27 Mar The hunting dog history and breeds
The hunting dog history and breeds
The hunting dog has a very long history, it is a dog belonging to one of the breeds selected by man to help him in hunting.
The art of hunting is the oldest art form in the world, practiced by man in a thousand different ways. Activity of capturing or killing wild animals, through the use of suitable technical tools and in particular weapons that have allowed humanity to survive over the millennia.
The first indirect reference to hunting is found in Genesis (1, 26):
“And God said: Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky, over the cattle, over all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl on the earth “;
the superiority granted by God to man over the whole animal world would justify hunting as a means of subsistence and defense
The history of hunting art is rich and fascinating, it is a culture with its centuries-old traditions and rites. Man has always used animals such as dogs, hawks, cheetahs, horses and elephants that accompany him to our times for hunting. But the dog was the first animal domesticated by humans for the main reason – hunting. The dog was man’s first “helper” in the art of hunting.
Hunting is traditionally practiced in all countries of the world.
Over time and due to different needs, various types of breeds have been selected, with specific characteristics and aptitudes, for the various types of hunting practiced by man.
Hunting dogs are divided into several groups.
Pointing dogs
The most popular pointing dog breeds are:
The Pointer, also called the Lord of the Wind; the English Setter, the Italian Bracco, the Kurzhaar, the Drahthaar, the Epagneul Breton, the Italian Spinone.
Their purpose is to identify the game, block it at or point, indicating its presence to the hunter.
Pointing dogs seek the wild by nose in favor of the wind.
The breeds of pointing dogs are divided into three groups: continental Italian (selected in Italy), continental foreign (selected in Europe), English pointing breeds (selected in the UK)
In most of the pointing dogs are used for hunting pheasants, partridges, partridges, quail, for hunting woodcock and snipe, rarely for hunting furred game such as hare.
Pointing dogs have been selected over the centuries by man to have a close bond with the hunter, based on collaboration and connection.
The pointing dog must have specific and professional training, which is non-impulsive and aggressive, especially if there are other dogs during the hunt.
You can learn more about the pointing dog, history and breeds on the ENCI website.
Flushing dogs
Among these we can list for example the Springer Spaniel, the Cocker Spaniel, the Labrador.
The dogs belonging to this category have been selected to retrieve the game once it has been shot by the hunter. They hunt on sight and are gifted with great sensitivity in retrieving their prey.
Retrieving dog breeds need to be able to retrieve shot game on land and in water. Training these dogs requires special characteristics and equipment.
Hounds
They are used to track down and chase wild game, mainly furred game, and push it towards hunters.
These dogs hunt, chasing, until they detect the fresh track and barking. All hounds are part of this type of dog, for example the Italian Hound.
The Hounds belong to the most ancient breeds, resistant, strong, rustic, they tolerate fatigue well and generally know how to adapt to any type of terrain.
The natural vocation of follow dogs is to hunt furred game, such as hares, roe deer, deer and wild boar, through four stages.
The first phase is the search, the second is from the approach to the prey, the third is in the discovery, the fourth and the pursuit.
The pride of these dogs is the emission of the voice from a particular timbre which varies according to the breed.
