Dogs have been man’s best friend for thousands of years. In fact, some people say that the evolution of the dog is inextricably linked to the evolution of man. Hunting dogs in particular have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians. There are many different uses of hunting dogs, but it is a bit of a touchy issue. There are strict laws about hunting, with animal activists saying that it is cruel and unfair. However, for those who are supporters of hunting, dogs are an essential companion. There are many different uses of hunting dogs, as not all are bred to chase and kill prey. For instance, you could use a Retriever to pick up a kill you have just made, or a Beagle could flush a rabbit towards you, or you could use a Lurcher that does go in for the kill. All of this, however, is only possible with the right training and attention. Hence, if you are thinking of purchasing a hunting dog, you need to know all there is to know about the breed and how to train them, as well as the uses of hunting dogs, but you also need to know about the different methods of hunting. Then, you also need to know what sort of care and housing your animal will need. We will look in some more detail at one of the greatest hunting dogs: the English Setter

English Setter Temperament

English Setters are fantastic dogs. They have a sweet temperament, are good natured and very friendly. They trust adults, children and other dogs alike. This means that if you are considering the uses of hunting dogs, English Setters make great pets as well as working dogs. They really want to be part of a family and need a lot of companionship. Being a hunting breed, they do need a lot of exercise. They want to be able to run and play, so a big garden is certainly needed. They can also jump very high, which means that you do have to have a good fence in place. They are also a very intelligent breed and respond very well to training. On the downside, they are real chewers, particularly if they aren’t trained properly. They also eat a lot and will overeat if allowed to do so. Lastly, they drool a lot. This is because an English Setter is a scent dog. Scent dogs follow their prey by their smell. They are particularly beneficial for finding prey and retrieving it, but are perhaps not fast enough to catch them.

English Setter Training

English Setters are easy to train in terms of house pets. However, in terms of uses of hunting dogs, you will need to be quite experienced. If you train an English Setter the wrong way, you will find that he or she has actually trained you to their liking. This is not an option when it comes to a hunting dog. It is very important to start with your training as soon as possible, at no later than two to three months. When you come to train your English Setter puppy, one thing that will go your way is that the puppy will do everything they can to not disappoint you. Hence, they are likely to make a mistake only once, for fear of disappointing their human. Hence, try to use positive reinforcement, because they will want to repeat the behavior that they received attention for again and again. When training them for hunting, it is advised to use a tracking collar. This is because they will quickly move outside of your range. There are many uses of hunting dogs, but English Setters are best used to hunt birds and flush them out for the hunter to shoot. An English Setter is even able to retrieve the bird with the right training.

Finding The Right English Setter Puppy

English Setters have long been used as house pets rather than an actual hunting breed. If you have looked into the uses of hunting dogs and want to use your English Setter for hunting, you will need to know what to look for. Make sure you deal with a breeder that breeds hunting dogs and not pets for starters. An important and useful clue is that English Setters that are suitable for hunting are smaller of stature and have more spotting but less feathering in their coats. Do make sure you pick a puppy based on its potential hunting capabilities and not on its good looks. This is one time when you should not be taken in by the runt of the litter in other words.