Collins Good Dog Behaviour: An Owner’s Guide

7 DISSECT

8 CONSUME

9 RETRIEVE AND BURY WHAT HE CANNOT CONSUME

Man has accentuated different parts of the hunting sequence to create dogs that are suitable for various types of ‘work’.

2 & 9: Gundogs

2, 3 & 4: Herding breeds

1 & 4: Hounds

5 & 6: Terriers

WHICH BREED IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

A careful choice of a puppy or an adult dog will ensure that you acquire a dog with a genetic make-up that suits you.

1 LABRADOR RETRIEVER

BRED FOR retrieving fish and game from icy water

ACTIVITY LEVEL:

CHARACTERISTICS: good-tempered, very agile, biddable

Labradors are natural swimmers and enjoy retrieving objects from the water for their owner.

2 GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG

BRED FOR herding and guarding

ACTIVITY LEVEL:

CHARACTERISTICS: alert, attentive, tireless

German Shepherd dogs can be territorial and are often protective.

3 BORDER COLLIE/WORKING SHEEP DOG

BRED FOR herding sheep

ACTIVITY LEVEL:

CHARACTERISTICS: persistent, hard-working, compliant

4 JACK RUSSELL TERRIER

BRED FOR killing rats and foxes

ACTIVITY LEVEL:

CHARACTERISTICS: alert, courageous, tenacious

Like most terriers, Jack Russells enjoy digging.

5 WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER

BRED FOR killing rats and foxes

ACTIVITY LEVEL:

CHARACTERISTICS: active, resolute, high self-esteem

West Highland White Terriers will shake and ‘kill’ toys.

6 GOLDEN RETRIEVER

BRED FOR retrieving game

ACTIVITY LEVEL:

CHARACTERISTICS: alert, attentive, tireless

Golden Retrievers

7 ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL

BRED FOR flushing and retrieving game

ACTIVITY LEVEL:

CHARACTERISTICS: friendly, biddable, energetic

Springers’ boundless energy, agility and willingness to please make them ideal working dogs.

8 COCKER SPANIEL

BRED FOR flushing and retrieving game

ACTIVITY LEVEL:

CHARACTERISTICS: bustling, exuberant, affectionate

A Cocker Spaniel in full flight flushing out game.

9 STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER