Caring For A Hunting Dog

A hunting dog is characterized by being full of energy, hardworking and loyal. However, this group of dogs has some special needs that should be considered when you are willing to take on the responsibility of acquiring one.

Among hunting dogs, we have a very varied group, which includes Retrievers, Terriers and sheepdogs, among many others.

As the names already indicate, these dogs used to be used (and in some places still are) for hunting, so a certain class of characteristics is important, as they will have an effect on your personality and the type of interaction you will have with them in the future.

The most important thing to consider when educating a hunting dog is that they need to be very obedient, especially those big dogs like Labradors and Shepherds.

Also, little ones like terriers are very energetic and can create a lot of problems for you if they don’t follow orders properly. So, to avoid this, pay attention to the following advice:

excess energy

Since they have been trained to withstand the strenuous journeys of hunting race, a hunting dog is characterized by having a lot of energy. One of the main attentions that should be taken with a hunting dog are those related to the expenditure of energy through physical activity.

It is common to hear complaints from hunting dog owners about their dogs developing destructive personalities, although this only occurs in frustrated dogs.

Hunting dogs need good exercise sessions, which can be divided into daily walks and games with the owner at home, so these dogs are not recommended for people who don’t spend a lot of time at home or who can’t devote time to dog education .

However, they are highly recommended for homes with children in a certain age range, where they will be able to play with the dog for many hours without getting tired.

In general, hunting dogs love to play and have the owner’s attention, they end up behaving like puppies, even when they have entered adulthood.

hunting and work

Something you’ll have to deal with having a dog in this category is boredom. In addition to having a lot of energy, they are extremely smart.

They also have one of the best senses of smell of all dogs and have a very strong hunting instinct, so keeping them entertained is often a challenge.

If you don’t want them to develop some unwanted behaviors, such as aggressive personalities, it’s best that they be socialized as puppies, because due to their strong hunting instincts, they tend to chase small animals if they don’t get used to them early on.

It is important to assign some kind of work for them within the home, whether it is picking up the newspaper, bringing you something, or some kind of activity that encourages you and makes you feel like an active member of the family group.

In the past, they were basically work animals, so they will demand extra attention from you if you don’t give them something to occupy them with.

especially loyal

Separation anxiety tends to be a common problem in hounds, because as with sheepdogs, hounds tend to develop very strong bonds with their owner that border on dependency.

Therefore, you should educate him from a very young age so that he knows at what times he will have to be alone at home and also so that he understands that you will return to him.

Feeling abandoned can cause, in addition to anxiety, deep depression that can lead to serious health problems.

Likewise, they tend to look out for people and animals, but will compete for the owner’s attention. Also, if they are brought up correctly, they will respect the owner’s role as the alpha and won’t have problems with other animals and people.

If you are willing to give him the attention and education he requires, you will enjoy a noble dog, very intelligent, eager to meet your needs and absolutely harmless.