What Dog Breeds To Consider For Hunting Dogs?
Men rely on hunting dogs to retrieve their kills. Without them, the hunter will have to do all the work with no the assurance that they will be bringing something home at the end of the day. To make the work easier, the hunter requires the help of a well–trained hunting dog.
However, not all dog breeds could be adapted to hunting works and only specific trainings that promote hunting capabilities would bring out the best in a hunting dog.
But hunting dogs are not garden varieties that you could have whenever you want. They are trained and trained well for the demands of hunting. And oftentimes, training for the hunting dog breeds is a tedious and extensive process that requires knowledge and patience from the trainer and appropriate attributes from the dog.
What is the right breed?
As said earlier, not all dogs are fit for dog hunting. There are actually dog breeds specializing in this work and have long history of the particular service for men. In short, they are well adapted to the kind of works usually needed in hunting.
A hunting dog which will respond best to training are breeds like retrievers, spaniels and pointers- each of which have capacities that are unique to their breeds. It is up to the trainer to hone their capacities and use them for their right purposes.
In general, hunting dogs have excellent sense of smell for tracking purposes. Also, hunting dogs should be fit for outdoor activities and could easily be conditioned for training. The best candidate for dog training on hunting is a dog that has all of the said characteristics. The most common choices as hunting dogs are Labradors, Beagles, Bloodhounds and Dachshunds.
What dog to get?
You just can’t get a full grown dog and expect him to respond well to training. The best choice is a puppy since it has just started forming its behavior. Also, you need a dog that has affinity to his handler. This would not develop on its own. So you have to personally train your dog or at least train alongside your dog with a professional trainer.
What tasks are usually involved in the training?
There are six basic tasks that a good hunting dog should master. These are as follows:
- Retrieving
- Marking
- Quartering
- Shaking
- Following hand signals
- Steadying
What about gun fire and scent?
There are dogs that are sensitive or scared at hearing gun fires. So it has to get acclimatized through training. Typically, this is accomplished by conditioning the dog through a procedural way of introducing gunfire along with game birds.
This training will let the dog associate gun fire with game. If the gunfire is heard, the dog will know that there is a game. After retrieving the game, the dog will expect the next gunfire.
On the other hand, tracking is based on following the scent. There are as much scent as there are games so be sure to train your dog on a particular scent. If you want him to hunt deer you should get him used to deer scent.
Dog training for hunting is much harder than other forms of dog training. However, if your passion is hunting you would undoubtedly require the services of a well-trained hunting dog.
Airedale Terrier The ‘King of Terriers’
The Airedale Terrier is not called the “King of Terriers” for nothing. This dog is the tallest terrier from the entire breed family. One of its primary progenitors are the Black and Tan and the old English Terriers. They were medium-sized dogs, highly admired by Yorkshire hunters because they went after all sorts of prey, ranging from small rabbits to fox.
Not only were they reliable hunters of land animals, these Terriers were also prized as great bird retrievers. Sometime during the mid-1800s, many of these Terriers were bred with Otterhounds. The goal was to create a dog that had increased water hunting skills, as well as a stronger sense of tracking. The result was a sharp looking dog that became excellent otter hunters.
These otter hunting dogs became the breed that we know today as the Airedale Terrier. Their name was actually called “Waterside Terriers” at first, but was changed to the Airedale in 1878.
Terrier enthusiasts began to show these dogs in ringside competitions. To further the appreciable beauty of the Airedale Terrier, they were mixed with both Irish and Bull Terriers. By the early 1900s, the well-known Terrier and champion “Master Briar” became the father of today’s Airedale Terriers.
Master Briar produced dogs that highly influenced the breed in the United States. They picked up popularity as strong hunters, proving themselves to be worthy at hunting big game. However, after the end of World War I their numbers declined and today they are a rare breed to come across, yet their great reputation remains the same.
Personality
The Airedale Terrier is considered to be the most versatile of the Terrier dog breed group. They are adventurous, bold and love to play. Highly intelligent and a bit stubborn, training may take some time. However, with the right amount of training time, these dogs are obedient, loyal and make excellent watchdogs. So long as the Airedale Terrier gets plenty of mental and physical stimulation, they can make obedient house pets.
Taking Care Of Your Airedale Terrier
Airedale Terrier dogs require a lot of exercise. Without enough physical exertion, they tend to get bored easily and can be quite destructive, if left alone inside the house. Long walks or active games should provide plenty of stimulation to can take care of these needs.
Airedale Terriers are able to live outside during cold climates but like all house dogs, it’s always best to have them sleep inside with the family. Grooming takes a bit of extra work than most breeds, due to its long wiry coat. A thorough combing 2 – 3 times per week is ideal. Clipping and scissoring is also recommended about every eight weeks or so.
Health Information
The average lifespan for healthy Airedale Terrier dog is between 10 and 14 years. They are a very healthy breed in which CHD is the only major health issue that may come up. Minor concerns include gastric torsion and hypothyroidism.
Italian Greyhound Dog Breed
Although the Italian Greyhound has been in existence for centuries, the exact origin of this beautiful breed of dog is completely unknown. There is evidence of artwork that dates back more than 2000 years ago, it depicts these dogs in areas such as the Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey.
Italian Greyhounds were known as “Miniature Greyhounds” and were found in abundance throughout areas of southern Europe. Italian courtiers adored them.
Sometime during the 17th century, this dog breed arrived in England and rose in popularity with the nobility. They became just as popular in England as they had been in their homeland of Italy.
