Gundog Breeds in the UK
Gundogs were originally trained to find or retrieve game birds and animals. They are generally known for being active, trainable, intelligent, and having a friendly disposition, making many of them popular family pets as well as working dogs. They typically require significant exercise and mental stimulation.
Retrievers.
These breeds were primarily developed to find and bring back ("retrieve") shot game, often waterfowl, without damaging it (having a 'soft mouth'). Many are strong swimmers.
- Retriever (Chesapeake Bay): Originating from the USA, known for its dense, oily, wavy coat (often brown), ideal for cold water retrieving. Powerful build, intelligent, and loyal, can have protective instincts.
- Retriever (Curly Coated): A distinctive British breed with a coat of tight, crisp curls. One of the oldest retriever breeds, known for being intelligent, loyal, and a capable swimmer.
- Retriever (Flat Coated): Developed in the UK, known for its sleek black or liver coat and elegant appearance. Cheerful, optimistic, and versatile retriever.
- Retriever (Golden): Originating from Scotland, famous for its friendly, gentle, and intelligent nature and beautiful golden coat. Highly trainable and eager to please, excellent family dog and versatile worker.
- Retriever (Labrador): Consistently one of the UK's most popular breeds. Originated in Newfoundland (not Labrador). Known for its outgoing, even-tempered, and trainable nature. Short, dense coat (yellow, black, chocolate). Excels in retrieving and many other roles.
- Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling): A smaller retriever from Canada, bred to lure ('toll') ducks within range and retrieve them. Known for its red coat, intelligence, agility, and high energy.
These breeds typically hunt within gun range, flushing game (like birds) out of dense cover for the hunter. Many modern working spaniels also retrieve.
- Spaniel (American Cocker): Smaller than its English cousin, known for its glamorous, profuse coat and typically cheerful disposition. Bred more for show/companionship in the UK but retains hunting instincts.
- Spaniel (American Water): A rare breed from the USA with a dense, curly coat. Bred for retrieving from skiffs or boats, known for being eager and happy workers.
- Spaniel (Clumber): A large, heavily built spaniel, known for its white coat with lemon/orange markings and more sedate pace compared to other spaniels. Thorough and steady worker in dense cover.
- Spaniel (Cocker): A popular UK breed, known for its merry temperament and wagging tail. Medium-sized with a silky coat in various colours. Enthusiastic hunters and affectionate companions.
- Spaniel (English Springer): Highly energetic and popular working spaniel. Medium-sized, bred to 'spring' game from cover. Intelligent, trainable, and needs plenty of exercise.
- Spaniel (Field): A medium-sized spaniel, rarer than Cockers or Springers. Known for its solid black or liver coat and endurance. Docile temperament but built for a full day's work.
- Spaniel (Irish Water): Distinctive for its dense coat of tight liver-coloured curls and a smooth 'rat tail'. Tallest of the spaniels, known for being a strong swimmer and clownish personality.
- Spaniel (Sussex): A slower-working, heavily built spaniel known for its rich golden-liver coat and tendency to 'give tongue' (bark) while working. Calm and affectionate disposition.
- Spaniel (Welsh Springer): Slightly smaller than the English Springer, exclusively red and white in colour. Less exuberant than the English Springer but still energetic, loyal, and hardworking.
These breeds typically work further from the handler, locating game and indicating its presence by 'pointing' (freezing and aiming their body towards it) or 'setting' (historically, crouching down).
- English Setter: Known for its elegant appearance, silky feathered coat (often ticked with colour), and graceful pointing stance. Friendly, gentle, and good-natured.
- Gordon Setter: The only setter native to Scotland. Larger and more heavily built than other setters, with a distinctive black and tan coat. Known for stamina and loyalty.
- Irish Red and White Setter: Thought to be the older of the two Irish setter breeds. Distinctive white coat with solid red patches. Athletic, aristocratic, and intelligent.
- Irish Setter: Famous for its stunning solid red, flowing coat. Energetic, athletic, enthusiastic, and known for a rollicking personality. Needs consistent training and exercise.
- Pointer (often referred to as English Pointer): Bred for speed and endurance to cover ground quickly and locate game birds with a characteristic pointing stance. Aristocratic appearance, athletic, and dedicated worker.
These are versatile gundogs bred to perform all three core tasks: finding game (hunt), indicating its location (point), and bringing it back (retrieve). Many originate from Continental Europe.
- Barbet: A French water dog breed with a distinctive long, woolly/curly coat. Known for retrieving waterfowl, intelligent, and sociable.
- Bracco Italiano: An ancient Italian pointing breed with a noble appearance, characterized by long ears and drooping lips. Powerful, athletic, and known for a steady working style.
- Braque D'Auvergne: A French pointing breed, black and white (often ticked/roan). Known for being hardy, intelligent, and affectionate.
- Brittany: Originating from France, often tailless or with a naturally short tail. Compact, energetic, and intelligent, known for close working and versatility as a pointer/retriever. Sometimes grouped with spaniels due to size and working style.
- German Longhaired Pointer: A versatile German HPR breed with a flowing coat requiring regular grooming. Known for being calm, trainable, and affectionate.
- German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP): A popular, athletic, and versatile HPR from Germany. Known for its endurance, intelligence, and effectiveness on land and water. Requires significant exercise.
- German Wirehaired Pointer (GWHP): Similar capabilities to the GSP but with a distinctive harsh, wiry coat providing protection in rough cover. Known for being determined and loyal.
- Hungarian Vizsla: An elegant Hungarian breed known for its distinctive russet-gold shorthaired coat. Energetic, affectionate ('Velcro dog'), sensitive, and versatile hunter.
- Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla: Developed from the smooth Vizsla, with a harsh, wiry coat. Shares the Vizsla's versatility and affectionate nature but with a coat suited for rougher conditions.
- Italian Spinone: An Italian breed known for its wiry, dense coat and distinctive bearded face. Robust, patient, and excellent in dense cover and water, known for a gentle nature.
- Korthals Griffon (also Wirehaired Pointing Griffon): A Dutch/French breed with a harsh, bristly coat. A methodical hunter known for versatility on different terrains and weather conditions.
- Lagotto Romagnolo: An Italian breed with a dense, curly coat, originally a water retriever, now famously used to hunt truffles. Small to medium size, intelligent, and easily trained.
- Large Munsterlander: A German HPR breed, distinguished by its black and white coat. Known for being versatile, trainable, and having a good temperament.
- Portuguese Pointer: A medium-sized pointing breed from Portugal. Known for its dedication and lively hunting style.
- Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer: A relatively new breed developed in Slovakia. Similar in function to other continental HPRs, with a harsh coat.
- Small Munsterlander: A smaller German HPR breed, often liver and white or roan. Known for being intelligent, energetic, and versatile in hunting various game.
- Spanish Water Dog: A rustic Spanish breed with a distinctive curly, woolly coat that can form cords. Used for herding and water retrieving, known for being intelligent, loyal, and hardworking.
- Weimaraner: A German breed instantly recognizable by its sleek grey coat ('Grey Ghost') and striking eyes. Athletic, intelligent, requires early training and socialization due to its strong will and hunting drive.