Sporting Dogs

Sporting dogs are a group of breeds that are bred to swim, retrieve, and work all day. They are playful, often with exuberant natures. Their high energy reserves allow them to work all day and still willing to play at night, jog, or go camping.

As with any other dog types, sporting dogs are highly varied. They range from small to medium to large size. However, in general, sporting dogs are medium-to-large size with strong forelegs and well-developed hind legs to help them run after game birds, like ducks, doves and pheasants.

Sporting dogs are basically divided into four subgroups, as follows:

* Setters
* Spaniels
* Pointers
* Retrievers

While each subgroup has its own characteristics distinct from the others, sporting dogs all share in their even temperaments, capacity to stay quiet when indoors, and need for exercise and play. They make excellent pets – great to play with and naturally affectionate. They like constant company and will play a game of fetch for hours. They are also easy to maintain and are generally healthy, although some breeds are genetically linked to defects like hip dysplasia and PRA.

Below are some popular examples of sporting dogs that you might want to consider:

Labrador Retriever

Considered as the most popular breed of sporting dogs in the United States, Labrador Retrievers are a friendly, intelligent, and energetic breed that makes excellent companion and guide dogs. They are good-natured and are known to be fast learners. In fact, Labs are arguably the fastest-learning sporting dogs. They also respond well to praise and positive attention.

The standard breed has black, yellow, or chocolate coat. They are relatively large, weighing up to 36 kg or 80 lbs. Females are smaller at about 23 to 32 kg or 45 to 70 lbs.

Irish Setter

Another popular type of sporting dogs is the Irish Setter. Known for their characteristically red coats that range from auburn with blondish undertones to rich mahogany, Irish Setters have the same traits as most sporting dogs. That is, they are friendly, love company, and are even-tempered. Irish setters are intelligent sporting goods, but due to their resistance to obedience training and their innate stubbornness, they are sometimes mistaken for stupid.

The modern Irish Setter is a relatively large dog, often reaching 70 lbs. Females of the breed are generally smaller.

English Pointer

The English Pointer, or just the Pointer, is a breed of sporting dogs that are known to be athletic, graceful, and agile. Upon first look at the Pointer, your first impression is that of a dog with a compact and alert sporting dog with an active, "ready to go" attitude.

Pointers are primarily used for hunting. They are known as such because of their habit of staying completely still, raising one of its forelegs, extending its tail, and "pointing" with its muzzle a bird or game that they find. This type of sporting goods have great endurance and can be trained to stay in that "pointing" position for a long period until the hunter would give them the signal to release.