There’s nothing better than watching a good dog do what it was made to do. Working dogs are more than pets; they’re companions that hunt with us. And they do so not just because of training, but because they’re part of a long lineage of hunting dogs that have been bred to complete very specific tasks. While many of us simply take this for granted, the history of bird dogs is fascinating—and it provides a lens into the main types of jobs they do today.
The Early History of Bird Dogs
While humans and dogs have had a symbiotic relationship for thousands of years, bird dogs are a more recent phenomenon, with most of today’s bird dogs originating from European strains. Pointing dogs are thought to originate from the Old Spanish Pointer, a now-extinct breed that was developed in Spain during the Early Modern period, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries. These dogs, like their descendants today, would freeze to pin birds, though back then, hunters used nets instead of shotguns to kill game.
Flushing and retrieving dogs also stem from European breeders, though there is not the same one-breed origin as for pointing dogs, likely because there is more variation in the types of retrieving dogs. According to Ducks Unlimited, for instance, one of the oldest sporting dog breeds in the world is the standard poodle, which originated in the 16th century.
The iconic retriever, of course, is the Labrador Retriever, a breed that deserves its own exploration of its lineage in another article. The Labrador Retriever, according to the American Kennel Club, stemmed from the St. John’s Water Dog, which was created in Newfoundland and was known to actually help fishermen by hauling in nets and line and even catching cod that slipped free. The dogs were hearty and liked to swim. While that breed eventually died out in Canada, some of the dogs were exported to Britain, where today’s Labrador Retriever was developed. Chessies, another popular retriever, also originated from dogs from Newfoundland dogs.
Key Types of Bird Dog Jobs
Two of the most popular types of bird dogs are retrievers and pointers, but there’s more to it than that. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of bird dog jobs, and some of the breeds best suited to them.
Pointers
A pointer’s job is to do just that: point birds. These dogs are well-suited in the uplands and range ahead of people in order to scent birds. Once the pointer gets close enough to a bird to get it to stop running, it will point the bird. By staying still, the dog makes the birds uncomfortable, which allows either a person or a flushing dog to approach close enough that when the bird does decide to fly, it’s in range. While some pointers will also retrieve, this is not always a requirement for a pointing dog, though all pointers are expected to at least help hunters locate downed game. One big variation for pointers is how “big” or far they tend to range from their hunter. For wide-open country, big ranging dogs help hunters locate covies of prairie birds, but when hunting thicker cover, these dogs can roam too far to be able to hold birds for hunters. Canonical big running pointers include setters and English points, while popular close-ranging dogs include Brittanys and small Münsterländers—though many consider Münsterländers a versatile breed, which we’ll get into shortly.
Flushing Dog
A flushing dog scents birds like a pointing dog but doesn’t point them and instead tracks them until they flush, or fly. These dogs tend to range closer than pointing dogs, allowing people hunting with them to stay in range for any shot opportunities. Another way to use a flushing dog is to keep it on heel while a pointing dog ranges ahead. Then, once the pointing dog goes on point, the hunter can send the flusher in to get the bird(s) to fly, which is particularly helpful in forcing birds from thick cover. Flushing dogs are often, but not always, also retrievers, with popular flushing dogs including Labs, as well as Springer, Cocker, and Boykin spaniels.
Retriever
A retriever, well, retrieves birds. These guys are trained to sit quietly next to a waterfowl hunting blind and remain steady until after a bird is shot, then retrieve the bird. A well-trained retriever can help hunters recover additional birds by scenting cripples and responding to hand signals to track and fetch birds that land long distances from blinds. Retrievers work on both dry land and wetlands. The classic retriever is the Lab, which has an oily coat and webbed toes that are ideal for working in cold water conditions. For warm water, the Boykin spaniel is a popular option, especially in the South.
Versatile Dog
A versatile dog is, essentially, a breed that is built for both pointing and retrieving, as well as blood trailing big game and pursuing furred game. They tend to have a high prey drive compared to pointers and retrievers as a result, and can be more hard-headed, though I hunt with a very biddable versatile dog and know many of them that do a great job in the wetlands, uplands, and more. The most popular versatile dog is the German Shorthaired Pointer (ignore the name; these dogs are damn versatile), with other common ones including the German Wirehaired Pointer, Pudelpointer, and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
Tollers
A “tolling” dog is one that can actually “toll” or attract waterfowl with its white-tipped tails and bouncy gait (think: flagging). There’s actually only one breed of tollers, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, and as the name suggests, they also retrieve downed birds and can serve as flushers, too. The breed originated from Scottish immigrants who had relocated to Nova Scotia.
The Final Word on Dog Jobs
While these are the main “jobs” that bird dogs do, I’ve yet to touch on perhaps their most important jobs: simply being our hunting buddies, our best friends, and a part of our families. It’s hard to overstate the roles that bird dogs serve in our lives, and we have centuries of breeding to thank for developing the different kinds of bird dogs we know and love today.