as provided by UKC
Many Gun Dog breeds were already in use by hunters before the advent of hunting with firearms. Originally used to hunt a variety of game types, today’s Gun Dogs are primarily used to hunt birds. The dogs in this Group can be roughly subdivided into four often overlapping categories, based on their primary usage: Retrievers, Pointers, Setters and Flushing Spaniels.
The earliest Retrievers were the water dogs, characterized by shaggy, sometimes curly coats, and probably descended from crosses between the shaggy herding dogs of the East and dogs used for hunting. The land retrievers, developed later and primarily of British origin, have heavier bodies, wider heads, and shorter, dense, water-resistant coats.
The many breeds of Pointers, developed to identify the location of birds with a distinctive “pointing” stance, are descendants of the scenthounds. Pointers display their ancestors’ strong hunting drive and scenting abilities.
Early Setters displayed a trait of slightly crouching or “setting” upon locating game. This trait enabled falconers and hunters with nets to get closer to the birds when stalking their prey. Setters are characterized by fringes of hair on the ear, legs, and tail.
Flushing Spaniels are the descendants of Setters with the added ability of flushing out the game. The affectionate personality and attractive appearance of the Spaniel breeds led to the development of diminutive Spaniel breeds used exclusively as companions.
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American Water Spaniel |
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