Hunting with your dog

If you like to hunt, you might be considering taking your dog with you. Dogs are used in many kinds of hunting.

Small game hunting

This is the most practised hunting in France. When the season opens, hunters go in pursuit of all types of fowl and animal game. This type of hunting can be done with a variety of dog breeds.

Pointing breeds:

Generally used to hunt fowl (partridge, woodcock, pheasant, etc.) and some animals (hare). The dog does most of the work. The hunter, alone or with friends, walks into the wind. The dog will stop and point when he hears the animal. When the animal is still far away or if it is walking instead of flying, the dog continues slowly, then points again. When the animal takes off, the dog will stay next to the hunter while he shoots. Many pointing breeds will then fetch the game.

There are two main types of pointing breeds:

• Continental breeds

o        Braccos (Italian, French), Weimaraner, Hungarian Vizsla, Portuguese and German Pointers

o        Spaniels (French, Brittany, Blue Picardy)

o        Griffons

o        Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

o        German Longhaired Pointer

o        Munsterlander

o        Spinone Italiano

• British breeds

o        English, Irish and Gordon Setters

o        Pointer and Pudelpointer

Flushing Spaniels:

As opposed to pointers and hounds, flushing spaniels find game and flush it out but don't follow it. These dogs have high energy. They stay close to their owner and are excellent for hunting rabbits, pheasants and woodcocks.

Flushing Spaniel breeds:

• Cocker Spaniels (American and English)
• Field Spaniel
• English Springer Spaniel

Hounds:

This is a lively type of hunting, where dogs don't just bark but "sing". They approach the game, set it running and follow it, barking as they go. The hunter, who takes real pleasure in hearing his dogs, allows some time before shooting. The shot is difficult, but satisfying !

Hound breeds:

• Beagles
• Basset fauve de Bretagne
• Bloodhound
• French hounds (Black and White, Tricolour)
• Grand Bleu de Gascogne
• Bruno Jura
• Anglo-français hounds
• Basset Artesian Normand
• Artois hound
• Poitevin
• Billy
• Foxhound

Drive hunting

Drive hunting is the most common type of large game hunting, done in groups. Hunters and dogs drive the animal towards a line of shooters already in place. Mainly deer and boars are drive hunted with hounds. The dogs drive and follow the animal while barking loudly towards where the hunters are set up. During the hunt, hunters can follow the progress of the dogs by the sound of their barking.

There are some 40 types of hounds in France. In some regions, short-legged Foxhounds and Dachshunds are becoming more popular than other hound breeds. These dogs are slower and don't make the game run as far, leading to better shooting conditions. They also have an easier time making their way through dense vegetation. Hunting is certainly more efficient, although less melodic than with hounds.

Hunting with hounds: The dogs take the spotlight

Hunting with hounds is an age-old type of hunting that consists in tracking a wild animal with a pack of dogs until he is trapped. However, the animal can use his best tricks to escape - he has a chance of outsmarting the dogs four times out of five!

Here's how it works: The hunter doesn't actually "hunt" in this case. He controls his dog, which is the only one to hunt. The dog uses scent and his natural predatory instincts. Hounds and coursing hounds can be used.  Coursing hound packs are trained to only chase one type of animal (eg deer, boar, hares, rabbits or foxes). You could say that they are "specialised"

• Hunters may hunt large game (deer, boar, etc.); for this type of hunting, they are mounted on horses.
• Small game is also hunted (hares, foxes, etc.); this type of hunting is done on foot.