SPORTING DOGS

SPORTING DOGS

The Sporting Group dogs are generally those bred to assist hunters in locating and retrieving birds and small game. There are four groups of breeds within the sporting group: retrievers, setters, pointers, and spaniels. They have exceptional instincts in water and woods and many of those breeds have supple, well insulated, and water-repellent coats.

As family dogs, the Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever, and Labrador Retriever are on the top of the list for being the most popular and beloved family dog.

Sporting dogs are intelligent, alert,  have a high level of trainability and gentle nature. They have earned their Golden reputation for companionship and loyalty as well as making a wonderful, tireless playmate for children.

 

POPULAR SPORTING BREEDS

Brittany Spaniel

Height: 17.5-20.5 inches                                                                                                                                                      Weight: 30-40 pounds

Life Expectancy: 12-14 years

Brittanys fall in somewhere between setters and spaniels in size. Their beautiful coat is patterned in combinations of white and vivid orange and reddish-brown.

This versatile and easily trained good-natured breed adjusts well to hunting, sporting, and outdoor life as well as a family companion.

This loving breed does well with a single pet parent and makes an adoring lap dog if allowed!

 

 

Cocker Spaniel

Height: 14.5-15.5 inches (male), 13.5-14.5 inches (female)                                                                                     Weight: 25-30 pounds (male), 20-25 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 10-14 years

The Cocker Spaniel is one of the world’s best-loved breeds. This big, dark-eyed hunting dog has gained wide popularity as an all-around companion. The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest sporting spaniel and has a lush coat that comes in a variety of colors and patterns.

An easy-going and highly trainable dog, the Cocker Spaniel is also a sturdy and most willing companion for children.

 

 

English Setter

Height: 25-27 inches (male), 23-25 inches (female)                                                                                                   Weight: 65-80 pounds (male), 45-55 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 12 years

The English Setter is an extremely handsome, gentle, medium-large sized sporting dog, with a multi-colored speckled coat. Often referred to as the gentleman of the dog world, the English Setter is socially accepting of people and other dogs.

Though The English Setter has a sweet disposition and loving nature, early training is recommended as with all large breeds.

 

 

English Springer Spaniel

Height: 20 inches (male), 19 inches (female)                                                                                                                Weight: 50 pounds (male), 40 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 12-14 years

The lovable English Springer Spaniel, known as a bird dog, is the perfect combination of a well-mannered family companion and an excellent hunting dog.

These rugged, water-loving Spaniels have a double coat that comes in a variety of colors and patterns. The English Springer is a great family companion, easily trained, loves to play outdoors and eager to please but prefers not to be left alone. For a full time working pet parent, early training is recommended to help avert separation anxiety.

 

 

German Short Haired Pointer

Height: 23-25 inches (male), 21-23 inches (female)                                                                                                   Weight: 55-70 pounds (male), 45-60 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 10-12 years

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a medium-sized gundog who has immeasurable energy, loves vigorous exercise like running and swimming, and enjoys lots of outdoor family time. Their coat is solid reddish-brown or patterned with distinctive white markings.

The German Shorthaired Pointer has a joyful nature and eagerness to learn that makes them wonderful, easily trained canine family members.

 

 

Golden Retriever

Height: 23-24 inches (male), 21.5-22.5 inches (female)                                                                                            Weight: 65-75 pounds (male), 55-65 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 10-12 years

The Golden Retriever, a beautiful gundog remains among America’s most popular dog breeds. Known for being a hard-working hunting dog, the Golden Retriever is also recognized as a guide for the blind and used in search-and-rescue.

Famous for their dense, lustrous golden coat, The Golden Retriever is a strong, muscular, medium-sized dog that enjoys obedience and competition as much as playtime, swimming, fetching, and companionship with family. The Golden is a high energy, exuberant puppy forever dog that will benefit from training to curtail jumping and teach proper leash walking,

 

Labrador Retriever

Height: 22.5-24.5 inches (male), 21.5-23.5 inches (female)                                                                                     Weight: 65-80 pounds (male), 55-70 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 10-12 years

The Labrador Retriever is America’s most popular dog breed. Labs are a medium-to-large dog. Their lovable, friendly, outgoing nature makes Labrador Retrievers wonderful companions who will shower every family member with affection.

The Lab’s short dense coat is most commonly known for being yellow, black, and chocolate. However, I have worked with Labs that are silver, tan, white, and champagne.

Similar to the Golden Retriever, The Labrador Retriever is a very friendly, carefree, high energy dog that will bond to all family members and socialize well with neighbors and other dogs. This high spirited animated breed will do better as a family dog, especially with children if training begins at an early age.

 

Vizsla

Height: 22-24 inches (male), 21-23 inches (female)                                                                                                   Weight: 55-60 pounds (male), 44-55 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 12-14 years

Rising in popularity every year is the Vizsla; a hunting dog of great stamina who makes a loyal companion and jogging or running partner.

The Vizsla prefers not to be left alone, most likely making this breed a less appropriate choice for a single pet parent with a full-time workload away from home.

Early professional training is recommended.

 

 

Weimaraner

Height: 25-27 inches (male), 23-25 inches (female)                                                                                                   Weight: 70-90 pounds (male), 55-75 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 10-13 years

The Weimaraner, a breed that is loved by hunters as well as pet parents, is the perfect combination obedient and friendly.

This beautiful silver-gray coated, blue-eyed dog enjoys and does well when kept physically and mentally active.

That being said, Weimaraners are very loving, easily trained, excellent with children, and are awesome family dogs.