Gun dogs (gundogs) or bird dogs are types of hunting dogs developed to assist hunters in finding and retrieving game, typically various fowls that are shot down on the wing (in flight). The term hunting dog is broad and includes all breeds and skills of hunting canines, but "gun dogs" refers to canines that are trained to work alongside a loud firearm while hunting or retrieving game. Gun dogs are divided into three main categories: pointers and retrievers, setters and spaniels, and water dogs.
Types
There are several breeds used as gundogs with varying instinctive skill sets for each one.4 Gun dogs are divided into three primary types: retrievers, pointing breeds, and water dogs.
| Main category | Type | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retrievers | Golden Retriever | ||
| Pointing | Pointers | English Pointer | |
| Setters | English Setter | ||
| Water (flushing) dog | Spaniels | English Cocker Spaniel | |
| Water dogs | Standard Poodle | ||
List of gundog breeds
- Barbet
- Bracco Italiano
- Braque du Bourbonnais5
- Brittany
- Burgos Pointer
- Drentsche Patrijshond
- Cesky Fousek
- Corded Poodle
- German Longhaired Pointer
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- German Spaniel
- German Wirehaired Pointer
- Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla
- Kooikerhondje
- Lagotto Romagnolo
- Large Münsterländer
- Pointer
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Portuguese Pointer
- Pudelpointer
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever
- Curly Coated Retriever
- Flat-Coated Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- Labrador Retriever
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
- English Setter
- Gordon Setter
- Irish Setter
- Irish Red and White Setter
- Small Münsterländer
- American Cocker Spaniel
- American Water Spaniel
- Boykin Spaniel
- Clumber Spaniel
- English Cocker Spaniel
- English Springer Spaniel
- Field Spaniel
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Sussex Spaniel
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Spanish Water Dog
- Spinone Italiano
- Stichelhaar
- Standard Poodle
- Vizsla
- Weimaraner
- Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- Wirehaired Vizsla
Kennel club classification
When competing in conformation shows most kennel clubs, including The Kennel Club group pedigree gun dog breeds together in their own gun dog group, whilst some such as the American Kennel Club group them in a sporting group.67
See also
References
"Definition of GUNDOG". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2023-04-21. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gundog ↩
Lumontod, Patrick (2017-10-03). "12 Types of Hunting Dogs and Which One You Need". Top Dog Tips. Retrieved 2023-04-21. https://topdogtips.com/types-of-hunting-dogs/ ↩
"Gundog Breeds: Sizes, Personality & Behaviour | Purina". www.purina.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-21. https://www.purina.co.uk/find-a-pet/articles/dog-types/breed-groups/gundog-breeds ↩
"Gun Dog Care - Caring for Different Dog Breeds". Purina. Retrieved 6 July 2018. https://www.purina.co.uk/dogs/dog-breeds/dog-types/gun-dogs ↩
"Breed Profile: Braque d'Auvergne - Gun Dog Magazine". 1 June 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2018. http://www.gundogmag.com/breeds/breed-profile-braque-dauvergne/ ↩
"Gundog Group". The Kennel Club. Retrieved 17 December 2019. https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/Default.aspx?group=GDGS ↩
"Sporting Group". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 17 December 2019. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/sporting/ ↩