When a dog is bred to have a wirehaired coat (the meaning of “griffon”) there’s a very compelling reason; these dogs are hunters, springers, pointers and retrievers who regularly push through fields of brush, brambles and thorns. The retrieving dogs must plunge into cold water to bring a downed fowl to the hunter. A rough waterproof coat protects the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon as he does his job…

This fiesty hound is among the most primitive domestic breeds along with the Australian Dingo. Basenjis, meaning “bush thing,” originated in early human civilization in the African Congo and Zaire where he lived and hunted with Pygmy tribes. His picture has also been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to the fourth dynasty…

Basenji Poses In Front Of Mountains

This highly-prized spaniel that originated in Wales in the 1300’s remains one of the UK’s most dependable and “all business” gun dogs. Their ancient lineage has not deterred them from being bright, enthusiastic fowl-hunting dogs…

This English sporting gun dog was among the top ten dogs to be recognized by the newly formed AKC. Why is it now very close to extinction?…

If there’s a rule that says spaniels hunt in the fields and only retrivers love leaps into water to grab a hunter’s downed fowl, someone forgot to tell the Irish Water Spaniel! His water-loving ancestors can be traced back to the 1100’s, making him one of the oldest pure-breds known…

One gaze into a pair of deep, adoring eyes, and you’ll be hooked on this dog that seems to look directly into your heart! The Field Spaniel is a product of selective breeding that eliminated most of his hunting abilities, but favoring him as a companion dog…

At first glance, this spaniel may look like his cousin, the American Cocker Spaniel. But a closer look clearly identifies these dogs as two distinct breeds…

Unless you’re of Italian descent, you’ve probably never heard of this pointer. He gets his name from an Italian thorn bush through which he single-mindedly pursues  and flushes game fowl. You may have seen him in the show ring, where he is sometimes knows as the Italian Griffon (”wirehair”)…

Spinone Italiano From Side

If you want to start a fiery, endless argument among expert dog breeders, just ask them about the history of the Vizsla! Hopefully blood won’t be drawn, and you’ll get to know the hotly-debated opinions about the origins of this multi-talented hunting dog…

Vizsla By The River

As many prized dog breeds as Germany has bred, the Weimaraner is the most favored for larger mammal hunting like foxes and bobcats; only Germany’s Dachshund can out-hunt him with burrowing mammals. The Weimaraner is a strong, elegant-looking gun dog is popular also as a fine companion dog…

Weimaraner Puppy

This lively hunter is thought to be the ancester of all working spaniels in the US and the UK. He’s often seen in paintings by the side of his aristocratic English owners in the 1800s and remains a prized hunting gun dog…

English Springer Spaniel… Springs 

At first glance to non-experts in dog breeds, the Clumber Spaniel may look like a mixed breed with similarities to the Cocker Spaniel, the Basset Hound and the Saint Bernard. In fact, the Clumber is a pure-bred dog with mysterious origins…

 
Clumber Spaniel Smells The Flowers 

If you’re a hunter who owns a pack of American Water Spaniels and have a swimming pool, you’re liable to be constantly wondering “Who let the dogs out!” You won’t need to look past the pool…

 
American Water Spaniel Gets… Wet

This sporting dog with the laughing smile and beautiful long, feathered coat is often called “America’s Dog.” He has the high style and serious hunting ability that is so prized by hunters and by those who are looking for an unsurpassed companion dog…

Cocker Spaniel Says “What?” 

This exemplary setter with the lush mahogany coat is one of Ireland’s national treasures. A stylish, all-around gun dog, the Irish Setter has a keen nose for game and a high energy level with high style that makes him ideal for locating and flushing game fowl in dense brush.

 
Irish Setter Poses For Judges

The Irish Setter is known in Gaelic as the Modder rhu, or “red dog.” He thrives on strenuous activity and is faster than most companion dogs in telling his hunter where nests of ducks, pheasants, doves and geese are located in the tall grass of the Irish bogs. His exact origins are unknown, but he is said to be the offspring of Irish/English pointers and setters. By the mid 1800’s, this breed had been imported to America with Irish immigrants and has remained a steadfast setting dog since then…

If you think you’ve never seen this beautiful gun dog, you probably have! He makes regular appearances at Westminster and has an AKC rating of 56, higher than many more well-known retrievers. His job involves a skill unknown by other gun dogs…

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Poses 

This handsome gun dog was developed in Scotland by the Fourth Duke of Gordon in the 1700’s and is well-loved as Scotland’s own setting breed. He is the slowest, heaviest and strongest of the setter breeds, but with many distinct advantages over other setters…

Gordon Setter Rests 

The English Setter descends from the centuries before firearms were known in Britain. Before the advent of guns and gun dogs, the Setters were used to help hunters catch ground fowl with nets…

English Setter Sits