Everybody loves dogs. They are loyal companions that will literally put their own lives on the line for you. However, they were not originally kept by people as loyal pets, but were used mainly for hunting. There are many different breeds of hunting & sporting dogs, and many of these also make absolutely wonderful pets. Hunting dogs were originally bread to hunt birds, fish and other animals. Different breeds were developed for different environments. For instance, some breeds are most comfortable in water, others on land. However, almost all hunting & sporting dogs are capable of working in either. They were bred mainly to assist man in hunting and they have actually been used since antiquity. In fact, during these days, man’s survival depended completely on the skills of their dogs. In those days, any animal that was caught provided people with food, clothing and even shelter. Once more advanced weapons were developed, dogs became less necessary but it is safe to say that the evolution of man and the evolution of dogs are inextricably linked.

 

Sight Hounds

 

Sight hounds have very well developed eyesight and a less developed sense of smell. It is one of the two main categories of hunting & sporting dogs. A good example of a sight hound is the Afghan hound. These dogs have padded paws and very strong legs. This allows them to run across both sand and snow with ease, and they are even able to climb rocky mountains. Their vision is absolutely tremendous and they are able to only see far away but also in great detail. They also have very long necks and jaws, which helps them in spotting their prey quicker. Their bodies are lean and muscular, with a very deep chest and powerful legs. These are all essential for hunting & sporting dogs to be able to chase their quarry and keep up with it. Sight hounds tend to also stand quite tall.

 

Scent Hounds

 

Scent hounds, on the other hand, have a very well developed sense of smell but quite poor vision. This is because they don’t need their vision, conjuring up an image of their pray by smelling it. These types of hunting & sporting dogs are also much less fast than sight hounds. There is no need for them to be able to keep up with their quarry and keep it in their field of vision, as they are able to follow its scent over great distances. They are even able to follow the scent of pray across running water. Their physical characteristics are very particular, having large noses with open and deep nostrils. They also have large lips that are moist and loose, allowing them to pick up any particles of scent. These types of hunting & sporting dogs have strong bodies, build to endure long and arduous journeys. A good example is the Bloodhound, which was originally bred to hunt wolves, large game and deer. The role of the Bloodhound has evolved alongside man and is now mainly used by the police to track missing people or escapees.

Hunting & Sporting Dogs As Pets

 

Because both sight and scent dogs are so beautiful and because they have been alongside man for thousands of years, people often feel a natural attraction to them as pets. Although hunting & sporting dogs make great pets, just like what gun dogs, they do have some special requirements. Firstly, they are not suitable for people who don’t have the space or time to exercise them, particularly not the sight dogs. An Afghan dog, for instance, is very loyal and affectionate and not very dominant, but they can be almost arrogant in their behavior. They are also not best suited for people with small children. If they are badly trained, for example, they can become particularly destructive dogs. Bloodhounds also make excellent pets, so long as you know what you are doing. These dogs have a tendency to run off if a garden is not enclosed for instance. They are incredibly soft and make absolutely terrible guard dogs in other words. However, they are far more suitable for homes with children than gun dogs, for instance. As with all dogs, they require a lifelong commitment as they are very loyal and attach themselves to their human masters with all that they’ve got. Thoroughbred dogs tend to need more care and attention than other, smaller and more common dogs as well, including in their grooming. An Afghan, for instance, needs almost constant brushing and a Bloodhound drools almost all the time.