Hunting dog facts for kids
A hunting dog is a special kind of dog that helps humans when they go hunting. These dogs are trained to find, chase, or bring back animals. There are many different types of hunting dogs, each with unique skills! The main groups include hounds, terriers, cur type dogs, and gun dogs. Each group has smaller types that are good at specific hunting tasks.
Contents
Types of Hunting Dogs
Hounds
Hounds are split into two main types: sight hounds and scent hounds. The big difference is whether they use their amazing sight or their powerful sense of smell to find the animals they are hunting. Hounds are often used to hunt furry animals. For example, in America, they help hunt raccoons, coyotes, and large predators. In Britain, hounds have traditionally been used to hunt foxes.
Sight Hounds
Sight hounds are super fast and have excellent eyesight. They spot their prey from far away, then chase it down quickly and quietly. Think of them like sprinters with amazing vision! A good example is the Whippet.
Scent Hounds
Scent hounds are masters of smell. They follow the scent trail of an animal, sometimes for a long time. They might bark loudly to let hunters know they're on the right track. Coonhounds are a great example of scent hounds.
Lurchers
A Lurcher is a mix between a sight hound and another working dog, often a terrier or a pastoral dog (like a sheepdog). They are specially bred to be good at hunting.
Gun Dogs
These dogs are also called bird dogs because they often help hunters who use shotguns to hunt small animals, especially birds. Gun dogs come in three main types: retrievers, flushing spaniels, and pointing breeds.
Retrievers
The main job of a retriever is to fetch the animal after the hunter shoots it. Retrievers are very good in the water. This makes them perfect for hunters shooting ducks or other waterfowl. They are known for their soft mouths, so they don't damage the game they bring back. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a strong retriever.
Flushing Spaniels
Flushing spaniels are used when birds are hiding in places like tall grass. The spaniel will run through the grass, making the birds fly into the air. This allows the hunter to shoot them. Spaniels stay close to the hunter, so when the birds fly up, the hunter is ready. The English Cocker Spaniel is a well-known flushing spaniel.
Pointers
Pointers find birds and then stand very still, pointing their nose towards where the bird is hiding. They often work further away from the hunter than a spaniel would. By pointing instead of flushing the bird out, they give the hunter time to get close enough for a shot. The German Shorthaired Pointer is a classic pointer.
Setters
Setters are another type of gun dog that can find and point at birds. They have a natural talent for locating game birds in open areas. They will "set" or crouch down when they find a bird, then flush it out when the hunter gives the command. The English Setter is a beautiful example.
Water Dogs
Water dogs are a special group of retrievers. They are excellent swimmers with lots of energy. They are bred specifically to hunt all kinds of waterfowl. Even a Poodle can be a great water dog!
Terriers
These dogs are almost always used to hunt mammals. Terriers are used to find the den or living space of an animal. They will go into the animal's home and either force it to run out or, sometimes, kill it. Many animals hunted with terriers cause damage, like ground hogs, foxes, and badgers. The Lakeland Terrier is a brave terrier.
Cur Types
Curs are used in a similar way to terriers but for larger animals. Curs are used to hunt boars, raccoons, cougars, and other big mammals. The Catahoula Cur is a powerful cur type.
Feists
Feists are small dogs that hunt small game, especially squirrels. They hunt in a similar way to how larger hounds hunt raccoons. Feists might bark up trees to tell the hunter where the squirrel is. These dogs were developed in the southern United States.
Dachshunds
The Dachshund was originally bred to sniff out, chase, and flush out badgers, foxes, and other animals that live in burrows. The miniature dachshund was developed for smaller prey like rabbits. In Europe, dachshunds are often used to hunt deer, boar, and smaller game. They are also amazing at tracking wounded animals, for example, after car accidents. Dachshunds are unique because they can hunt both above and below ground!
Images for kids
-
Wolf hunt depicted in a 12th-century bestiary
-
Medieval women hunting, illustration from a period manuscript
-
Boar hunting, tacuinum sanitatis casanatensis (14th century)
-
Hunting the hart (16th Century) from Turbervile, copied from Jaques du Fouilloux.
See also
In Spanish: Perro de caza para niños
