The Sporting Dogs

The Sporting Dogs Group consists of dogs that hunt along side their owners. Because of their hunting work, dogs in this group are often referred to as gun dogs. Breeds in this group include pointers, setters, retrievers, and spaniels. Pointers and setters freeze when game is found and point to game they have located. Retrievers go out and bring back downed game, whether it is in the water or on land. Spaniels go out and try to flush game out so that the hunter can make a kill. Some breeds combine one or more of these talents and are described as versatile hunters.

Clever and alert, these breeds need lots of regular exercise. They are usually even tempered and make enjoyable companions. Noteable in this group is the Golden Retriever which is the most popular breed in North America.

The AKC recognizes the following breeds in the Sporting Group: American Water Spaniel Brittany Chesapeake Bay Retriever Clumber Spaniel American Cocker Spaniel Curly-Coated Retriever English Setter English Cocker Spaniel English Springer Spaniel Field Spaniel Flat-Coated Retriever German Shorthaired Pointer German Wirehaired Pointer Golden Retriever Gordon Setter Irish Setter Irish Water Spaniel Labrador Retriever Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Pointer Spinone Italiano Sussex Spaniel Vizsla Weimaraner Welsh Springer Spaniel Wirehaired Pointing Griffon One member of this group, the Labrador Retriever Dog has recently shown adeptness at a new task. This breed, along with the Portuguese Water Dog of the Working Dogs Group has had the highest success rate in clinical trials where dogs were used to sniff out various cancers. How is this possible? Well, all cells give off chemical wastes. Cancer cells give off some distinct chemicals including a mix of organic vapours such as benzene and alkenes. The body flushes these away by exhaling. Dogs can detect some these chemicals diluted to a few parts per billion in air. There have been reports for many years about dogs curiously sniffing owners who developed skin cancer. The sniffing stopped once cancer tumours were removed! Research in this area is promising and still on going. Don't expect to see a Labrador Retriever just yet on your next visit to the doctor!