hunting
companion. These retrievers are of medium size and love water. As with most retrievers, the Chesapeake Bay
Retriever has a happy disposition, courage, willingness to work, intelligence, and alertness. A lot of their
physical characteristics are a result of their breeding for their job. They have webbed toes and a water proof
coat. Their hindquarters are strong and they have a powerful chest to help break away ice when diving for
marks. They live from ten to twelve years and are sometimes used in duck hunting on the Eastern Shore of
Maryland. In 1964, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was declared the official dog of Maryland.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever