Which Sporting Dog is Right for You?

PetSmart PetSmart

The history of what has become our modern day Sporting Group dates back to the early 1600s and the beginning of the refinement of the so-called Pointer Dogs. Prior to that, hunting dogs would be taken out into the fields and hedgerows where they would point the hare or birds, and then Greyhounds would flush the rabbits and the chase was on. Falcons were released or nets cast to catch the birds.

Two things occurred about the same time in England: social change that gave greater rights and freedom to the commoner, and the invention of the shotgun. By the latter half of the 1600s "wing shooting" became a popular sport, and the dogs utilized for finding game were called gundogs. From that time on, serious hunters sought a dog that could not only point, but would also flush, hold and retrieve under all conditions. They started by breeding several types of local dogs in Great Britain and Europe with pointers and hounds. These crosses were ultimately refined, standardized and classified. Thus, they are under their original or primary characteristics, but many are good on both land and water and can point, flush and retrieve. Today's Sporting dogs are classified by their basic instincts - Pointers, Retrievers, Setters and Spaniels.

There are 24 Sporting breeds currently recognized by the American Kennel Club, with the American Cocker Spaniel divided by color into three varieties: Black, ASCOB (any solid color other than black) and Parti-color, resulting in 26 at the group level.

Keep the following in mind before deciding which Sporting dog is right for you: your family lifestyle; whether the dog is to be kept primarily indoors or outdoors, in an apartment or on private property large or small, the amount of time required to maintain the coat and provide proper exercise; a safe and adequate enclosure when unattended outdoors; and whether he will be used for hunting or as a family pet.

We suggest you attend dog shows whenever possible to see various breeds, and talk to owners and handlers in order to gain as much information as possible. There are pros and cons in owning any breed, and the more you know the better prepared you will be to make a decision.

Most American Kennel Club breed clubs have codes of ethics for their members, who strive to produce physically and temperamentally sound dogs. You can contact breed clubs via the American Kennel Club by writing them at 5580 Centerview Dr., Suite 2, Raleigh, NC 27606; calling (919) 233-9767; or by looking them up on the Internet at www.akc.org. If you intend to become a pet owner, don't worry about whether your pup is show quality. A mark here or there might disqualify the pup as a show winner but has no impact on his ability to be a loving healthy pet and hunter.

The initial price for a good sound pet is negligible compared to the cost of caring for him over a lifetime, so it's better to start with a healthy pet and hunter.

The American Kennel Club recognizes three breeds of pointers: the Pointer, German Shorthaired Pointer and the German Wire-haired Pointer. The German varieties, however, came upon the hunting scene much later. To this day if one refers to a dog being a Pointer it is understood as referring to the English variety, though the German types are also good pointers.

The retrievers, as their name implies, have a long-standing reputation for their ability to retrieve downed fowl on water or land. Their rather broad skulls and well-developed muzzles enable them to carry even the largest water fowl and upland game. The American Kennel Club recognizes five types: Chesapeake Bay, Curly-Coated, Flat-Coated, Golden and Labrador. Their origins are very diverse.

Three setter types are recognized by the American Kennel Club: the English, Gordon and Irish. These are the leggiest of the Sporting breeds, whose crouch style on point and ability to range in open terrain is an asset as they seek out birds. Each is unique in its background and style depicting its origin. They are attractive, stylish dogs all well-coated with active well-furnished tails, making them easy to follow even at a distance. This style is more common to the English and Irish, as the Gordon tends to work slower and closer to his hunting companions.

The spaniels are the largest group of gun dogs, dating back to the 1300s. They were originally divided into two groups, land spaniels and water spaniels. The land spaniels were again divided according to size where the smaller Cockers and Toy Spaniels were separated from the larger types. A final decision removed the Toy Spaniel from the gun dog category, leaving the Cockers as the smallest members. The land spaniels are trained to quarter within gun range and, when flushing the game, sit so as not to be shot, then retrieve upon command.

The following brief breed descriptions provide basic information. There are authoritative books of substance on all these breeds that can be obtained at book stores, pet stores and dog shows, or by contacting breed clubs.

BRITTANY
Named after the French province considered to be their place of origin, this is a short-backed, compact, leggy, short-tailed dog that comes in two recognized colors in North America - orange and white and liver and white. Brittanys combine the open field ranging of the setters with the pointing ability of the Pointers. They are agile and quick, but also make excellent companion dogs.

POINTER
Probably the earliest gun dog used to point (stand game) far in advance of any others is of English origin. An aristocratic, muscular, close-coated dog ranging in size from 25-28 inches for dogs and 23-26 inches for bitches, he is an enthusiastic upland game dog, but does not like water. The Pointer is a great hunting companion whose loving nature makes him an ideal family dog.

GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER
The German Shorthaired Pointer was developed to combine the attributes that make him an all-round hunting dog. To this end, the Germans combined the English Pointer with German and Spanish hunting dogs, including hounds. The end result is a dog that is not only a good pointer but also a great tracker and retriever, equally at home working on land or water. He is of medium size and makes a devoted, loving companion. The color is liver and white in various combinations or solid liver.

GERMAN WIREHAIRED POINTER
This breed is similar in background to the Curly-Coated Retriever with the exception that there is much more of the English blood in their background. He is an excellent retriever on both land and water and is a very friendly dog that enjoys human companionship and thrives on family life as much as hunting. His popularity has decreased with the advent of the Labrador Retriever, but those who know him are devoted to this gentle dog.

CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER
This breed is a very athletic and hardy dog that thrives in the outdoors. Although he plays rougher than most retrievers, the Chessie works as hard as any. An enjoyable companion, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever will thrive with family time. Training for general obedience as well as field work should begin in small doses from a young age.

CURLY-COATED RETRIEVER
His excellent swimming abilities and retrieving make the Curly-Coat a natural hunter. Kind, friendly, intelligent and loyal, the Curly-Coat is good with children and family. However, he is reserved with strangers and does not like excessive handling from them. Although he will adjust to life indoors, the Curly-Coated Retriever would be happiest living near a lake or pond where he would have the opportunity to swim. Once he's in the water, its hard to get the Curly-Coat out.

FLAT-COATED RETRIEVER
Like his glistening coat, the Flat-Coated Retriever shimmers with personality. He is a very outgoing and devoted dog that has never met a stranger he didn't like. A hunting dog by nature, his even-temperedness and friendliness give him what it takes to be the perfect family dog.

GOLDEN RETRIEVER
This breed has become extremely popular as a family dog because of his gentle, tail-wagging nature and success as an obedience dog, field tracker and retriever on land and water. Originating in Scotland by crossing a Tweed Water Spaniel and a smaller type of Newfoundland, later other crosses with Irish Setters and other water spaniels produced a strong and hearty water dog. The Golden's popularity rose in England in the later years of the 19th century, and it soon became popular in North America. As in any breed, popularity brings its problems, so care should be taken to seek out a responsible breeder.

LABRADOR RETRIEVER
This breed actually came from Newfoundland, the name Labrador being attached later after they came to England and were bred to other retrievers. The Lab was developed to be a very strong, medium-sized dog of great athletic ability with a coat that sheds water like oil. Labs are especially good in the water, having webbed feet that they use like paddles, but they also work well in the field. Due to their strength and high energy, they have become very popular among North American hunters as a family companion. They can be black, yellow or chocolate in color.

ENGLISH SETTER
As the name implies, this breed was developed in England and is known as the Llewellin strain, which later combined with the Duke-Roches strain from which all English Setters are descended. They are good upland gundogs but also make desirable family dogs. They have a kind, loving disposition embodied in an animal of beauty, intelligence and nobility. Setters are bred for open field hunting so must have the opportunity to exercise. All have a white background coat with different degrees of color referred to as orange, blue, lemon, liver belton and tricolor (a blue belton with tan on muzzle, over eyes and on legs).

GORDON SETTER
This native of Scotland is a handsome black and tan dog that combines beauty with intelligence and great bird hunting ability. The name comes from the Duke of Gordon, who brought the breed to prominence. Unlike the other setters, he is not as fast, but is a slower, methodical bird dog who works closer to the hunter. Gordons have been trained in recent years to work further afield, but close or farther away, it would be rare that he doesn't find and point a bird. He is a loving family dog, gentle and loyal, who does not take kindly to unwanted intruders.

IRISH SETTER
A very stylish breed, his rich mahogany color has made him popular for years. Interestingly his ancestors in Ireland were rarely solid colored, being mostly red and white; to this day, many are still part-colored. To designate that only the red dog was desired in the United States, the Irish Setter Club of America originally named the breed the Red Irish Setter. Though they possessed great bird skill, their beauty was their undoing. Unlike the English and Gordon owners, Irish Setter owners became less and less interested in field trials so that the breed's use as hunters waned as their beauty and style gained in the show ring. They do retain their hunting instinct, and if called upon can do the job well. They excel as loving family dogs that do best with adequate exercise.