In the year of 1820 there were only two specific dog breeds that were mentioned in a book about dogs. The Italian Greyhound was one of them. This breed continued to attract more and more popularity, mostly with the wealthy, but reached its peak sometime during the leadership reign of Queen Victoria.
After this time period, the numbers of Italian Greyhounds started to decline rapidly. In fact, after the end of World War II, these dogs had all but disappeared. The reason for this is unknown but it is theorized that the decline was the result of poor breeding quality over many generations. Even though their numbers had declined on the verge of extinction, quite a few Italian Greyhounds made their way to America sometime during the late 1800s and the breed was revived.
Personality
The Italian Greyhound is a moderately small dog that loves to run at fast speeds and chase anything that will run from it. These dogs are extremely gentle and a bit on the sensitive side. Italian Greyhounds are reserved, timid and make a lovable family pet, especially around children.
Taking Care Of Your Italian Greyhound
This is one breed of dog that is best suited to live with an active family. In other words, if you prefer sitting on your couch all day to spending time with your dog, the Italian Greyhound would not be the ideal choice. They need an active lifestyle, with plenty of running outside.
Italian Greyhounds absolutely hate cold weather, but can stand higher-than-normal temperatures, due to its short coat. Grooming is minimal, with only the occasional brushing needed in order to remove dead hair.
Health Information
The average lifespan of the Italian Greyhound can be up to 17 years when healthy, with 13 to 14 years being the average. The only major health concern that they have is periodontal disease. Minor issues include PRA, leg fractures (from running), patellar luxation and epilepsy.
Basenji Dog Breed
The Basenji is one of the oldest and most primitive of all dog breeds. Pygmy hunters in the lands of the African Congo discovered this animal. The early tribes used them as pack hunters to help drive small game into net traps.
England started to see Basenji dogs brought to their lands during the 1800s and into the 1900s, but most of them did not survive, due to distemper. However, sometime during the mid-1930s, quite a few Basenjis were successfully brought to England and became the basis for all future breeds that took place outside of Africa.
It was at this time when the term “Basenji” was made the official name for this particular dog breed. It means, “bush thing”. More and more of these dogs were imported to England and eventually they came to America.
The Basenji started to grow in popularity and became a very common household pet. Eventually, fanciers of this breed began entering them into dog shows, which soon influenced a Basenji-based book and even a Hollywood movie, which starred the dog.
Personality
Basenji dogs are considered to be extremely feisty and often display behaviors similar to Terriers. They are very smart, inquisitive, clever and stubborn at times. Many dog enthusiasts compare them to a feline cat, which are reserved, yet independent.
This dog absolutely loves to chase and hunt any chance it can get. Its genetic roots are that of a hunter, so the Basenji needs plenty of exercise, mental stimulation and play. You will notice that this breed does not bark, but when it does bark, it comes out as a short yelp-like shriek.
Taking Care Of Your Basenji
The Basenji is a fairly easy dog to maintain and keep healthy. As mentioned previously, it needs plenty of daily exercise, both mentally and physically. Brisk walks and vigorous dog games, especially chasing and fetching are important.
It is best to keep your Basenji indoors with the family at night. During the daytime hours, however, this dog loves to have the freedom to roam around outside. If you have the luxury of a large fenced-in yard, then allowing your Basenji to play outside is advisable, so long as there is plenty of water and shade during hot weather.
Health Information
Basenji dogs have a lifespan of up to 15 years. The average time is between 12 and 13 years. Major health concerns that are seen amongst Basenjis are Basenji enteropathy, PRA, and Fanconi syndrome. Minor concerns include umbilical hernias, PK, PPM and hypothyroidism.
Bulldog Dog Breed
The Bulldog is one of those breeds that carries a mean looking facial expression, but is actually a delight to have as a pet. This dog was originally bred to attack bulls, literally. History has it that these ferocious little guys used to attack and bite the nose of large bulls in the ring for entertainment purposes. Luckily today, the Bulldog is just an everyday house pet.
Despite its angry looking face, these dogs are extremely amiable and mellow. The Bulldog is well behaved around children and tends to thrive on pleasing its owners. Although it can be protective of its owner and a little aggressive towards strange dogs, this breed makes a great family companion and will get along just fine with other pets in the home.
Upkeep And Maintenance
When it comes to upkeep and maintenance of the Bulldog, moderate exercise should be given on a daily basis, such as a brisk walk through the park at least once or twice daily. This is definitely not the type of dog that is made for running. The Bulldog is quite docile and tends to prefer a slower pace.
Although the Bulldog can live both indoors and outdoors, it is recommended that it remain inside with the family as much as possible. These dogs cannot stand hot weather and are not good with water. In fact, Bulldogs do not know how to swim.
Grooming the Bulldog takes a little extra care, but only around the face wrinkles and other folds located around the tail. These areas should be cleaned moderately on a daily basis. Other than that, a light brushing over the rest of the coat, once or twice weekly, is all that is needed.
Health Information
There are some major health concerns that you need to be aware of when owning a Bulldog. They include stenotic nares, shoulder luxation, ventricular septal defects, CHD, internalized tail and elongated soft palate. Occasionally you might come across urethral prolapse and vaginal hyperplasia.
The lifespan of the Bulldog can reach up to 12 years, sometimes longer. Specific health tests that are recommended by veterinarians include testing for elbow problems, hip dysplasia, need dysplasia and potential eye problems. Also, wheezing, snoring and lots of drool is typical with every Bulldog.
