Hunting dog breeds

For millennia, humans have relied upon dogs to help them in the fields, on The following livestock guardian breeds are part of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog The Anatolians are nd edition of The New Complete Dog Book, these dogs “possess great endurance, speed, and agility,” and are “highly intelligent, courageous, adaptable, instinctively protective, and territorial.” As territorial guardians, these dogs are not friendly to strangers when alone on their property. Unsocialized Anatolians have been known to become too protective and Great Pyrenees Recognizable to children everywhere due to the animated series Belle and Sebastian (based on the 1966 French novel by Cécile Aubry), the Sometimes affectionately referred to as the “Pyr,” these large, white, Given this breed’s function as a livestock guardian, companion owners should keep in mind that this dog will naturally look for some guarding activity as a source of employment. However, they are known for their gentle nature, especially with their families, and it is not uncommon to see a Pyr working as a This breed does have a unique anatomic feature, the presence of double The New Complete Dog Book notes that “they may have functioned in the past as a ‘snowshoe’ in the deep snows of the Pyrenees Mountains or possibly assisted the dogs as additional brakes when they raced downhill,” though “today, they are a traditional symbol of breed purity.” Komondor With one of the most striking appearances of all dogs, the The Spirit of the...

tdintro A Brittany spaniel after a successful hunt. For as long as anyone can remember, man has always fared better in his pursuit of game when aided by a canine. But which breeds are best? Our choices for the best pointers, retrievers, flushing dogs and hounds follow, but with hundreds of different sporting breeds to choose from, you really can’t go wrong. Best Pointing Dog Breeds Clockwise from the top left: English Setter, English Pointer, Hungarian Vizsla and German Wirehaired Pointer. In the days when bird hunters and field trialers knew more about the dams and sires of their favorite dogs than they knew about their own ancestors, big-running English pointers with 12 o’clock tails seemed to be everyone’s favorite bird dog. Thus, it’s almost sacrilegious to pick any candidate except that breed as the top pointing dog, but times have changed and so has the nature of bird hunting. Now, most of us are hunting small patches and field edges, grasslands, highlands and old farmsteads for chukar, ruffs, partridge and quail of various sorts. Top Pointing Dog: Brittany Brittanys have more dual championships (show and field trial) than any other sporting breed. For this kind of work, we need a biddable dog that isn’t willful, has good manners around other dogs, is fairly carefree and seems to understand what gun range means. We’ll go with the Brittany. Known as the Brittany spaniel when the American Kennel Club first acknowledged the breed in 1934, the “spaniel” was ultimately dr...

While man’s best friend makes a wonderful canine companion, dogs have a long history of being used for more utilitarian tasks. One of the most important functions throughout the history of human/dog relationships was his purpose as a hunting partner. When trained properly, dogs can be extremely agile hunters thanks to their superior sense of smell, acute hearing, and athleticism. They just rely on us humans to help refine those talents. In today’s modern world, hunting is much more of a sport than a daily necessity. However, a hunting dog is one of the best tools any hunter could hope for. If you’re on the lookout for a dog breed with outstanding hunting skills, check out our list of the 17 top dog breeds for hunting. The 17 Top Hunting Dogs: 1. Labrador Retriever Image Credit: Parilov, Shutterstock While many people may consider a 2. English Springer Spaniel Image credit: Amorhunter, Pixabay Are you planning an upcoming pheasant hunting trip? You may want to bring an 3. Beagle Image Credit: Alexey Androsov, Shutterstock Blessed with a super-efficient snout and a loud bark, the 4. English Setter Image Credit: michellegraber, Pixabay When it comes to a good grouse dog, you won’t find one better than the English Setters come from two different lines, including field and conformation. As a hunter, you’ll want to opt for the smaller field line for the ideal hunting partner. 14. Weimaraner Image credit: DragoNika, Shutterstock Living to be between 10 and 13 years of age, the 15...

Yuan Yao / Getty Images Often referred to as a "silent hunter," the Akita is the largest Japanese spitz breed. They're quiet, temperamental dogs that can be difficult to train. But they also tend to be fiercely loyal and have long served as guard and hunting dogs. As a high-energy breed, Akitas require rigorous daily exercise. While often aloof with strangers, the Akita can be silly and affectionate with their family. nwbob / Getty Images The American Eskimo dog looks similar to the snowy white Arctic fox. These dogs tend to be affectionate, loyal, protective watchdogs for their families. They also love to play outdoors, even in cold weather, and they generally get along very well with children. Their heavy coats shed a lot and require diligent grooming. Group: Non-Sporting (AKC) Height: 9 to 12 inches (toy); 12 to 15 inches (miniature); 15 to 19 inches (standard) Weight: 6 to 10 pounds (toy); 10 to 20 pounds (miniature); 25 to 35 pounds (standard) Coat and Color: Alert expression; medium-length double coat; colors include white or white and biscuit Life Expectancy: 13 to 15 years The Spruce / Kevin Norris The Samoyed is another spitz breed that originated in the Arctic, primarily the Siberian area of Russia. These solid and intelligent dogs were historically bred to pull sleds on polar expeditions. Today, they are mainly kept as affectionate and playful family pets, though they have retained their strong instinct to chase small animals. They get along very well with child...