Retriever, pointer or spaniel: which hunting breed fits you?

Choosing the breed type is the first training decision, because the job decides the plan. A dog bred to retrieve is trained differently from a dog bred to point. Here is a short guide to the three, with sources.

Three jobs, three dogs

The American Kennel Club groups hunting breeds by what they were developed to do. Its hunting-breeds article says pointers locate game, spaniels flush it and retrievers bring it back. Retrievers, it says, were originally bred to retrieve or return downed birds on the hunt.

All three sit in the AKC Sporting Group with the setters. They share bird drive and a strong working bond with a handler, and they differ in how they use it.

Retrievers: the waterfowl standard

If your main hunting is ducks and geese in California marshes, a retriever is the natural fit. Ducks Unlimited quotes a pro saying that for duck hunting alone it is hard to beat a Labrador. Retrievers also work upland as flushing dogs, close to the gun.

Retriever training rests on a sequence: recall, sit and stay, a memory retrieve, a whistle stop and delivery to hand, then marks and blind retrieves. Richard learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics, which teaches the pieces in order. Our pages on the Basic Waterfowl Program and the Labrador Retriever cover it.

Pointers: finding and holding birds

A pointer works out ahead of the hunter, finds the bird and stops to show where it is. The AKC article says the English Pointer's hunting instincts show up at about two months old. That makes pointers a good fit for open ground, such as chukar and pheasant country.

They need room to run and a hunter who is comfortable with distance. Training focuses on staying steady on point and coming back to the hunter. Richard expanded into pointers and other upland breeds in 2013 under Steve Klassen at Blue Ridge Kennels. See Formal Gun Dog Training and German Shorthaired Pointer.

Spaniels: close and busy

Spaniels hunt within gun range and flush the bird for you. The AKC says they were originally bred to flush birds and waterfowl, and describes the English Springer Spaniel as a popular U.S. breed and an excellent hunting partner despite its size.

If you want a dog that stays close, works thick cover and retrieves, a spaniel can be a good fit. See the English Springer Spaniel page.

Versatile breeds: one dog, two seasons

Ducks Unlimited describes versatile or continental pointing breeds, such as the German Wirehaired Pointer, as dogs that suit hunters who pursue both upland birds and waterfowl. It notes that these dogs range out to find birds a hunter might otherwise miss, which some hunters find uncomfortable, and that rough-coated breeds enter water more readily and tolerate cold better.

That trade-off is worth thinking about before you buy a puppy. If you hunt tight cover or small ground, range matters. If you hunt big open country, it may be exactly what you want.

Questions to ask yourself

Answer these before picking, then ask a trainer to look at the specific dog. Breed type sets the odds; the individual sets the plan.

• What will I hunt most: ducks, pheasant, chukar, quail or a mix?
• How much ground do I hunt, and how far do I want the dog to range?
• Will the dog also be a family pet?
• Do I want to run hunt tests too?