Hunting Dogs: Our Faithful Companion

Humans, dogs and hunting have a relationship that is well-known throughout the ages. Humans have domesticated wolves which evolved from close contact with humans and produced the first dogs to help them hunt for thousands of years. The first recording of hunting dogs being used to assist humans in their hunt for food are said to date back over 9,000 years ago. Today, many breeds of dogs exist, some of which have been designated by humans to possess characteristics particularly useful for all types and styles of hunting worldwide.

In this blog I like to just do a quick introduction and focus on certain breeds popular in my home country of France. I will also mention the basics of training to give you an idea on how I see and do things based off my own personal experiences.

Griffon Nivernais are loyal and very determine to please their owner.

Hunting dogs are bred for specific purposes and here is a list of some of them:

– Pointing dogs (French Braque, English Setter)

– Hounds (St Hubert Français, Poitevin )

– Retrievers (Labrador, golden retriever)

– Primitive type dogs (Karelian bear dog, Greenlandic)

– Terriers (Fox Terrier, Welsh Terrier)

In France, the most common breeds of hounds are:

-The blue Gascony griffons, Griffons Nivernais and others, such as the Vendée griffons

-The Anglo French

-The Brunos du Jura

-The Saintongeois gascons

-The blues of Gascony.

And many others not mentioned.

Training

In terms of educating and training, each owner has his method of training a new dog and must adapt to the character of each dog that makes up his or her pack. Each breed of dogs will have different character traits. You have to be calm, patient and firm within the framework of any form of obedience training without using excessive corrections. A dog who receives the love and attention of his trainer will serve him or her very well. That being said, it is important to provide the dog with a positive training within the framework of teaching and training your dogs to the limits and rules of a loving owner.

Combine passion and education: the main stages in training hounds for hunting!

Choosing a puppy

The training process of a puppy is long and the patience of the owner is often put to the test during this period. It is essential to choose a breed of dog with a character that suits you and that you like. If you choose a puppy from a private house, let your heart speak. On the other hand, if you are a breeder and your dog is giving birth to puppies in your home, take the time to observe them. I like to spend hours watching them grow and observing their own characteristics traits. This is what allows me to find the puppy that really suits me and you can help new owners find a suitable pup if they are not too familiar with the breed base off your own observations.

Choosing the right puppy and breed is important for the type and style of hunting you plan on doing.

Learning to hunt

Be cautious and don’t rush to failure, it is important to wait until the puppy’s growth is developed well in advanced before you start any serious training, starting way too early can impact the learning process of a young dog.

Get your puppy interest in the scent of games

Start your puppy early enough to get them interested in the smell and scent of game so that he or she is able to recognize specific scent. This allows them to awaken their natural instinct, attention and broaden their knowledge in identifying these scents.

Head out to the woods with your puppy as much as possible with an experienced old dog, tracking certain wildlife and letting the puppy follow the trained and experienced dog. This allows the puppy to learn and understand their own abilities and take an even stronger interest in these smells and learn from those experienced dogs.

Training parks and facilities

There are dog training parks (wild boar park, hare park) everywhere in France. These wildlife training parks for dogs vary in sizes and are enclosed off with a small number of animals. This allows you to break-in your young dogs in a diverse and semi-control environment without any distractions which helps to facilitate the natural prey drive your dogs. You can also choose to release your young dog if allowed over short distances and ensure they get the training benefit out of it in an actual hunting situation. Take caution not to overdo it as young dogs can get exhausted quickly.

Training throughout a dog’s life is paramount to having a great hunting companion.

Training is vital throughout the dog’s life, it’s a long journey. Time, work and the patience are for me the key to success. If you have the time and dedication for a hunting dog, they are an invaluable companion to have out on a hunt with you.

Conclusion

For me, hunting with dogs is one of the best things to ever happen to me. They have natural abilities and aptitudes to accomplish certain task that would almost be impossible to do without them, which makes it even more beautiful and exciting. They have an overflowing love for their owner; they are kind, loyal and affectionate. Seeing them work fascinates me and they will never cease to amaze me.

About the Author

Manon Passavy is a Bergara Rifles International Pro Team member since January 2021. She is a dedicated dog owner and trainer and represents our brand in her home country of France.

You can follow her or contact her Instagram account @manon.passavy