thumb|A Labrador Retriever holding a Redhead bird

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A hunting dog is a dog that hunts with or for hunters. There are several different types of hunting dog developed for various tasks and purposes. The major categories of hunting dog include hounds, terriers, cur type dogs, and gun dogs. Further distinctions within these categories can be made, based upon the dog's skills and capabilities. They are usually larger and have a more sensitive smell than normal dogs.

Breeds and capabilities used in hunting

For a list of breeds of each type, see the detailed articles for each category:

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!Main category||Subcategory||Example||Summary

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|rowspan=4|Hounds||colspan=3|Hounds are further divided into sighthounds and scenthounds depending upon the primary sense used to locate quarry. Many mammals such as jackrabbits, raccoons, coyotes, deer, and other large predators are hunted with hounds.

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|Sighthounds

|align=center|none|100px Whippet||Sighthounds are tall and lean running hounds, adapted for visual acuity and speed. Their method of hunting is called coursing, where prey is sighted from a distance, chased, and caught.

Several other Spitz-type dogs, such as the Norwegian Elkhound, Shiba Inu, and Taiwan Dog are also used for hunting.

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| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Lurchers

|align=center|none|100px Lurcher||A Lurcher is a sighthound crossed with a working dog breed—usually a pastoral dog or terrier bred selected for working.

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| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|Terriers

|align=center|none|100px Lakeland Terrier||Terriers are used to hunt small mammals, such as rats. Terriers locate the den or set of the target animal and then bolt, capture, or kill the animal. A working terrier may go underground to kill or drive out game. Hunters who use terriers are referred to as terriermen. Larger members of this type, such those of the bull and terrier family, are sometimes used to hunt larger game, like razorbacks: the hunter will send in scenthounds to corner the pig, and the more heavily built catch dog will charge at it, bite it, and hold it down until the hunter can come and kill it.

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File:Medium loup.jpg|Wolf hunt depicted in a 12th-century bestiary

File:Medieval women hunting.jpg|Medieval women hunting, illustration from a period manuscript

File:Li Di-Hunting Dog.jpg|Hunting Dog by Li Di, 12th-century Chinese painting

File:37-svaghi, caccia,Taccuino Sanitatis, Casanatense 4182..jpg|Boar hunting, tacuinum sanitatis casanatensis (14th century)

File:Hunt16thC.jpg|Hunting the hart (16th Century) from Turbervile, copied from Jaques du Fouilloux.

File:Filas brasileiros de orelhas cortadas, acuando onça..jpg|Filas Brasileiros hunting a jaguar.

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See also

  • , hunting dogs constellation
  • Dogs portal
  • Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard

References

Further reading

  • Deeley, Martin. "Working Gundogs: An Introduction to Training and Handling. (1990, reprinted 2002) The Crowood Press. .
  • Fergus, Charles. Gun Dog Breeds, A Guide to Spaniels, Retrievers, and Pointing Dogs, The Lyons Press, 2002.
  • Roettger, Anthony Z. and Schleider, Benjamin H. III. (2004) Urban Gun Dogs: Training flushing dogs for home and field. The Writer's Collective.