AMERICAN WATER SPANIEL
The origins of this American breed, like so many other gundogs, is obscure, but it is fair to speculate that the Irish Water Spaniel, Curly-Coated Retriever and Old English Water Spaniel all contributed. They developed to their greatest potential in the midwestern United States, where for many generations they were bred true to type and color. They are outstanding retrievers that can happily and quickly recover several birds at once. It is said they "swim like seals." They are equally good at flushing, springing rabbits and upland game birds. All this talent combines with being a family lover and watchdog.

CLUMBER SPANIEL
The Clumber is a long, low, heavy dog with massive bone that is a good hunter and works well in thick cover. He works closely, always within gun range. His deliberateness makes him a great companion for the hunter who is not in a hurry to cover a lot of ground. He is a white dog with lemon or orange markings on face and legs but should have little if any markings on the body. A spot near the root is not uncommon, however. The Clumber is a dignified, loyal and affectionate dog who may be reserved with strangers. He is endeared by those who know him.

COCKER SPANIEL
This is considered one breed but is divided into three varieties by colors: black, ASCOB and parti-colored. With that exception, they are all the same. This is the smallest of the gundogs and they have gained great popularity as a show dog and as a pet over the years. Very few are used to hunt small game such as woodcock, for which they were once famous. Today's Cocker is a much more heavily furnished dog, as greater emphasis has gone toward the coat. They have a merry, tail-wagging disposition, and make excellent companions, but require regular grooming.

ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL
Known in England as the Cocker Spaniel, the differences between the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel are a matter of selection for a specific type. The English Cocker is taller than the American. Originally separated by size only, Cockers and Springers developed side by side so that their characteristics are the same. They are energetic happy hunters and are still used for small game like woodcock. They make excellent family dogs, energetic without over exuberance, and are good with children. They are solid or parti-colored with combinations of black, liver and shades of red.

ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL
The Springer Spaniel ranks high in the class of field dogs. He is a medium size, correctly proportioned, moderately feathered dog that is an outstanding hunter. He quarters energetically and upon finding the bird, points and moves in to flush it with a springing action. They are good family dogs that enjoy the comforts of family life as much as they do the hunt.

FIELD SPANIEL
The Field Spaniel was slow to become established in North America because he was a very exaggerated dog. It was only after several crosses with Springers and Cockers that desired breed type was established. Their ideal height is 18 inches and their color commonly black and liver. They are persistent hunters and will retrieve on land and water. They are very docile and sensitive, but fun loving and intelligent. They enjoy human companionship and family life.

IRISH WATER SPANIEL
This breed's close similarity to the Poodle wins him many admirers. He is a fun-loving sporting breed who is a natural water athlete and who needs an active owner. The Irish Water Spaniel is a bold and eager dog that demonstrates great loyalty towards his owner and is less inclined to warm up to unfamiliar people.

SUSSEX SPANIEL
Named for Sussex, England, they were originally recognized as a short-legged massive-looking golden liver-colored dog of strength and endurance ideally suited for working in dense underbrush. He has never gained great popularity in numbers in North America but remains remarkably unchanged from his 19th century ancestors. Although they have a somber, serious expression, they are very friendly and have a cheerful disposition.

WELSH SPRINGER SPANIEL
The uniquely red-and-white dog has existed for several hundred years in Wales and western England. They are excellent hunters in water as well as on land. When well trained, he is considered to be an outstanding gundog. They make an excellent companion and family dog, are gentle with children, and make a good watchdog. Not as popular as the larger English Springer, they do have a strong, devoted following.

VIZSLA
The Vizsla is regarded as a Hungarian breed although its origins probably began with the infamous Magyar hordes that over ran Central Europe over 1000 years ago. The Vizsla has a unique hunting ability developed from working in open plains where a dog had to be very fast but also intelligently cautious so as not to alarm the game that was mostly without cover. The result is a close, careful worker that is a pointer and retriever on land or water. They are gentle, loving, affectionate, fearless dogs that are protective of family.

WEIMARANER
The Weimaraner is both a pointer and a retriever developed in Germany to be an all-purpose hunter. This uniquely gray-colored dog is an individual companion hunter. He has proven to be a good obedience dog as well. Definitely a family dog that enjoys it to the fullest. Kennel life is not for them.

WIREHAIRED POINTING GRIFFON
This is a rare gundog breed that is a multi-talented hunter. His abilities as a hunter are far superior to most other recognized gundog breeds. A very physical and able dog, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is highly trainable and has much more energy for the hunt than most serious hunters. Within the home, Griffon's are quite affectionate and bond closely to the whole family.

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