What do you call bird dogs?

Bird dogs are a type of gun dog historically bred to help hunters find and retrieve game birds. The name “bird dog” refers to their purpose in aiding hunters with birds specifically. There are several popular breeds of bird dogs, each with their own unique history and qualities that make them excellent at tracking, pointing, and retrieving upland game birds like quail, pheasant, grouse, and more.

Common Breeds of Bird Dogs

Some of the most popular and commonly used breeds of bird dogs include:

• Pointer – Excellent nose, efficient hunters that “point” or stop and aim their muzzle towards game.
• German Shorthaired Pointer – All-purpose gun dogs good for hunting upland game and water retrieving.
• Labrador Retriever – Popular for their obedience, soft mouths for retrieving, and ability to work on land and in water.
• Golden Retriever – Similar qualities as the Labrador Retriever. Both are often used for hunting waterfowl.
• English Setter – Elegant hunting dogs with a unique feathered coat and excellent noses.
• Brittany – Compact upland bird dogs named after the Brittany region in France.
• Irish Setter – Rangy red and white setters with good scenting abilities and boundless energy.
• Wirehaired Pointing Griffon – A versatile breed used as an all-around hunting dog good for birds and retrieving from land or water.

While individual breeds have their strengths, all bird dogs share the common ability to aid hunters in finding and retrieving birds using their powerful sense of smell and enthusiasm for the hunt. The breeds listed above represent some of the most popular choices among hunters and gundog enthusiasts.

Origins and History

Dogs have been used for hunting purposes for thousands of years. Selective breeding to enhance traits like scenting, retrieving, speed, endurance, and trainability have developed dogs as ideal partners for hunting birds and other small game. Specific traits for the different work needed for upland game birds versus waterfowl have led to specialized breeds within bird dogs.

Some of the earliest pointing breeds that contributed to modern upland bird dogs include the Old Spanish Pointer, Foxhound, Greyhound, and Bloodhound. Setters like the English Setter were originally bred to “set” or crouch low and point at game so that netting could be thrown over a covey of birds. Modern gun dogs use this tendency to freeze and point to mark game for a hunter.

Retrievers like the Labrador and Golden Retriever were developed in the 1800s from earlier water dog breeds to “retrieve” downed birds in water and on land. Their soft mouth enables them to carry birds back without damaging them. Spaniels are another early breed type later refined into flushing and retrieving dogs good for woodland birds.

Unique Traits for Hunting Birds

While individual breeds have variation, bird dogs tend to share the following traits that make them well-suited for finding, pointing, flushing, and retrieving upland game and waterfowl:

• Excellent sense of smell – They can detect faint scents and track birds even over long distances and in difficult terrain.
• Physical stamina – Essential for covering large areas of land and water when hunting actively for many hours.
• Intelligence and trainability – They can learn complex commands and understand how to aide their human hunting partner.
• Strong retrieval drive – Useful for motivated dogs to mark, carefully pick up, and carry back shot birds.
• Soft mouths – Allows them to hold birds without damaging the meat. Important for hunters who want to retrieve game undamaged.
• Pointing instinct – Pointers use their muzzle to aim and signal the position of detected game.

These innate qualities enable bird dogs to excel at tasks like finding hidden birds in brush and thickets, pointing their location, flushing them into flight for the shot, and retrieving any downed birds after the shot. Careful breeding over many generations has maintained these hunting traits in bird dog breeds.

Common Uses and Roles

While initially bred purely for hunting, bird dogs today are also commonly kept as family pets, field trial competitors, and as search and rescue dogs. However, their excellent scenting and field abilities continue to make them a very popular type of gun dog worldwide.

Their key roles as hunting companions include:

• Searching – Using air scenting and ground scenting instincts to systematically quarter an area locating any hidden birds.
• Pointing – Indicating the presence and position of birds by standing motionless and aiming their muzzle.
• Flushing – Causing birds to take flight through their actions so that hunters can get a shot.
• Retrieving – Finding and carefully picking up any downed birds and bringing them to hand unharmed.
• Steadiness – Remaining calm and obedient, halting when commanded, and avoiding flushing until sent.

