As far as hunting birds is concerned, bird dogs are a must-have for each trip. Hunters breed bird dogs to help them find and retrieve birds.
Bird dogs are placed in two groups – pointers and flushers.
We know you’re wondering how a dog can point. Well it’s not with fingers, but with posture.
A pointing dog is a type of bird dog that can tell a hunter where birds are simply by pausing or standing still and facing the direction where the birds are.
Pointers have very high energy levels and have the ability to cover a lot of ground, while the hunter follows up from behind until a bird is located.
Their noses are very sensitive, and can pick up bird scent from far distances.
There are a wide variety of pointing dog breeds, some of which include the German wirehaired pointer, German shorthaired pointer, English pointer, Brittany, and the poodle pointer.
Pointing dogs and bird hunters have been working together for centuries, and there is adequate proof of this. The Brittany bird dog, who has its origins from France, has been depicted in 17th century paintings.
Each pointing bird dog breed has its unique qualities, and hunters choose according to their personal preference, hunting terrain, and the dog’s overall abilities.
Flushers on the other hand are bird dog breeds that are trained to find a “flush” out game birds by prompting them to fly.
The difference between the flusher and the pointer is that the former does not remain still after locating a bird. Rather, it can run into their midst and force them to fly, while the hunter shoots at them as they become visible in the air.
There are several breeds of flushers, these include the Labrador retriever, golden retriever, and the English Springer Spaniel (amongst other spaniel breeds).
Besides being good bird hunters, they are also friendly family dogs which you can train for other hunting tasks besides birds. They are very easy to teach and their sharp instincts make them very good hunting partners.
To keep your bird dog in excellent condition, be sure to put them through regular exercise sessions. Although this wouldn’t be too hard to accomplish since they are naturally hardworking and intuitive dogs.
Also keep them on the right diet so they don’t become fat and lazy.
It’s time we get into our list of most bird dog breeds in the world.