Seus Land Exchange Inc.

Depending on how the dog is trained, dogs can be used in a variety of hunting situations. Gundogs or bird dogs are especially useful in finding and retrieving game.

There are several types according to their method of work:

• Retrievers
  
• Flushing Spaniels
  
• Pointers and Setters
  

Retrievers

Retrievers are mostly used when waterfowl hunting. Retrievers are trained to wait patiently when birds move into range, and follow the hunter's gun as he shoots. When each bird is downed, the dog "marks" or remembers where it falls. When the dog is signaled he retrieves the fowl, or if he misses a downed bird he is trained to follow the handler's signals as to where it is. This is called a "blind" retrieve. When multiple dogs are used on a hunt, a well trained dog is taught to "honor" the retrieve on another dog by waiting while the other dog is working.

Retrievers include the following breeds:

• American Water Spaniel
  
• Barbet
  
• Chesapeake Bay Retriever
  
• Curly-Coated Retriever
  
• Flat-Coated Retriever
  
• German Water Spaniel
  
• Golden Retriever
  
• Irish Water Spaniel

Flushing Spaniels

When hunting non-waterfowl, or upland game, flushing dogs work closely with the hunter. They must be kept in shotgun distance. These dogs are used on birds that run from the hunter, like pheasants, to get the bird to fly or spring to wing. Once the dog is flushed, the dog will watch the flight of the bird to watch them fall for retrieval.

Flushing spaniels include:

• Spaniel (American Cocker)
  
• Spaniel (American Water)
  
• Spaniel (Boykin)
  
• Spaniel (Clumber)
  
• Spaniel (English Cocker)
  
• Spaniel (English Springer)
  
• Spaniel (Field)
  
• Spaniel (Irish Water)
  
• Spaniel (Sussex)
  
• Spaniel (Welsh Springer)
  

Pointers and Setters

Once he/she reach the field, the handler will "cast" or direct the dog in a wide circle, and he begins making his way through the field to find game.  When game is found, the dog freezes and points or crouches towards it. If other dogs are hunting they also "honor" the first dog's find and crouch or point also.

Next, some dogs are trained to remain motionless until the hunter flushes the game, and other times the dogs are trained to flush the game. If a bird is downed, the dogs are trained to retrieve it. 

Pointers and setters include:

• English Pointer
  
• English Setter
  
• Gordon Setter
  
• Irish Red and White Setter
  
• Irish Setter