This combination of field search skills, bird finding ability, and retrieval make bird dogs ideal for upland game hunting. Their versatility has also led to them being used for finding and flushing all types of game beyond just birds.

Training and Care

While bred for innate hunting abilities, proper training is still essential for any bird dog to reach its potential. Typical training steps include:

• Obedience – Basic commands like heel, sit, stay, kennel up, and here.
• House-training – To teach appropriate potty habits.
• Crate training – To create a safe space and teach settle/calm behaviors.
• Leash training – Teaching them not to pull or roam while on a lead.
• Recall – Solid immediate recall when called or whistled.
• Field search – Using sight and scent to quarter fields for birds methodically.
• Pointing – Freezing in a pointing stance when birds are detected nearby.
• Retrieving – Picking up and carrying back shot birds on both land and water.
• Steadiness – Remaining calm and halting on command when sent.

Proper daily exercise, nutrition, regular vet checks, and stimulation are also important to keep hunting dogs mentally and physically in their best condition. Training should always involve positive reinforcement methods and patience for best results.

Popular Breed Groups

While individual breeds have varying strengths, bird dogs can generally be grouped according to their purpose and style of work:

Pointers

Pointers use their inherent instinct to point and mark the location of detected birds at a distance. This allows hunters to approach and get in position for the shot. Examples include the English Pointer, German Shorthaired Pointer, and Vizsla.

Setters

Setters like the Gordon Setter get their name from the way they “set” or crouch down low in a pointing position when birds are located. Their long feathered coat provides protection in rough cover.

Retrievers

Retrievers are bred primarily to use their strength, soft mouth, and willingness to retrieve on both land and water. Common examples are the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever.

Spaniels

Spaniels are often used as flushing dogs that locate close birds in thick cover and bushes and spring them into flight. They are an energetic breed group that includes types like the English Cocker Spaniel and English Springer Spaniel.

Versatile Breeds

Some versatile breeds have traits for pointing, flushing, and retrieving making them all-around bird dogs. Examples include the German Wirehaired Pointer, Weimaraner, and Pudelpointer.

Understanding breed strengths helps determine which type may pair best with specific hunting needs and conditions.

Popular Activities

In addition to hunting, bird dogs take part in various sporting activities and competitions designed to test their abilities and showcase their talents. Some popular events include:

• Field trials – Competitive events that test hunting abilities judged against a standard.
• Hunt tests – Simulated hunting scenarios scored on performance.
• Agility trials – Obstacle courses testing agility, speed, and precision.
• Obedience trials – Following commands accurately both on and off leash.
• Show conformation – Evaluating how closely dogs match the ideal physical standard for their breed.
• Tracking tests – Following a scent trail accurately over various distances and terrain.

These events allow bird dogs to demonstrate the traits they were historically bred for even outside of an actual hunt. They provide enjoyable activities for dogs and owners beyond just hunting season.

Popularity and Population

Bird dogs remain one of the most popular types of gun dog worldwide. According to registration statistics with the American Kennel Club in 2022, some of the most popular breeds include:

The popularity of these breeds along with others used for bird hunting continues to remain very high among hunters and dog enthusiasts. Their versatile abilities and appeal as family companions help maintain significant populations worldwide.

Conclusion

Bird dogs represent a specialized type of gun dog purpose-bred with the unique qualities needed for finding, pointing, flushing, and retrieving upland game and waterfowl. Selective breeding for traits like scenting ability, field search skills, soft mouth, intelligence, drive, and stamina have created ideal hunting partners perfect for aiding in the pursuit of game birds. With proper training and care, bird dogs continue to excel at the traditional roles they were developed for over many generations. Their usefulness for hunting and appeal as trainable companions help bird dog breeds remain some of the most beloved and popular types of dog both for the field and home.